The Power of Planning: An International Collaboration with Komoro City A photo of Waseda University students and University of Tokyo students together. A city official showing restoration work of the Old Komoro-Honjin a major historical site within the city. Mr. Shingo Takano, shown center, is a local real-estate agent promoting Komoro as a world-class location. The vice mayor of Komoro, Mr. Yoshiaki Tanaka, addresses the staff and students. (Photos were provided on behalf of the Morimoto Lab of Transportation Engineering and Urban Planning) New Free Online Course: “Anthropology of Fairtrade: A Case of Coffee-Growing Area in Lao PDR” Waseda’s Commitment to Realizing the Sustainable Development Goals Come and Join “Waseda University Museum Week 2025”! Guided by Japanese principles, a Scottish mentor and rich Taiwanese experience, master distiller Ian Chang is set to fulfil his lifelong dream of launching his first age-statement whisky at Komoro, a new Japanese distillery in the Greater Karuizawa region. “There is no such thing as a perfect whisky,” Ian Chang declared in his measured, unhurried style. He was addressing a whisky-loving audience at Garibaldi restaurant on Purvis Street, gathered to celebrate Komoro. The audience was rapt, and deservedly so. Ian Chang is a whisky icon. For 16 years, Chang led the whisky-making at Kavalan, Taiwan’s single malt whisky, where he was instrumental in turning a subtropical whisky into a multi-award winning, global success. He was awarded Master Distiller of the Year in 2015 by Whisky Magazine and Master Distiller by IWSC in 2017, and those are just two of the many accolades he’s garnered over the year. In 2020, he left Kavalan and joined Komoro, a new Japanese distillery in the Greater Karuizawa region, a region mired in whisky lore. (More on this later.) We were about to taste three unreleased whiskies from Komoro – a transparent peated-new make whisky fresh off the pot still, another transparent and unpeated new make whisky and lastly, an amber-hued barrel sample of a one-year whisky, distilled and matured in Japan. The rapture grew double fold. The samples were not market-ready, but they illustrated Chang’s ideology. “We are always seeking perfection. Whisky can only be as close as possible to perfection, but never perfect,” he added. Before joining Kavalan in 2005, the 49-year-old Taiwanese national had no prior background in whisky. He had just returned home from the UK with a degree in food technology. The plan was to join his family’s meat business, which fell by the wayside when his father suffered a massive stroke and was forced to shut down his business. Chang had to find a job. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Kavalan Single Malt Whisky (@kavalanwhisky) he chanced upon an erstwhile advertisement posted by Kavalan on a local job website “They were looking for a whisky researcher,” he recalled and applied immediately thinking the recruiters might put some stock on his education in chemistry and flavour compounds Three interviews and one extensive whisky aroma test Chang found himself propelled into the spirited world Kavalan was constructing a distillery then Kavalan engaged the renowned Scottish whisky expert and consultant the late Dr Jim Swan and Chang found an “extraordinary mentor” to guide him through this journey the Classic Single Malt and over the next few years a steady stream of awards started to pour in Chang believes in the Japanese concept of Shu-Ha-Ri The three-stage concept of ‘learn-detach-transcend’ developed from Japanese martial arts but also applicable to any learning journey “It has shaped my personal and professional journey in a profound way,” he added The first concept of Shu focuses solely on learning where I faithfully and repeatedly executed the teachings of Jim Swan without deviation or doubt The relationship developed over visits to Scotland and cask makers Chang has never before talked about the time he nursed and cared for him after Dr Swan fell and fractured his hip in Taiwan The fracture required immediate surgery in a foreign country inadvertently forming a lasting bond with his patient he recalled Dr Swan frequently and shared that he considered Jim Swan like his second father innovation and adapting to new environments After a fortuitous 15-year spell at Kavalan Chang had come into his own and developed his blending philosophy and I thought that was a perfect timing to stop,” he said reflecting over his decorated career’s inflection point His dream was to create an age-statement whisky an impossible feat to accomplish in the heat of Taiwan Koji and Yoshie Shimaoka had just set up a new distillery in the Greater Karuizawa region and were looking for a master distiller to take on the new project They sought out Chang and offered him complete creative control it is important to understand the gravitas of the Karuizawa name Karuizawa is the name of a resort town in Nagano The Karuizawa distillery was demolished in 2011 but has since gained cult status The whiskies left in stock are still in circulation and command staggering prices at auctions a longtime resident of the Karuizawa region longed to restore this region’s old whisky glory and found the perfect spot near Karuizawa town His new distillery is located in the town of Komoro Komoro sits under the shadow of Mount Asama and shares the same water source But it’s not a story of imitation – far from it Komoro is primed to reflect the terroir of Komoro the new player pays tribute to the legacy of Karuizawa Chang considers Komoro to be the natural extension of his whisky journey and he estimates a 2 per cent to 3 per cent loss of whisky in angel’s share (a measure of the natural evaporation when whisky is aged) compared to an 8 per cent to 15 per cent loss in Yilan Chang prefers to mature his whiskies in various casks from Japanese mizunara wood His guiding principle: Komoro is about blending the true essence of Japanese whisky evaded him He asked many people till he found an answer he could work with what I tried to make in Japan is to have that balanced flavour and character for everyone to enjoy,” Chang surmised environmentally savvy distillery was completed in 2023 and the first whisky will be released in late 2026 Chang is not yet ready to claim that he’s in the last stage of Ri a stage achieved by blending learned wisdom with personal interpretation fruit-laden new makes and the complexity developing in the one-year-old amber whisky are any indication He’s quietly and assuredly developing a stellar whisky in his unique signature style We know it's a hassle to switch browsers but we want your experience with CNA to be fast paragraph publishing ltd.   Copyright © 2025 all rights reserved.   