Produced for an organization or individual that has paid for and approved the content Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content Uonuma Jozo's factory base lies in the farming city of Uonuma around 90 minutes from Tokyo and one hour from Niigata city The company established its factory in Uonuma because the city has a unique microclimate due to being surrounded by mountains points out how such conditions provide the basis for a unique-tasting rice He highlights that "the region's rich soil as well as its seasonal and temperature changes create a perfect environment for producing high-quality rice This results in a natural sweetness and good consistency in the rice itself." Uonuma Jozo uses this high-quality rice to manufacture its koji products Koji is created when koji mold is added to steamed grains such as rice Koji is used in the production of miso and amazake and is a natural additive that improves the flavor of products Uonuma Jozo's mission is to spread the knowledge of fermented goods like koji Its products are divided into two brands: Marukome and Uonuma Jozo The company combines Marukome's expertise in miso fermentation with Uonuma Jozo's brewing skills This partnership has resulted in innovative products that blend the flavors of miso and amazake The company's product line includes koji amazake a traditional Japanese drink made from rice koji and steamed rice Ito explains the intricacies of production highlighting that "producing amazake is a very sensitive process The rice must be even throughout the entire process to prevent disparities in the flavoring at the end." Another of Uonuma Jozo's popular products is its salted koji (shio koji) which is used for marinating meat and fish to make them tender before cooking The company also offers vegan alternatives to animal-based products placing its focus on meeting the expectations of its customers across the world—particularly consumers' growing awareness of living a healthy lifestyle It is expanding its product base to offer eco-friendly and natural products that help its customers to do just that Ito points out: "When it comes to new products even though our rice koji milk is not animal-derived Some people may have allergies or may be lactose intolerant which prevents them from drinking animal-derived milk Introducing a similar product using rice koji provides customers with a vegan alternative." Another of its products is koji syrup a safe alternative for people who are allergic to bee honey Uonuma Jozo's koji syrup made headlines last year when it was used in chocolatier Hironobu Tsujiguchi's chocolate Tsujiguchi received a Gold Tablet for his chocolate at the annual Salon du Chocolat festival in Paris Ito notes that the company collaborates as much as possible with many food manufacturers that are looking to learn more about koji and implement it in their production processes Uonuma Jozo takes sustainability very seriously putting emphasis on preventative measures rather than recycling X-ray inspection technology and foreign matter removal equipment are used in each step of the production process to address this issue Not only is the company strongly committed to sustainability but it is also dedicated to respecting Uonuma's cultural heritage through its preservation of traditional techniques As Ito explains: "Uonuma is famous for its traditional cultivation methods We preserve these cultural manufacturing techniques on our premises as they relate to the history of Japan This approach is quite rare as many Japanese companies have modernized their processes We want to continue to introduce traditionally made Japanese products such as amazake to as many people as possible by respecting and refining these traditions." An interesting feature of Uonuma Jozo's factory is its snow room Uonuma is surrounded by mountains and is famous for its snow The factory also has a vent downstairs that ensures that the cold air blows around the refrigerated area making it perfect for natural preservation purposes the snow room is thoroughly cleaned and refilled with moisture-laden snow Uonuma Jozo spent nearly a year filming the factory site as part of a documentary that showcases the culture climate and charm of the people who live in Uonuma Ito elaborates further on the importance of the factory being established in Uonuma: "The reason we created this facility was so that people from outside the prefecture—including the Tokyo metropolitan area—can come for factory tours and sightseeing We believe that we should aim to be a presence that is loved by local residents." Strategies like this to support regional revitalization are an important aspect of Ito's job As there is a constant flow of people leaving the rural areas and going to work in the big cities Uonuma Jozo is trying to do the opposite and encourage people to work in the local area The company conducts tours for elementary school