Beekeeper Worries About Natural, Social Changes in Japan

Hiroshima (PNA/Kyodo) — Mineo Kogenji, a 79-year-old retired honey farmer, has been endeavoring to plant trees across Japan to increase the amount of forests good for apiculture.

For nearly half a century, he traveled with bees from south to north of the country every spring, and witnessed the work of beekeeping being threatened by changing weather patterns, shrinking forests areas, and social and political changes caused by events like wars.

“I want to plant as many trees as possible so beekeeping will continue in the future,” Kogenji, from Miyoshi in Hiroshima Prefecture, said. (PNA/Kyodo) CTB/RSM