Website by Acora One The cherry blossom festival held at the Komoro Castle Ruins features yozakura illuminated by lanterns as well as matcha and sweets (for around ¥500) served by masters in the tea ceremony dressed in Sengoku-era armor Komoro was the setting for a popular TV anime series so many visitors participate in the sakura festival as cosplayers Sakura 100: Japan’s Best Blossoms Banner photo © Komoro Tourism Bureau.) Japan-based Karuizawa Distilllers (KDI) has launched the website of its new Komoro Distillery and visitor centre The state-of-the-art distillery is located on the outskirts of Komoro Komoro Distillery’s website allows users to book visits to the distillery and access its ‘much-anticipated’ Whisky Academy CEO Koji Shimaoka said: “I really cannot believe that we are finally here It has taken almost three years of planning and building; plus the time it took to find the location and to secure funding I could not be more proud of what the KDI team have achieved “We are all so happy and cannot wait to welcome visitors to our wonderful distillery and visitor centre.” The visitor centre includes a bar and shop on the first floor primarily for use by the on-site Whisky Academy Komoro Distillery is constructed out of glass and wood and its water source (‘Noma’) from Mount Asama flows past the distillery Plans for the distillery were unveiled in 2020 Production was originally intended to begin in 2022 The Karuizawa distillery closed its doors in 2000 We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings we will not be able to save your preferences This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again earlier this year noma bar was commissioned by the momofuku ando foundation in japan to create a treehouse within the woods of the momfuku ando center in komoro the project offered bar the unique opportunity to translate his simple illustration style into a three-dimensional space the result was a treehouse that references both the forms of birds and leaves nagano – about 3 hours drive from tokyo my treehouse had to be in the highest point of the wood to over look the akagi mountain I found two leafs on the floor on the wood: one leaf above the other looked like a bird from the simple idea of two leafs together and it became a 9m treehouse.’ – noma bar different views of the treehouse designed by noma bar a team of 20 japanese carpenters constructed the viewing house with the structure itself forming the shape of a bird playfully working in three dimensions as bar’s conceptually driven illustrations do on paper for the illustrator it was important to retain the visual storytelling of his work an architectural form translated into the environment in which the visitor interacts with the structure both visually and as a functioning viewing house the structure’s location in the park means that visitors only see the bird form on further investigation – at first it seems to be only a reference to the leaves of the woods once inside the structure itself the visitor can find a ’birds eye view’ of mount asama an active volcano in central japan seen across the landscape noma bar observing from the treehouse he designed in komoro detail of the structure which references both the forms of birds and leaves details of the different shades of green the inspiration for the form of the structure – two leaves = one bird noma bar’s concept for the treehouse as an illustration a scale model of the three-dimensional design the making of the structure took place in komoro nagano and involved more than 20 people from start to finish the birds eye view treehouse being installed and finished  noma bar with members from the ando foundation team who worked with him on the project AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style The CEO of Karuizawa Distillers is aiming to turn Komoro into a global Japanese whisky brand after the US$20 million distillery opens next year The newly formed Karuizawa Distillers (KDI) unveiled plans to build a Japanese whisky distillery in Komoro in December 2020 Karuizawa Distillers was formed by CEO Koji Shimaoka with former Kavalan whisky maker Ian Chang serving as master blender and distiller for the new Komoro Distillery “The intention is to focus on quality over quantity,” Shimaoka told The Spirits Business last month The aim is to build a “world-class team” and a “global brand” The distillery’s flagship brand will be Japanese single malt whisky Komoro The site is scheduled to complete construction this month with the aim of opening by May 2023 and production starting in June Around US$20 million has been invested into Komoro Distillery which will include a distillery and a two-floor business centre comprising two masterclass rooms the liquid from the distillery will not be similar to the original Karuizawa whisky The aim of the site is to produce a new style of whisky and continue the whisky distilling craftsmanship in the greater Karuizawa area The distillery will utilise the late Dr Jim Swan’s techniques who worked with Chang at Taiwanese distillery Kavalan “His philosophy was always to produce whisky that is very clean complex with multilayers of nuances,” Chang explained “This is the same principle that we will do at KDI.” The final product will be very clean and very fruity “What we would like to do is something that is much more pleasant and enjoyable for our global consumers,” said Chang He noted that one similarity between the original Karuizawa and the new liquid is that it is “quite sulphury” The distillery also claims to be the highest in Japan at 910 metres above sea level and will be situated seven miles from the original Karuizawa Distillery site Shimaoka said its location in a colder area above Japan will also enable it to produce age statements “We’re closer to the mountains it’s a better climate,” he explained We know Karuizawa is a good area that can make great whisky,” he explained Each year the distillery plans to save around half of its annual production for the future so that it can produce older whiskies “I think it’s quite reasonable to sell half as younger age statement and then the other half for longer age-statement products.” The first whisky release will likely be in 2026 and the distiller is also considering launching limited edition products The distillery will also experiment with different casks I was introduced to quality cask suppliers quality ex-Bourbon casks from the US and so on to create different expressions as our core range we have managed to secure the right amount of casks and enough for the foreseeable future.” New guidelines for Japanese whisky introduced by the Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association this year will also provide clarity for the category and distinguish Japan-made products from blends Shimaoka said the guidelines would have a “very positive impact” for premium single malts as certain brands will no longer being able to label their products as Japanese whisky For an indepth look at emerging players in the Japanese whisky category see the October 2022 issue of The Spirits Business We are using cookies to give you the best experience on our website. You can find out more about which cookies we are using or switch them off in settings. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful. Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings. If you disable this cookie, we will not be able to save your preferences. This means that every time you visit this website you will need to enable or disable cookies again. Bonding with the engineer and pilot of your Gauntlet Runner requires you to find mysterious relics hidden in some side dungeons. The sections are named after the locations the relics can be found in and are ordered based on when they become available to you You need a javascript enabled browser to watch videos Because these quests become available based on main story progress but no major plot points will be discussed you must complete the first quest "Providing a Spark," which asks you to retrieve a relic and notebook from the town Komoro This quest becomes available to complete once you are given a main deadline to complete in Martira Just head to the town and select the talk option from the menu given to you--it's not a town you can actually explore--and you will retrieve the necessary items Give them to Neuras to complete the quest and establish him as your Follower Man-Eater's Grotto is another location that becomes available during your time in Martira The bounty "The Man-Eater in the Mine" becomes available at the recruitment center after receiving your second main deadline in Martira The relic can be found in an early section of the dungeon When you first enter you will drop down into a square room as shown on the map below There will be a small area that appears to be blocked off by walls but there is a small crawl space on one side that you can use to reach the chest containing the relic The Tomb of Lament can be accessed by accepting the bounty "Grieving Ghost of the Goblet," from any recruitment center once you are given your main deadline in Port Brilehaven where you can find the relic in an early section of the dungeon where the relic can be found in a chest on the right behind cell bars To reach this area you need to travel to a detached hallway via a small passageway in the starting hallway before taking a second passageway into the cell Scoundrel's Hold comes from the bounty "The Greater One-Eyed Scoundrel." Despite being located outside of Grand Trad this bounty becomes available once you are given your main deadline on Virga Island and can be accepted at any recruitment center Inside this area the relic can be found inside a chest Land of Ceremony can be reached via a side quest called "The Trial of Malnova" once you are given a second main deadline on Virga Island Accept the quest and you will be allowed to travel to the Land of Ceremony This relic can be found in a side area on the bottom floor You will need to enter this area via a ramp found on the upper floor Ramps shown on the map overlap from floor to floor so the ramp inquisition can be found in the same section of the dungeon The Everfrost Forest can be accessed by accepting the bounty "The Fiend in the Frozen Forest" once you are given your main deadline in Altabury Heights from any recruitment center This dungeon is just one large winding forest so reaching the relic is relatively simple The relic can be found in a chest in the middle section of the right half of the map Vulkano can be accessed by accepting the quest "The Edge of Glory" from a man in Sunshade Row in Grand Trad after returning there and receiving a new main deadline quest you will likely notice that it's a lot of dropping into holes and climbing ladders to progress but the relic is tucked away in an area that you must reach in order to complete the dungeon the relic can be found on the main floor (the floor you enter the dungeon on) You will need to bypass two holes in the floor to reach the furthest part of this area The area to walk around the second hole is quite small but you cannot actually fall into these holes You only jump down if you hit the action button to do so so just try and walk around them to reach the chest in the back That is the final relic you need to collect To fully max out your Follower rank with Neuras you will need to complete one additional fight It's also not a particularly hard fight either unless your party is under-leveled at this point Got a news tip or want to contact us directly? Email news@gamespot.com ESCLog in to comment "data-img-src" : imgSrc } = buylink %> />><%= itemTitle %> and deals sent to your inbox Monday to Friday There’s nothing quite like a distillery visit but what if a remarkable producer was paired with a once-in-a lifetime experience These are the ultimate whisky travel itineraries to dream about It’s a truth universally acknowledged that incredible whisky is now made all over the world The development of the industry at the hands of exciting innovative distillers means we can experience a sense of place like never before – through a tasting glass without leaving the comfort of our homes The more intrepid whisky drinker will actually make the trip to far-flung makers Around 2.2 million people visit distilleries in Scotland alone each year according to the Scotch Whisky Association Another two million headed to Kentucky distilleries in 2022 calculates the Kentucky Distillers’ Association No one body tallies up global distillery trips but it’s clear that whisky tourism is flying combining distillery visits with local adventures can make for extraordinary travel consider the communities distilleries are part of Our favourite whiskies often come from wondrous places What happens if you intentionally pair the two We reached out to some of the world’s most exciting makers for their recommendations on distillery tours and tastings must-experience activities in their local area From archaeological digs to world-leading galleries these are the whisky itineraries of dreams Pack your bags – it’s time to go exploring It typically takes a plane, car, and ferry to reach Aurora Spirit Distillery, where the world’s most northerly whisky maker produces the Bivrost brand from its wildly remote home The stills flow where the Lyngen Alps meet the sea the bright summer days are seemingly endless Whales and dolphins swim and puffins rest under the midnight sun But Polar nights cocoon the distillery in darkness around the clock through winter It sounds inhospitable – but the set-up is anything but Stay in the stylish Aurora Fjord Cabins and you’ll get to see the spectacular Northern Lights Just a two-minute walk from the distillery the cabins serve as the perfect base for both whisky and adventure offering panoramic views across the crystal-clear water The larger Distillery Cabin sleeps up to five you’ll be cosy indoors but still be immersed in the natural landscape Visit from December to March and you’ll have the chance to explore the Arctic wilderness by dog sled complete with a stop for a bonfire lunch at a traditional Sami Lavvu tent Let’s not forget the distillery itself – a masterpiece in both architecture and distilling The striking building is the design of architects Innovation Norway Barley trials are under way to evaluate if Arctic varietals could be used in whisky production the team is also experimenting with yeast strains The best way to get under the skin of it all is with a Founder’s Experience tour Christensen will personally accompany you around the distillery The name Bivrost is taken from two Norse words: ‘biv’ for shaking It’s the Viking name for the Northern Lights – considered a bridge between earth and heaven That’s certainly the sense you get out in the wilderness at Aurora Spirit Just a couple of hours from bustling Tokyo is one of Japan’s newest distilleries – and it’s not just in any location. The name Karuizawa will resonate strongly with many whisky lovers. Komoro Distillery the inaugural producer from Karuizawa Distillers is taking up the mantle of whisky making in the Greater Karuizawa area after the eponymous – and now iconic – distillery that was mothballed back in 2000 It was founded