Japan to boost measures to battle invasive beetles with 6.7 bil. yen budget

TOKYO - Japan's Environment Ministry is stepping up measures against longhorn beetles that are devouring cherry trees, with a request for 6.7 billion yen ($43 million) to counter invasive species in the next fiscal year's initial budget.

According to the ministry, the requested amount, which is an increase of 11 times the initial budget of 600 million yen for fiscal 2026, will be used to eradicate the "red-necked longhorn beetle" and strengthen measures to protect trees, including plum and peach trees, from infestation.