- 14 Mar 2002
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More on the Noto breweries, which all suffered severe blows to their business. Noto was famous for its own brewers' guild, the Noto Toji.
The powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan on New Year's Day has devastated the region's centuries-old sake-making industry. All eleven sake brewers in the northern part of the peninsula have been severely impacted by the magnitude-7.6 quake, leading them to suspend operations for at least a year. Tragically, five of these breweries have been destroyed, leaving their futures uncertain. A local industry group representing these manufacturers has initiated donation efforts in response to this dire situation. The earthquake, which claimed more than 230 lives, has left the owner of one brewery with no choice but to "continue squeaking out a living" without immediate prospects for rebuilding. Their breweries are located in three of the four municipalities on the Sea of Japan coast in the hardest-hit Okunoto, or Inner Noto, region, known for its distinct tradition of having top-level guilds of "toji" master brewers.
The powerful earthquake that struck the Noto Peninsula in central Japan on New Year's Day has devastated the region's centuries-old sake-making industry. All eleven sake brewers in the northern part of the peninsula have been severely impacted by the magnitude-7.6 quake, leading them to suspend operations for at least a year. Tragically, five of these breweries have been destroyed, leaving their futures uncertain. A local industry group representing these manufacturers has initiated donation efforts in response to this dire situation. The earthquake, which claimed more than 230 lives, has left the owner of one brewery with no choice but to "continue squeaking out a living" without immediate prospects for rebuilding. Their breweries are located in three of the four municipalities on the Sea of Japan coast in the hardest-hit Okunoto, or Inner Noto, region, known for its distinct tradition of having top-level guilds of "toji" master brewers.
Sake brands from Okunoto have long been a major specialty of Ishikawa Prefecture owing to the work of the guilds, reputed as one of Japan's four prominent toji alongside those in Hyogo, Niigata and Iwate prefectures. [...] But the devastation caused by the quake seems certain to affect the link between guilds of master craftsmen that has made Noto brands so special, and could have an impact on the entire culture of sake making over the long term. [...] The prefectural federation of sake brewers associations has made clear that this year's shipments are all but doomed for brewers in the cities of Suzu and Wajima, as well as those from Noto town. "We need assistance from the entire country to rebuild. We really need your help," said Shigehisa Uratani, 68, the federation's managing director.
Japan quake leaves deep scars on famed Noto sake brewers - The Mainichi
KANAZAWA (Kyodo) -- The powerful New Year's Day earthquake that ravaged a remote central Japan region has left its famed, centuries-old sake-making in
mainichi.jp