by entrepreneur Koji Shimaoka and his wife alongside award-winning master blender Ian Chang The vision is to make whisky of the highest quality But it’s about creating a destination for whisky lovers curated by The Whisky Lounge’s Eddie Ludlow Just don’t directly mix the whisky with skiing… Why not get a group together for a retreat to one of Scotland’s most stunning – and remote – destinations? The Isle of Raasay offers a phenomenal whisky experience Located just a 25-minute ferry journey from the Isle of Skye Raasay is a tiny island community with just 120 permanent residents The isle offers views like you’ve never seen before along with remarkable whisky from one of Scotland’s leading young distilleries Alasdair Day, founder of R&B Distillers along with Bill Dobbie, constructed the first legal distillery on the island with spirit first flowing back in October 2017 Today it’s selling its very own single malt a blend of peated and unpeated whiskies that evokes the style of old Hebridean bottlings it’s one of the finest places in Scotland to spot wildlife Not only do whales and puffins populate the surroundings and golden eagles have been identified over the island It’s one of the most fascinating ecosystems in the British Isles and one that will delight even the most amateur ornithologist For accommodation, Raasay Distillery offers the chance to rent out the whole of Borodale House an enormous family home that sleeps up to 12 comfortably Guests have the run of the bar and restaurant and also have the option to fill their own casks tour options include pairing whisky and gin with chocolates and even taking in the island by Land Rover or RIB fast boat trips to get up close and personal with the coastline Be sure to return to the visitor centre for one of the best stillhouse views in Scotland Kavalan is widely considered to be one of the early world whisky pioneers – and with good reason innovative approaches to maturation and cask management have landed it a staunch reputation as one of the most desirable makers Since 2005 it has been crafting impeccable whiskies and it’s an essential stop on a global spirits adventure Touch down at the distillery and you’re in for a treat taking in the entire whisky-making process from mashing through to fermentation and distillation and a signature of the Solist Vinho Barrique expression guests have access to Kavalan’s Whisky Lab where they can craft their very own expression from cask samples – and there are few greater souvenirs from a whisky trip than your very own bottling After the distillery guests should head to downtown Taipei Not only is the city home to the Kavalan Whisky Bar but it also offers an exciting art scene; widely considered to be one of the world's most cutting-edge the city is full to the brim with young collectors The Taipei Contemporary Art Fair is a must-attend the event attracts buyers from across Asia There’s a real sense that younger demographics are bringing fresh perspectives to the art world Art is thirsty work. Circling back to the Kavalan Whisky Bar is essential for a refreshing cocktail or two to round off the day’s visual indulgences is inviting guests to literally dig into its past Its history stems from E. H. Taylor Jr, who is widely considered to have revolutionised the bourbon industry. His influence dates back centuries, and his life and history are central to the distillery’s ‘Bourbon Pompeii’ tour the experience will pique the interest of any historian or budding archaeologist At the centre of the tour is the Old Taylor House it sat vacant prior to its restoration but over the years housed a lab and even a small hospital the experience also takes in the original foundation wall used in the first ‘modern’ distillery they were only discovered when work to renovate an old building got under way a brick and limestone structure built in 1884 The next stop on the dream itinerary is to explore the private Single Barrel Select programme Retailers and consumers alike can take to Warehouse H to choose their own bottling from four samples Guests can customise their bottles with their own name There’s no better way to acquire your very own bourbon – and take a piece of liquid history home with you Tasmania has a long, if gappy, history of whisky making. There are records dating back to 1822 which show distilling on the island. Lark Distillery Its establishment came 150 years after the last shut up shop The constant through it all has been the abundant Tasmanian ecosystems Lark taps into this with its epic four-day Tasmanian adventure. Founder Bill Lark recently took on the challenging 49-kilometre Three Capes Adventure Walk along with 200 friends of the distillery ready your boots: the adventure is back next May with master blender Chris Thomson Intrepid adventurers can expect accommodation in stunning eco lodges The itinerary starts with a private tasting at The Still, Lark’s Hobart venue and an embassy of Australian whisky which include dramatic views from some of the world’s highest sea cliffs guests are immersed in the world-renowned Tasman wilderness The group is led by the Tasmanian Walking Company an organisation which has explored the land for more than 35 years as the traditional owners of the land and waters of the area It also fervently protects the natural and cultural integrity of the land through stringent sustainability practices It’s a theme that continues to Lark Distillery itself, which is a must-visit before or after the hike. Carbon neutrality is at the heart of every practice, as certified by the Australian government’s Climate Active  programme Tours run every day from Wednesday to Sunday with whisky blending sessions also available Online retailer Dekantā has partnered with Karuizawa Whisky Company to offer the new Japanese distillery’s inaugural bottlings with the aim of reviving the ‘former prominence of the world-renowned whisky brand’ The Karuizawa Whisky Company has been working on the build of a new whisky distillery in the heart of its namesake town over the last few years which will not operate on the same site as the closed distillery of the same name is due to open and start producing liquid from late 2022 The original Karuizawa distillery was built by Daikiku Budoshu Co in 1956 in the foothills of Mount Asama in Karuizawa the original Karuizawa site has achieved a cult-like status for its Sherried single malt whisky with very little liquid available on the market Bottles of the last remaining liquid are often sold at auction The Karuizawa Whisky Company and independent bottler Dekantā will work together for 10 years to create official distillery bottlings and independent releases alongside Japanese whisky events and experiences The long-term collaboration is also expected to result in private cask sales which have been largely closed to international consumers up until this point “This is a venture that we believe will help to take Japanese whisky to the next level,” Dekantā head of content Liam Hiller said “Further boosting its popularity around the globe and allowing fans to get their hands on some precious Karuizawa liquid distilled to the same quality and specifications as the famous bottles that sell for tens of thousands at auction houses around the world.” the Karuizawa Whisky Company has hired master distillers Osami