Japan to bar acquisition of farmland by soon-to-leave foreigners

Japan will bar foreigners from acquiring farmland if their visas are set to expire soon, in a bid to prevent misuse of such land amid high prices for rice and other food items, the farm ministry said.The system will be introduced Tuesday through a revision to the enforcement regulation of the Cropland Act, requiring foreigners to report the remaining duration of their visas when acquiring farmland.The move comes as ruling party lawmakers have voiced their concerns that farmland could be used for unintended purposes amid an increase in foreign-linked entities becoming owners.Farmland acquire…READ FULL ARTICLE