Welcome to Issue #107 of SIN
The weather continues to tease the onset of spring, while still managing to slip in a few cold and wet days just to keep us from putting away the winter wardrobe.
And with the promise of spring comes the winding down of brewing for many (but not all) breweries and beginning of sake festival season. With all the favorite events returning and a few new ones appearing on the calendar, it's looking like a great year for getting out and about and meeting new people and trying more sake.
And now for the news…
No More Sake For The EU?
Belgium- The European Union (EU) is considering halting the import of Japanese sake to the EU post 2030 as part of a review of local recycling laws, which will target products unsuitable for recycling. The proposed regulation is expected to be passed in March, leaving the Japanese government scrambling to mount a diplomatic push to have sake excluded from the ban.
The EU's "Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation" requires businesses to reuse or recycle bottles, cans, and other containers used to store beverages and food products from 2030. Whiskey and other distilled spirits and wine will be exempt from the obligation as it would be too much of a blow to the local liquor industry, however imported products such as Japanese sake will remain subject to the regulation.
One of the main issues for sake is the impracticality and enormous cost involved in recycling the traditional 720ml and 1800ml bottles which are unique to sake only.
The proposal was drafted by the European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, along with the European Parliament. The three parties are currently in the process of finalizing the proposal. For now, the Japanese government has secured the cooperation of the European Commission in exempting sake, but environmentalists in the European Parliament are in opposition, and the Council of the European Union's stance is as yet unclear.
EU imports of sake increased from JPY1.3 billion (USD8.5mil) in 2018 to JPY2 billion (USD13mil) in 2022.
Source - Yomiuri
JG: Wow; this would be just devastating in so many ways and to so many parties. I cannot imagine this will actually become reality; but then again, what do I know. If anyone hears of any ways we can help, please do let us know!
Chef To The Terrace-cue
Fukuoka- Terraced rice paddies are part of the unique landscape of Japan, however in recent years, the number of abandoned rice fields has increased due to an aging population and lack of farmers. Now, Michelin chef Hideaki Nakano, has stepped forward to preserve some of these terraced rice paddies - through sake no less.
It was Nakano’s initial attraction to the taste of Hinohikari, a rare rice grown for 130 years in terraced rice paddies in the Kasahara district of Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture, that led him to ponder if there were other potential uses for the rice other than as food.
Nakano approached a local sake brewery, Isonosawa with the idea of using Hinohikari to produce sake. The collaboration resulted in Yame Tanadamai Awa Nigori, a sparkling sake that is now being distributed locally.
In an area with an increasing number of farmers going out of business, Nakano hopes that the use of rice from the terraced Hinohikari rice paddies in sake production will lead to a rise in profile for the rice, even if only a little.
Nakano plans on assisting with seedling plantings from next season.
Yame Tanadamaru Awa Nigori 500ml
Brewed by Isonosawa
Source - Rkb | Lovesmile
JG: This is one of the more creative projects related to sake and traditional Japan that I have seen in a while. It really seems mutually beneficial to the land, the farming community, and the sake industry as well. Isonosawa makes some great sake to boot, so this should bolster their sales as well. Coincidentally, I just came back from Fukuoka a few days ago. If only I had known…
磯乃澤 （駿）, 八女 棚田丸 泡にごり
Fallen Breweries Ready For A Comeback
Ishikawa- Following the devastating earthquake at the beginning of the year, Sakurada Shuzō (Taikei), was one of the breweries which suffered extensive damage leaving them unable to continue brewing sake this season.
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