Uchibori and Yoshiyuki Nakazato who were the distillers of the original whisky The distillery plans to produce only Sherry cask whisky None of the whisky will be bottled before the age of 10 “I’m very proud we’ve struck this partnership with masterful whisky distillers I so greatly admire,” said Dekantā director Makiyo Masa to their commitment to use only Sherry cask whisky it is clear the team at Karuizawa are dedicated to protecting and advancing the rich legacy of the Karuizawa brand It is a huge honour to continue to play a part in the story of a brand which holds such great significance in Japanese whisky history.” All casks will be stored at the new distillery and bottlings undertaken at the new site Dekantā said the allocation for Karuizawa casks filled in 2022 have already sold out with the 2023 cask allocation to be available for sale soon said: “We are very proud to have struck this partnership and look forward to bringing top-quality Karuizawa whisky to Dekanta’s clients for years to come.” Karuizawa Whisky Company is not the only producer building a distillery in honour of the world-renowned brand Karuizawa Distillers (KDI) unveiled plans to build a Japanese whisky distillery in Komoro in December 2020 seven miles from the original Karuizawa distillery The distillery’s flagship brand will be Japanese single malt whisky Komoro Gleaming pot stills are a timeless and iconic image of the whisky industry. There’s always been a certain romanticism surrounding them but none more so than when crafted by a family-run firm with a long tradition of coppersmithing such as Forsyths. Now world leaders in the supply of distillation equipment, Forsyths’ history dates back to the 1890s when Alexander Forsyth was apprenticed to a Speyside brass and copperworks. Following the completion of his apprenticeship Alexander remained with the firm, first as a tradesman and then as a foreman, before purchasing the business in 1933. Then named A. Forsyth and Son, Forsyths is now in its fourth generation. Originally only operating in Scotland’s whisky industry, Forsyths’ main business remains the replacement of worn parts of equipment at local distilleries including Glenfiddich and The Glenlivet. However, Forsyths now also offer a huge range of services - including distillery design, turnkey solutions, site installations and commissioning - to producers of all spirits all across the globe. Fundamental to this global expansion is their Hong Kong office which opened in late 2018 in response to growing demand in Asia-Pacific. While all manufacturing remains in Scotland, the sales, engineering, and maintenance hub in Hong Kong is ideally located to be more accessible to, and better able to support, customers in the region. Forsyths have also recently completed work on the highly anticipated Komoro Distillery in the foothills of Mount Asama in central Honshū (the main island of Japan). Operated by Karuizawa Distillers, Inc. the innovative Komoro Distillery opened in the summer of 2023. Komoro’s two unusual onion-shaped copper pot stills with their heavily descending long lyne arms take pride of place in the distillery, visible from almost every vantage point. It’s not just the shape of the stills that are different though, Komoro also reverse the usual process in which the first distillation is bigger than the second, to ensure - as master blender and founder Ian Chang explains - that the cycle is “very small and very continuous.” Priding themselves on taking a client-led approach to all their projects, Forsyths work directly with start-up companies to identify their specific needs and offer everything from the supply of individual stills, fermenters and mashtuns to process design, turnkey services, installation, and commissioning. Forsyths describe every project as unique but there’s no denying that Komoro’s was particularly pioneering. Nonetheless Chang describes working with them as nothing short of exemplary. “From the outset, their professionalism, industry knowledge, and commitment to understanding our specific needs at Komoro Distillery were apparent. The HK office provided us with tailored solutions that perfectly aligned with our project's unique requirements, ensuring a seamless and efficient process from start to finish. Their expertise in distilling equipment, coupled with an intimate understanding of the nuances of the Asian market, made them an invaluable partner in our venture. The support and guidance we received throughout our project were instrumental in helping us achieve our goals, ultimately contributing to the high quality of our products.” Elsewhere, in Asia-Pacific demand is growing. Forsyths have already installed two large plants in China and have a further two distilleries in the planning stage. They are also receiving a growing number of enquiries not only from China, but also from India where Forsyths admit their equipment has been prohibitively expensive, but now hope to benefit from the long anticipated free-trade agreement between India and the UK. While other markets - such as Vietnam and Australia - probably need to mature before Forsyths can make significant headway, you can already find Forsyths equipment on every continent making everything from bourbon and brandy to rum, tequila, and vodka. With their Hong Kong office going from strength to strength it seems certain that number will continue to rise. Subscribe to receive email updates from IWSC Necessary cookies are required for this website to operate correctly The only way to disable these is to update your browser settings These cookies help us gain an insight into how people use our website This information is used to improve the websites performance and features we offer We use social plugins to help you share content and interact with your friends These plugins can set cookies on your machine to track how many times a page has been shared We embed videos from 3rd party services such as Youtube These services may set cookies on your computer once you click on the player We use marketing cookies to make sure we are giving you relevant content Sign up to our newsletter to be the first to read our latest features and reviews get exclusive offers and learn about upcoming events When it comes to building awesome AE86’s for both the street and the track there a few shops more skilled than Tec-Arts which is located just outside of Tokyo in Saitama Prefecture Besides building numerous top level street cars Tec-Arts AE86 racing experience also includes their famous N2 race car which has achieved great success at the N2 races held at Tsukuba Circuit Tec-Arts also has an active D1GP project which has been in competition for a few years now The driver of the Tec-Arts D1 Trueno is Kensaku Komoro and this car just happens to be one of my favorites that is currently competing in the D1GP It helps set the standard for competition AE86 drift cars around the world and shows that 25-year old chassis has plenty of life of left in it I’m not exactly sure what it is about this car that is so appealing Maybe it’s the aggressive stance or the perfect offset and gleaming lips on the wheels Maybe it’s the striking MSR-designed graphics Maybe it’s a combination of all those things and more as the car slides past at incredible velocities I kept finding myself returning to the Team