Japanese Sake : All Japan News,Inc

By Kosuke Kuji

 

The largest wildfire in Japan in over 50 years that scorched over 7,166 acres afflicted Ofunato city, Iwate prefecture, on February 25, 2025. Motoshoei Kitanihon Suisan Co., Ltd., a land-based abalone aquaculture company, was destroyed for the second time in a brief period since the Great East Japan Earthquake in March 2011. 
Tsunamis from the Great East Japan Earthquake destroyed Motoshoei Kitanihon Suisan Co.’s aquaculture farm, forcing the company to start over from scratch.  
Since then, the abalone aquaculture company has worked hard to expand sales channels for their land-farmed abalone brand both nationwide and overseas.    
Not only is “Sanriku Jade Abalone” far softer than the usual abalone caught in the sea, but this brand of abalones can also be harvested in only three years compared to five years required for the rearing period. Further, Sanriku Jade Abalone is uninfected and highly rated. Most importantly, Sanriku Jade Abalone is exceptionally soft, meaty, and flavorful!  
Unfortunately, the land-based aquaculture company that reared this high-quality abalone product was destroyed by wildfire. All the water supplied to the abalones stopped and all 2.5 million farm-raised abalones were destroyed, resulting in an estimated damage of approximately 500 million JPY. The yard where materials were stored and the seawater pumps were all burned, requiring approximately 100 million JPY in costs to reopen the aquaculture facilities. President Suehiro Furukawa gave up on reopening his business after the complete destruction of his aquaculture facilities for the second time in a brief period.   
However, his son and sales manager started crowdfunding in hopes of reopening Motoshoei Kitanihon Suisan Co.’s aquaculture facilities. Any support from overseas is welcomed and greatly appreciated. 

 

■Please support Motoshoei Kitanihon Suisan Co. to reopen their aquaculture facilities after a massive wildfire destroyed all 2.5 million Ofunato farm-raised abalones.
https://readyfor.jp/projects/ofunato_hisuiawabi

 

酒豪大陸「岩手県・大船渡市の林野火災と蔵元　その2」 

 

岩手県大船渡市の日本最大の林野火災。東日本大震災に続き、この短い時間で二度も大きな被害を受けた会社があります。
それはアワビの陸上養殖に取り組む「元正榮 北日本水産株式会社」です。
この会社は東日本大震災で養殖場が津波により全壊し、ゼロからのスタートを余儀なくされました。
そこから、陸上養殖したアワビをブランドとして「三陸翡翠あわび」の名で日本中、そして海外にも販路を拡大して頑張ってきました。
この「三陸翡翠あわび」は通常の海で取れるアワビよりも柔らかく、養殖年数も通常の5年よりも短い3年で出せる事、菌などの感染が無い事など、とても高い評価を受けていました。何よりも、すごくやわらかくて肉厚で美味しいのです。
そんな素晴らしいアワビの陸上養殖施設が、今回の林野火災により、アワビへの水の供給などが全て止まってしまい、養殖していたあわび約250万個はほぼ全滅し、損害額約5億円もの被害を受けてしまいました。資材置き場や海水を汲み上げるポンプも焼けてしまい、養殖再開に向けては1億円程度の費用が見込まれているそうです。
この短い期間に2度の施設の全壊・・・。もう今回、古川季宏社長は復活をあきらめたそうです。
しかし、ここで息子さんの営業部長が立ち上がり、現在ではクラウドファンディングを立ち上げています。是非海外からも支援が出来ますので、どうか皆さんよろしくお願いします。

 

■震災そして山林火災ーー大船渡養殖アワビ約250万個全滅から、復興へ
https://readyfor.jp/projects/ofunato_hisuiawabi