students to go to the factory and study amazake manufacturing Ito believes that once you adopt the knowledge and transfer it to young people you can help revitalize the region and contribute to the local area Incentives such as these to attract young people to Uonuma seem to have been successful as the average age of the company's workers is 23 years old Gender equality is also taken into consideration to help revitalize the region The firm has already reached gender parity He emphasizes: "There is a large number of men working on Japanese production sites we wanted to offer equal conditions for anyone to come and work for us We offer a women-friendly working environment to prospective employees as everyone can do the same job regardless of their gender I would even like to see my daughter working for the company in the future." Given rice koji's unique properties have attracted attention around the world Uonuma Jozo is looking to expand its outreach by exploring how the material can be utilized through collaborations overseas Ito notes: "People around the globe are very aware of the importance of a healthy lifestyle We would like to help them fulfill their expectations." He is confident that Uonuma Jozo's products will be sought after overseas particularly in developed areas such as Europe and the United States highlighting that once the company acquires the necessary certifications to dispatch products overseas For more details, explore their website at: https://www.uonuma-jozo.co.jp/en/index.html or at https://www.marukome.co.jp/global/en/ All interviews were conducted by The Worldfolio and can be found at www.theworldfolio.com This article has been paid for by a third party The views and opinions expressed are not those of Newsweek and are not an endorsement of the products Newsletters in your inbox See all More than 120 teams on Sunday battled it out in a snowball fight tournament in a mountainous Japanese city in what the local weather bureau called the coldest air this winter to sweep the country’s northern snow belt The 35th annual Koide International Snowball Fight in Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture was the largest event of its kind in Japan Teams of five players competed in two-minute matches between two teams on a field the size of a tennis court with points awarded for direct hits with a snowball score hits and the [team with the] most points wins,” Kitsu said has players across the country’s heavy-snow areas and boasts an official body that has campaigned to take the sport to the Winter Olympics According to the rules published by the Japan Yukigassen Federation which was not involved in organizing Uonuma’s event players are counted out when hit by a snowball and a team wins once all opponents are out “Snowball fighting is originally just a game so I like that when you give it a competitive side it becomes a high-tension sport you can enjoy,” said 26-year-old Masaki Nakakubo who traveled from Tokyo to take part in the tournament “I think it’s that kind of event where you can feel like a kid again,” said 28-year-old Chizuru Ofuchi Uonuma is deep in Japan’s so-called snow country a region that has hefty amounts of snowfall every winter More than 3m of snow had accumulated in the city by Sunday “When you look at it from a local’s point of view “So we hoped we could turn it into something fun by starting these snowball fights.” The winner of the tournament was awarded 30kg of rice By Tom Bateman Reuters Focus on Japan A man fell while throwing a snowball at the 35th Koide International Snowball Fight in Uonuma Japan >> More than 120 teams battled it out in a snowball fight tournament in a mountainous Japanese city on Feb in what the local weather bureau called the coldest air this winter to sweep the country’s northern snow belt The 35th annual Koide International Snowball Fight in Uonuma score hits and the (team with the) most points wins,” said Kitsu known as “Sports Yukigassen,” has players from heavy-snow areas According to rules by the Japan Yukigassen Federation which was not involved in Uonuma’s event “Snowball fighting is originally just a game so I like that when you give it a competitive side it becomes a high-tension sport you can enjoy,” said player Masaki Nakakubo “I think it’s that kind of event where you can feel like a kid again,” said Chizuru Ofuchi Uonuma is deep in Japan’s so-called “Snow Country,” a region that sees hefty amounts of snowfall every winter More than nine feet of snow had accumulated in the city by the day of the competition according to the Japan Meteorological Agency “When you look at it from a local’s point of view “So we hoped we could turn it into something fun by starting these snowball fights.” The tournament winner was awarded 66 pounds of rice Your browser does not support JavaScript, or it is disabled．