Goodyear pit at the Odaiba D1 event to get a closer look at the car a look under that bonnet will reveal a large part of what gives this car its uniqueness While you might expect to see a naturally aspirated 20-valve unit or an SR20 or F20C swap like many current AE86 competition drift cars have Tec-Arts keeps it real with an old school 16 valve 4AG mill Of course this is far from your standard 4AGE as Tec-Arts has put its years of AE86 experience to work making sure this car is as powerful and competitive as possible The engine has been fully rebuilt by Tec-Arts inside and out and is also outfitted with a Greddy turbine that helps give Komoro the power he needs to keep up with the high powered cars he competes against in the D1GP Power output for this set up is an astonishing 360ps It can be difficult sending all that power through the standard T50 transmission so it has been replaced with 4-speed “dogmission” unit like the ones found in many other drift cars Power is then sent to the wheels through a TRD LSD the interior has been stripped with all non essential pieces removed for weight savings A pair of Juran bucket seats with Takata harnesses help to secure Komoro and whoever is daring enough to ride shotgun with him Of course a full roll cage is also in place You can also see how the stock gauge cluster has been removed in favor of a number aftermarket gauges The car’s overall sexiness is due in large part to the 15×8.5 negative offset Work Equip 03 wheels wrapped in stretched Goodyear RS Sport rubber A beautiful and timeless wheel design for sure In some situations the car can also be seen with white 17″ Work Meister S1’s like the ones found on the Tec-Arts N2 race car The car’s mean stance is achieved with set of special Tec-Arts SPL full coilovers developed in conjunction with Racing Gear If you are looking for a set of these for your AE86 Tec-Arts sells the whole package for around $2700 USD Other parts of the suspension remain tight with a number of Tec-Arts original urethane bushings The aero kit on this car is also by Tec-Arts and includes the front bumper the over-fenders are needed given the car’s aggressive wheel sizing The vented hood is also a Tec-Arts piece and is available for purchase in both carbon and FRP The large intercooler visible through the front bumper also adds a lot to the car’s aggressive exterior the car is running a Tec-Arts original carbon 3D GT Wing which is mounted to standard TRD rear spoiler but provides plenty of aerodynamic stability at the faster tracks seen on the D1GP schedule The smoked tail lamps also add a nice touch to the car’s rear view The Tec-Arts D1 car actually used be done in greenish color but is now sporting the same purple livery seen on their N2 AE86 as well as their FC3S RX7 All in call it makes it for one of the most impressive cars in D1 Just look at how cool it looks while drifting Note how you can’t even see the face of the wheel at full lock because the lips are so big As long as tuners like Tec-Arts keep building amazing cars like this the AE86 will continue to keep its place as one of the most popular and exciting cars in the drifting world Tec-Arts Goodyear D1 Project I like the gold Cipher Garage sticker on the car This is kind of a tangent but possibly intriguing enough for you Speedhunters to pursue I think it would be an awesome idea to do a piece on not so common body kits for 86s and maybe other cars such as like goodline or j-blood aero Instead of the usual Origin or BN Sports kits feature some unique ones Just an idea but as always great work and I hate the fact y'all constantly update this making me check it a 1,000 times a day.Cheers,Walter Would this still be considered a pure 4AG for the die-hard hachi fans or swaying a tad bit left field from the NA power which is seen mostly.... Always talking about yourself or something that has to do with you As a die-hard hachi fan.....i'd still take that!!!but like the saying goes "the simple things matter most in life" If my sticker was on there I'd be real content with myself too...it's like tagging Google or Wiki "Andre the giant has a posse" or "Obey Giant" you know that sticker should be on his rear quarter window or in the back Anyone know any more about the specs on that mill the onty thing that bothers me is the stance I noticed that most D1/Pro level drift machines aren't as low was some of us would consider to have a "proper stance" Is it me or the older style 86's of the 90's were lower Even my street/weekend track 86 sits lower Just look at the 3rd last picture...why can I see the back tire in any case I'd trade my ride for that any day Speedhunters is an international collective of photographers writers and drivers with a shared passion for uncovering the world's most exciting car culture stories Japan's Princess Ayako formally announced her engagement to 32-year-old shipping firm employee Kei Moriya on Monday one week after the Imperial Household Agency revealed the couple's plans to marry According to The Japan Times will become officially engaged to Kei in a traditional ceremony called "Nosai no Gi" on August 12 The wedding will take place on October 29 at the Meiji Jingu Shrine in Shibuya Ward a spokesman for the Imperial Household Agency told The Japan Times the third and youngest daughter of Princess Hisako and the late Prince Takamoado met Kei in December 2017 through her mother according to the Imperial Household Agency As previously reported by The Japan Times Princess Hisako was a longtime friend of Kei's late mother, who had served as the executive board member of a Tokyo-based nonprofit organization called Kokkyo naki Kodomotachi The Japanese royal introduced the shipping firm worker to Princess Ayako in the hope that her daughter would become more involved in international welfare work Speaking at a joint news conference with Moriya on Monday Princess Ayako said the couple hit it off right away "I remember that our conversation got so lively that it didn't feel like we had just met and that I had so much fun that I forgot about time," Ayako said Ayako said she became attracted to the shipping firm worker's "kind Moriya described his first impression of Ayako as "bright and positive" and said he admires her warmth and kindness the 32-year-old also said that the couple grew closer because Ayako understands the "emotional impact of suddenly losing a parent." Mako and Komoro later postponed their marriage until at least 2020 via a joint statement released in February 2018 in which the two said they needed more time to plan their future together Sign up here to get INSIDER's favorite stories straight to your inbox Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information has just the ticket for that special occasion it began offering a service called Anniversary Wine that allows drinkers to purchase bottles of a limited edition brand labeled Souvenir and leave them to mature in a “cellar” at the grand Tokyo Station Hotel in Chiyoda Ward The wine is produced exclusively by the Manns Wines Komoro Winery in Nagano Prefecture until the owner decides the time has come to pop the cork for a celebratory meal at the hotel’s restaurant or elsewhere The wine is produced from vines in the same district as those for the deluxe Solaris brand of red served to Donald Trump when he was president