Welcome to Issue #51 of Sake Industry News.
You may recall in the last issue we said the weather in Japan was still uncharacteristically warm despite being halfway through autumn.
Well, you can scratch that. Shortly after we went to print, the temperature dropped through the floor and now it almost feels like we've skipped autumn altogether and jumped straight into winter.
Great news for brewers perhaps - not so much for climate change deniers.
Anyhow, life goes on. And life here has taken a positive turn as not only have restaurants and bars been open since the beginning of October, but also operating hours restrictions have mostly been lifted, allowing all our favorite bars and restaurants to get back to doing what they do best. Now it's just up to us to do what we do best and get out there and drink that sake.
And now for the news…
*Correction- In our previous issue (#50) we jumped the gun in announcing that UNESCO had listed the production of Japanese alcoholic beverages made with kōji as Intangible Cultural Heritage. It has not yet been listed on the Cultural heritage list, but recognized domestically as an Intangible Cultural Asset. This is the start which JSS hopes will see alcoholic beverage production with kōji recognized under UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage by 2024.
Sake Exports Hit Record High
Japan- The Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has reported that exports for sake for the period from January to September have reached a record high - already surpassing last year's total exports.
According to statistics compiled by the ministry, agricultural product exports increased 31 percent compared to the same month last year. Beef exports also enjoyed a huge increase alongside sake.
Sake export value for August reached JPY3.2 billion (USD28million) twice the value of exports for August 2020. The highest annual export for sake by value was recorded in 2019 when exports hit 24.1 billion in 2020. Exports for this year have already reached JPY27.5 billion with plenty of time left on the clock.
Source - Yahoo News
JG: Talk about a V-shaped recovery! This is really almost unbelievable. I have heard some people in the sake distribution business in the US echo the same sentiments. Let’s hope this revival has some staying power, and let’s all do our part.
Experienced Hands Revive Lost Brewery
Nagano- Suginomori Shuzō has been given a new lease on life after a nearly ten year hiatus following its closure in 2012.
The brewery was founded in 1793 in the historic area of Narai in Shiojiri City, an area listed as an Important Preservation District for Traditional Buildings in Nagano Prefecture.
Business difficulties saw the brewery close its doors in 2012, until investment firm Kiraku revived the kura. The first batch of sake under its original label, narai, will be released through crowdfunding site, Makuake.
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