15 Years After 3/11, TW–JP Friendship Continues with HL-Yamagata Sake “Fortune Arrives"

(中央社訊息服務20260319 11:44:44)As the 15th anniversary of the Great East Japan Earthquake is marked, Taiwan-Japan agricultural cooperation has yielded another heartening success story. On March 10, Hualien County Mayor Hsu Chen-Wei led a delegation to revisit Yonetsuru Brewery in Yamagata Prefecture, Japan. This brewery possesses more than three centuries of history. The visit expressed gratitude for the friendship and cooperation forged through disaster recovery while offering a firsthand look at how the brewery has transformed a traditional operation into a modern brand. Secretaries-general of local farmers’ associations joined the exchange to engage in in-depth discussions. Yonetsuru President Yoichiro Umezu presented the delegation with the brewery’s newest release, “Fortune Arrives,” which is brewed with Hualien rice. This gift underscores the high quality of Hualien grain and lays a stronger foundation for future value-added industrial cooperation.

Mayor Hsu stated that she was deeply grateful for the partnership with Yonetsuru Brewery following the earthquake on April 3, 2024. She noted that producing sake together served as a concrete show of support and carries special meaning as a continuation of the goodwill between Taiwan and Japan since the 2011 earthquake. The jointly developed sake is more than a product because it represents a long-term agricultural partnership. She expressed pleasure that the first release sold out and that cooperation continues with a new vintage. This success prompted her to invite secretaries-general from various farmers’ associations to learn about the sustainable development of Takahata Town and Yonetsuru Brewery.

Mayor Hsu pointed out that through exchanges in raw materials and brewing techniques, Hualien rice is reaching international markets in a higher-value form. This creates more diverse development opportunities for local agricultural products. She also presented Hualien sake and premium rice as gifts while extending an invitation for the Japanese guests to visit Hualien again.

Yoichiro Umezu, president of Yonetsuru Brewery, said it was a great honor to welcome the delegation from the Hualien County Government. He noted that Hualien rice is of exceptional quality and is ideally suited to brewing premium Japanese sake. The brewery now purchases Hualien rice on a stable annual basis and uses a rice-polishing machine to refine the grain to its core for daiginjo-grade products. He expects the upcoming second collaborative sake to fully showcase the distinctive flavor and delicate texture of Hualien rice. Mr. Umezu personally guided the delegation through the brewing process and reiterated that the quality of the rice determines the value of the sake. He offered high praise for the international competitiveness of Hualien rice.

Takahata Town Mayor Tadahiro Takanashi said his visit to Hualien last year remains vivid in his memory. The town first came into contact with Hualien rice two years ago, which led to the first collaborative sake being sold simultaneously in Taiwan and Japan. It quickly sold out after launch. He expressed strong confidence in the upcoming second release and stated that he looks forward to reuniting with friends from Hualien. He hopes this exchange will further deepen the partnership in agriculture and culture to allow this cross-border friendship to endure for years to come.

Chen Shu-Wen, Director-General of the Hualien County Agriculture Department, said the county will continue to assess Hualien’s agricultural resources while strengthening differentiated product development and marketing strategies. The goal is to promote the coordinated development of agriculture, culture, and tourism through origin-based tours and food education to expand the international footprint of Hualien’s specialty products.

The county government noted that Yonetsuru Brewery has a history spanning 329 years and has built its reputation on premium sake rice from Yamagata Prefecture. The brewery utilizes precise rice-polishing techniques, low-temperature fermentation, and a rigorous grading system. Since 2024, it has worked with the Yuhsi District Farmers’ Association and local growers to select the premium rice variety “Taitung No. 30” for brewing. In February 2025, Mayor Tadahiro Takanashi and President Yoichiro Umezu visited Hualien to officially launch the limited-edition co-branded sake “Fortune.” This release marked a fruitful outcome of Taiwan-Japan agricultural exchange and successfully introduced Hualien rice into the Japanese market in a high-value-added form.

「提醒您：飲酒過量有礙健康。」