as well as to French President Emmanuel Macron The mix of ingredients was adjusted so the flavor improves with age The label features red bricks that symbolize Tokyo Station is designated by the central government as an important cultural property 522 bottles of the Souvenir brand are available although plans call for up to 1,000 bottles to be stored in the 16-square-meter chamber eventually Temperature and humidity levels are kept around a constant 14 degrees and 70 percent The dedicated cellar was set up in what was previously a “business room” on the second floor of the Tokyo Station Hotel Red bricks from the time the station building opened in 1914 were reused for a section of the cellar’s interior A bottle of Souvenir carries a price tag of 22,000 yen ($164) including tax and storage fee for the first year It can be kept in the cellar for up to five years with an additional storage fee of 2,000 yen per year JR East is hoping to cater to customers on a continual basis relying exclusively on wine products made solely from Japanese grapes cultured primarily in Yamanashi “Japanese wine is highly esteemed all over the world and garnering more attention every year,” said a JR East representative “There are many vineyards and wineries in eastern Japan and we will be helping to revitalize those local communities by promoting their wine.” Aomori town promotes rose wine made with watermelons Prices rise for French import wine Beaujolais Nouveau ‘Ekiben’ that pairs well with wine wins best boxed meal prize Confectionery in Japan creates hard candy that tastes like wine Aomori farmers create apple wine from Osamu Dazai's ‘Tsugaru’ Fukuoka brewer busy quenching thirst for ‘Hojo Biden’ sake Information on the latest cherry blossom conditions Please right click to use your browser’s translation function.) A series based on diplomatic documents declassified by Japan’s Foreign Ministry Here is a collection of first-hand accounts by “hibakusha” atomic bomb survivors chefs and others involved in the field of food introduce their special recipes intertwined with their paths in life A series about Japanese-Americans and their memories of World War II In-house News and Messages No reproduction or republication without written permission NAGANO--Leather is becoming a problem as some people won’t wear animal hide and synthetic leather comes from crude oil But now there’s an environmentally friendly leather from agricultural sources Those producing it come from the farms of Shinshu an upland region that roughly matches the boundaries of Nagano Prefecture “I would like to make this a product that represents Shinshu and one that we can proudly showcase to the world,” said Yuri Ito Ito was speaking to reporters at the prefectural government office Leather and fur have taken a hiding in recent years Animal welfare is no longer the realm of activists but is affecting mainstream consumer choices The move was mirrored across the fashion industry there is a market for faux leather--a synthetic fabric with similar appearance and properties But it is made from petroleum-derived materials such as polyurethane Ito learned in 2021 that environmentally friendly leathers made from apples were being produced overseas “There is no reason we can’t do it in Japan as well,” she said Nagano Prefecture is Japan’s second largest apple producing region Her idea was selected for the prefectural government’s start-up business support program for fiscal 2021 Sorena develops apple leather in collaboration with two entities an apple-producing region in the northern part of the prefecture The second is a manufacturer of synthetic leather Iizuna is famous for its apple juice and cider production It generates about one ton of apple pomace per day pips and pith that remains after an apple has been pressed for its juice It adds this to a cotton base material to make leather more than half of the raw materials used to make apple leather are derived from plants “Farmers grow apples with pride,” Ito said “I would be pleased if our leather not only contributes to realizing a sustainable society but also helps (consumers) get to know such people.” The texture is no different from ordinary synthetic leather Consumers already can purchase apple leather products wallets and other items are available for online purchasing from the company of Komoro city in the same prefecture is developing a leather using mushroom material Nagano Prefecture is the nation’s largest producer of mushrooms “The mushroom leather we produce is made from 100 percent natural materials,” said Keita Inui a fluffy tissue that spreads from the base of mushrooms as they grow The company uses its own techniques to grow mycelium into a mat It takes one to two months to form mushroom leather Mushroom leather feels similar to genuine leather It has a cream color with brownish and blackish patches Sheets of it measure 60 centimeters by 30 cm which is characteristic of natural materials,” Inui said “People should appreciate it as a one-off product.” Mycl Japan was established in July 2022 as a joint venture with four companies One is a company in Singapore that holds a patent for manufacturing technology which exports technology for mushroom farms in Gunma Prefecture is a dealer in cultivation materials and machinery Mycl Japan is looking at growth opportunities within Japan it bought and began renovating a former Komoro senior citizens’ welfare center a cultivation building will be completed by the end of September The company aims to produce 45 square meters of mushroom leather per week It will start supplying clients in October Manufacturers that have expressed interest include apparel and furniture manufacturers A bag brand in Tokyo has already decided to use the material But Mycl Japan has ambitions beyond growing the leather the company’s president notes that the fabric may offer new opportunities for hard-up mushroom growers “Many mushroom farmers are facing financial difficulties Some cannot continue their businesses,” Inui said “Our mushroom leather is a new material that can be produced utilizing basic mushroom cultivation techniques.” we would like to franchise the business and have many farmers participate It would aim for a mutually supportive relationship in which we help each other.” Headrest cover made of Aomori apples proves appealing to ANA Japan spider silk startup snagging major capital for development Developers find timely way to showcase local timber of Ehime Nagano firm builds machine to rate tastiness of ‘soba’ noodles donned a white “samue” (work outfit) to enter a sake brewery in Saku and eight other Japanese guests were then purified by a Shinto priest before entering Kitsukura Shuzou which has been in business for about 300 years After listening to the brewer’s explanation Sanchez scooped the rice into a steamer about two meters in diameter She also helped with the difficult work of mixing water She had been to other breweries before and was familiar with the sake-making process but this was her first time actually working with her hands “It’s completely different from what I’ve seen and heard I now know how hard it is to make sake,” she said on Nov Sanchez is among the surging number of foreign visitors to Japan which has exceeded the pre-pandemic level for the first time in a single month As