By Kosuke Kuji"Due to the impact from the coronavirus, the production volume for Japanese sake had to be reduced." However, the sake ingredient – sake rice – was contracted before the coronavirus pandemic and cannot be diverted elsewhere. Sake breweries cannot back out on their contract farmers. The...

By Kosuke KujiThe novel coronavirus destroyed Japan’s economy from the bottom up.In Japan, where the lockdown cannot be enforced, citizens voluntarily stay at home to comply with the “self-restraint request” made by the government to the public to overcome the pandemic. However, the fourth wave hit ...

By Kosuke KujiDue to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic since last year, the long-established weekly “Sake Tasting Event” for sake producers to interact with consumers was cancelled. At this event, brewery owners and Master Sake Brewers introduce their sake brands to consumers, sample them together wi...

By Kosuke KujiMarch 11, 2021 marked a milestone as the 10th year since the Great East Japan earthquake. However, afflicted regions frown upon the term ‘milestone,’ as the disaster and grieving still continues for the many afflicted to date. Since this March, Japan suffered another major earthquake i...

By Ryuji TakahashiAs the coronavirus vaccination started in Japan, the light at the end of the tunnel signals an end to the coronavirus pandemic despite more people getting infected. Japan declared the third state of emergency for Tokyo, requested large facilities to suspend operations, and restaura...

By Kosuke KujiJapan during the “Golden Week” (April 29 ~ May 5) declared their third state of emergency. The justification was to stop crowds from gathering as much as possible, which is understandable. Healthcare facilities face staff shortages in Osaka and Hyogo prefectures, while the number of pe...