Hard to believe that the Great East Japan Earthquake was 14 years ago, but the country has not forgotten the event or the support received from its neighbours.
So when a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck Hualien, Taiwan in April 2024, the Yamagata brewery Yonetsuru (makers of Grateful Cranes) helped out in a very practical way by buying 1 ton of the Taiwanese rice Taitung #30 in December 2024 – and turning it into a limited edition sake with just 1700 bottles released.
The president of Yonetsuru visited Taiwan with a delegation including the mayor of their town, Takahata, and representatives from the Chamber of Commerce and tourism promotion sector, who travelled there to share Japan’s experience of regional and industrial development in the wake of natural disasters.
Named “Fuku” (福, good fortune) with the character printed upside down, the Japanese-brewed sake made from Taiwanese rice was released in both countries on 18 Feb 2025, and Yonetsuru hope it will not only appeal to consumers in both countries but also remind them of the bonds of gratitude their mutual generosity has forged.
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花蓮県と山形県、被災地支援で台湾米の日本酒が誕生 (Taiwan Today, 24 Feb 2025)
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