cities are flooded with inbound tourists and business is booming at hotels and railroads it seems that “local specialties” and “hands-on experiences” hold the keys to future growth in the tourism sector The brewery in Saku has become a hotspot for foreign visitors who are excited to stay at the on-site inn Kurabito Stay and experience authentic sake brewing who grew up in the neighboring city of Komoro After working at a travel company in Tokyo Tazawa returned to her hometown and met Taira Ide An old building that had once been a brewer’s quarters and used as a warehouse caught Tazawa’s eye who wanted to make the brewery “open to the public,” hit it off She raised the funds to renovate the building herself and opened the inn in 2020 The inn’s eight rooms range from two-and-a-half to five-and-a-half tatami mats and offers a 3-day/2-night program and sake brewing experience for 88,000 yen ($580) The rooms are completely booked until next March and 40 percent of these reservations are from foreigners has beautiful nature and you get to know the people,” Sanchez said “I find rural areas much more attractive than urban tourist destinations.” “Now that the internet is overflowing with information authentic experiences that can only be had by going to a certain place will attract foreigners It is important for local people to recognize the tourism resources that exist in their daily lives and polish them.” While the number of foreign travelers in Japan is increasing rapidly the tourism industry struggles to draw these visitors who are concentrated in the three metropolitan prefectures of Tokyo accounted for 64 percent of all foreign overnight stays from January to August 2023 This is because peak tourist destinations are concentrated along the “Golden Route,” which takes visitors from Tokyo to Hakone and Mount Fuji and Kochi prefectures exceeded their pre-COVID figures recorded in the same period of 2019 While visitors to Tokyo have increased by 30 percent most places around Japan have not yet recovered to pre-COVID levels and Kagoshima) have decreased by over 60 percent popular tourist destinations such as Kyoto and Kamakura are experiencing serious overtourism (tourism pollution) with overcrowding and bad manners creating significant problems As the number of visitors to Japan is expected to increase further in the future dispersing visitors to the countryside is a pressing issue the central government selected 11 locations such as "Eastern Hokkaido" and “Okinawa and Amami,” as model regions and is providing intensive support for the creation of tourist destinations that visitors to Japan will find attractive Particular emphasis is being placed on “experiences.” The lineup includes tours where visitors can learn about geisha culture pottery making and Japanese washi paper making “We hope that incorporating such experiences will encourage people to stay longer and spend more money in rural areas,” said a Japan Tourism Agency official Gunma sake brewery polishes trophies instead of rice grains Airbnb Japan eyes ‘kominka’ to attract more foreign visitors Please view the main text area of the page by skipping the main menu. The page may not be displayed properly if the JavaScript is deactivated on your browser Japanese version Kenya News Agency Outgoing Lamu County Women Representative Ruweida Obo has won the hotly contested Lamu East MP seat and unseated incumbent two term MP Abdul Sharif Athman (UDA) Stephen Karani announced that the Jubilee Party candidate managed to garner 5,498 votes against Athman’s 4,633 votes which was enough to see her sail through and claim her place as the first elected woman MP in Lamu’s history Coming in third was Shekule Kamala Komoro who ran on a Kanu ticket and managed to get 3,180 votes and at fourth was Wiper Party candidate Madhubuti Mohammed who got 1,632 votes the MP elect thanked Lamu East residents and promised to deliver on her development agenda pledge for Lamu East residents She stated that Lamu East residents have in the past endured uninspired leadership which she added has seen the area stagnate without any proper infrastructure being built to enable Lamu East residents have a better quality of life “My tenure will mark a shift in how education health and infrastructure concerns are addressed in Lamu East,” she noted adding that areas such as the Boni have been marginalized with no one giving concern to the plight of those living within the area’s five villages The outgoing woman representative further stated that her election for the Lamu East MP seat is a statement by the electorate in the area that they are ready to be represented by good leadership regardless of gender “It is no small feat that the electorate in Lamu East have had to transcend social stereotypes and ensure that they voted for me based on my development and leadership track record,” she said Obo further said that she will address the plight of the girl and the boy child in Lamu East whom she added are cause for concern especially with the high rate of unemployment in the area “One of the areas I will address is to ensure that the incoming national government administration puts a close to the Sh1.76 billion Lamu fishermen compensation,” she said adding that a large constituency of Lamu fishermen who would benefit from the reparation are from Lamu East She further said she would work closely with the national government in ensuring that it implements legislation aimed at addressing the plight of the marginalized within Kenya You must be logged in to post a comment Kenya Broadcasting Corporation MyGov Kenya National Archives Kenya Yearbook Editorial Board Kenya Institute of Mass Communication Media Council of Kenya eCitizen – Gateway to All Government Services How to make payments to the Directorate of Information County Focus, March, 2025. Mawasiliano, March, 2025. Sauti Ya Kericho, January, 2025. Maarifa, January, 2025. NGAO, February, 2025. THE EYE, February, 2025. Nyota Ya Mashariki, March , 2025. Nyota Ya Magharibi, March, 2025. KNA Bulletin, December, 2024. Sauti Ya Gusii, December, 2024. Try Komoro Japanese Dining’s bento for lunch Curry may have been born in India but because of its introduction to Japan by the British during their colonial rule of India The dish is commonly served in three versions: curry rice and uses a wide variety of vegetables and meats we were able to try their katsu and hamburger curry As a franchise store of the famous Komoro Soba in Japan KOMORO Japanese Dining has been in the country since 1992 Serving good Japanese dishes at a reasonable price Komoro has proven itself as the restaurant to go to for Japanese dishes Komoro stall at The Pantree at Dela Rosa St. and potatoes mixed with the roux while the meat could be almost anything The most popular would be the katsu curry which is made with breaded pork cutlet placed on top of rice and the sauce poured on top the katsu is made crispy while the hamburger juicy–which both go very well with their curry sauce KOMORO Japanese Dining’s new Hamburger curry (price to be posted soon) Komoro offers lunch delivery under the name KOMORO Bento for those areas so feel free to call them soon Komoro also delivers bento to schools for a minimum order worth Php 500– if you’re a busy mom who doesn’t have time to prepare your kids’ lunch Also read: KOMORO