On June 10, a team from U.S. Embassy, Tokyo’s Office of Agricultural Affairs conducted field research at the strategic bulk cargo port of Kashima. Built during the boom years of the 1960’s, Kashima is an engineering marvel and remains essential to Japan’s food processing and feed industries. After traveling the central channel and viewing the Port’s nearly two mile-long breakwater, the team visited several private berths as well as a major feed miller, oil crusher, and grain terminal. Kashima is one of five grain ports scheduled for major renovations through a government-funded infrastructure development program designed to lower CIF prices for Japanese commodity importers. Renovations have already begun at the port of Kushiro, the first grain port to be improved under the program and the primary point of entry for the U.S. feed grains that fuel Hokkaido’s sizable beef and dairy industries.