历史沿革
日本种苗协会 1973 年（昭和 48 年）由全国种苗业者联合会改组而成，2012 年（平成 24 年）依公益法人制度改革转登记为「一般社团法人 日本种苗协会」，成为日本园艺种苗业唯一的全国性行业团体。协会早期的主要工作包括：1976 年发行《野菜品种名鉴》，1977 年创设「种苗管理士」资格制度，1991 年承办国际种子联盟（FIS）东京大会，1999 年起发行「Seed Advisor」种子顾问卡。2001 年与 2013 年，协会先后协办亚太种子协会（APSA）幕张大会与神户大会，承担起亚洲区域行业交流枢纽的角色。
组织结构
协会总部设于东京都文京区，下设六个专门部会——蔬菜种子部会、花卉与营养繁殖性植物部会、芝与牧草部会、苗部会、资材部会、国际部会——以及七个常设委员会，包括会员、政策、法务、宣传、技术研究、经营流通与伦理合规委员会。理事会由 53 名理事组成，监事会由 3 名监事组成，另设 6 名专职人员，会长为第十二代油木大树。会员方面，截至 2026 年 3 月 31 日，共有正式会员 860 名、赞助会员 48 名，并在 45 个都道府县设有分支机构，配合九个地方区块分会协同运作。
主要职能
协会的核心工作可概括为四块：园艺作物种子与苗木的生产流通调查研究；民间育种权益的促进与保护；种苗相关信息的交流、培训与审查；以及面向国内外相关组织的政策建议与协作延伸。具体活动包括举办全日本蔬菜品种审查会与全日本花卉品种审查会、召开育种技术研讨会、推动《种苗法》新育种者权益的普及、与国际种子联盟（ISF）开展联合项目，以及出版《种苗界》等行业刊物。协会同时负责「Seed Advisor」种子顾问的资格认定与门店检索系统，方便消费者就近找到具备种苗知识的零售店。
会员构成
正式会员由日本国内的种苗制造商（涵盖品种开发与种子生产）、批发商与零售商组成，须认同协会章程第三条所规定的业务范围。六个部会依据作物类别与产业链环节划分，会员按主营业务归入对应部会参与议题讨论；国际部会则专门负责与海外同业组织对接，承担品种权保护与国际种子检疫等议题。地方层面，全国九个区块与四十五个都道府县支都设有独立组织单位，会员构成日常对接地方政府与基层农户的力量。
旗舰活动与对外交流
协会与亚太种子协会（APSA）保持长期合作，主办或协办多届区域性大会，幕张大会与神户大会即由日本种苗协会牵头筹备。在国际层面，协会是国际种子联盟（ISF）的正式会员，参与品种权国际保护框架的修订与推广。出版与培训方面，《种苗界》月刊记录行业动态与技术进展，配合每年举办的育种技术座谈会与种苗管理士研修课程，形成行业知识生产与传播的核心节点。2024 年正值协会设立五十周年，协会举办了纪念仪式，并联合农林水产省与会员企业回顾半世纪以来的品种开发与种苗推广成果。
Historical Evolution
The Japan Seed Trade Association (JSTA) was established in 1973 (Showa 48) when the predecessor All-Japan Seed Trade Federation was reorganized. Following the reform of Japan’s public-interest corporation system, the body was re-registered in 2012 (Heisei 24) as a general incorporated association (Ippan Shadan Hojin), making it the sole nationwide trade body for Japan’s horticultural seed and seedling industry. Early milestones include the 1976 launch of the Vegetable Variety Catalogue, the 1977 founding of the Seed Management Specialist certification, the 1991 hosting of the FIS (International Seed Federation) Congress in Tokyo, and the 1999 introduction of the Seed Advisor retail card. In 2001 and 2013 the association co-hosted the APSA (Asia and Pacific Seed Association) congresses in Makuhari and Kobe, cementing its role as a hub for Asian seed industry exchange.
Organisational Structure
Headquartered in Bunkyo, Tokyo, the association operates through six specialised divisions: the Vegetable Seed Division, the Flower and Vegetatively Propagated Plant Division, the Turf and Forage Grass Division, the Seedling Division, the Materials Division, and the International Division. Seven standing committees handle membership affairs, policy, legal affairs, public communication, technical research, distribution and management, and ethics and compliance. The board comprises 53 directors and 3 auditors; six full-time staff support daily operations. The current president is the twelfth-generation Daiki Yuki. Membership stood at 860 regular members and 48 supporting members as of 31 March 2026, with branch offices in 45 prefectures coordinated through nine regional blocks.
Main Functions
The association’s core work covers four areas: research on stable production and distribution of horticultural seeds and seedlings; promotion and protection of private-breeder rights; information exchange, training and review activities for the seed industry; and policy recommendations plus cooperation with domestic and overseas partner organisations. Practical activities include running the All-Japan Vegetable Variety Review and All-Japan Flower Variety Review, hosting the Breeding Technology Symposium, supporting public understanding of plant-breeder rights under the Seeds and Seedlings Act, coordinating joint projects with the International Seed Federation (ISF), and publishing industry periodicals such as Shubyokai. The association also administers the Seed Advisor qualification and maintains a store-search system that helps consumers locate retail outlets staffed by trained seed specialists.
Membership Composition
Regular members comprise Japanese seed manufacturers (covering variety development and seed production), wholesalers and retailers who endorse Article 3 of the association’s articles of incorporation. The six divisions allocate members by crop category and supply-chain stage, allowing focused discussion of sector-specific issues, while the International Division handles overseas liaison, plant variety protection and seed-health matters at the global scale. At the local level, nine regional blocks and 45 prefectural branches operate as independent units, providing the day-to-day interface with prefectural governments and grower communities.
Flagship Activities and International Engagement
The association maintains a long-standing partnership with the Asia and Pacific Seed Association (APSA), co-hosting the 2001 Makuhari congress and the 2013 Kobe congress, both prepared under JSTA’s lead. On the international stage, JSTA is a full member of the International Seed Federation (ISF), contributing to the revision and promotion of plant-variety-rights frameworks worldwide. The monthly journal Shubyokai and the annual Breeding Technology Symposium and Seed Management Specialist training courses form the core of the association’s knowledge production and dissemination pipeline. In 2024, marking the association’s fiftieth anniversary, a commemorative ceremony was held jointly with the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries, bringing together member companies to review half a century of variety development and seed-and-seedling promotion in Japan.
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