Please check the site policy for more information made primarily from rice instead of traditional malted barley "Hakkaisan Single Grain Uonuma 8-Year Rice Whisky 2025 Limited," will hit the market on April 1 The whisky has been aged for eight years at the company's distillery in Minami-Uonuma utilizing local spring water and sake yeast The region is a traditional producer of rice wine The resulting spirit has a distinct sweet aroma As sake consumption continues to decline in Japan Hakkaisan Brewery is focusing on expanding its portfolio amid the growing demand for whisky The company aims to increase the share of distilled spirits in its sales from the current 10 percent to more than 25 percent The new rice whisky will be available in a limited release of 2,500 bottles with a tax-included price of 13,200 yen ($87) for a 700-milliliter bottle with additional distribution to select liquor stores and bars In addition to the distillery in Minami-Uonuma Hakkaisan Brewery has also begun producing whisky at its distillery in Niseko The liquor maker is considering creating a blended whisky by combining whiskies from both distilleries Niigata sake brewers turn to whisky to help bolster business Sake brewery re-creates Japan's first domestic gin from 1812 Struggling sake breweries try to jump on whisky bandwagon Kofukuji's 5-story pagoda in Nara to open to public from Oct 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 National Report A northern city plans to promote Niigata Prefecture’s many local specialties--including its snow--at the Osaka Kansai Expo that opened on April 13 The coolest showpiece from Minami-Uonuma will be a mountain of snow inside the Expo Exhibition Center at the venue from June 20 through June 23 Two to 3 tons of snow will be piled up daily allowing visitors from around the globe to touch and feel the coldness of the snow A sake and rice tasting corner will be set up nearby with alcohol samples provided from bottles kept and matured in snow-filled storehouses in the city for flavor improvement Minami-Uonuma earmarked 17 million yen ($110,000) in its budget for the new fiscal year to cover the costs including transporting the snow to the site by truck and train The snow to be used is being kept at a “snow bank” installed on a mountain in Minami-Uonuma Snow was piled to a height of 8 meters there in mid-March most of the snow here is likely to remain unmelted until mid-June even if we leave it as it is,” said a representative of the city’s commerce “We keep its temperature low with insulation sheets We can secure a sufficient amount of snow with ease.” The Osaka Kansai Expo will continue for six months until Oct 13 on the artificial island of Yumeshima in Osaka’s Konohana Ward The Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition projects that it will attract 28.2 million visitors Minami-Uonuma often receives more than 10 meters of snow a year It has been enhancing efforts not only for snow-related challenges but also to take advantage of this natural resource Private companies in the city are now promoting brand-name products processed in natural refrigerators full of snow An air-conditioning system based on snow was proposed for venues at the 2021 Tokyo Summer Olympics But the plan was dropped because events were held without spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic the Osaka Kansai Expo is the first large-scale international festivity since the Tokyo Olympics “Our hope is to give visitors--especially tourists from Southeast Asia--the chance to learn about the appeal of snow as well as Minami-Uonuma as many of them see snow for the first time at the venue,” a city official said Osaka to boost economy with night tourism ahead of expo Pavilion for Osaka expo to give underwater atmosphere high prices for Osaka hotels seen during expo Plan approved to use public money for extra costs of Osaka expo Osaka governor: Ticket sale goal for Kansai expo now ‘impossible’ The report on the implementation of the Convention, due by States Parties every 6 years, includes a section on the elements inscribed on the Representative List. Read more on periodic reports Japan Inscribed in 2009 (4.COM) on the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity lightweight patterned textiles made from the ramie plant are ideal for the hot and humid Japanese summer Echigo-jofu: techniques of making ramie fabric in Uonuma region Niigata Prefecture developed in the north-western part of Japan’s main island and bear the mark of the region’s cooler climate – particularly its snowy winters Ramie fibres are split from the plant by fingernail and twisted into threads by hand bundles of ramie threads are bound tightly with cotton before dying so as to produce a geometric or floral pattern when the thread is woven into fabric using a simple back-strap loom The cloth is washed in hot water and massaged with the feet after which the wet fabric is placed on the snow-covered fields for ten to twenty days to be lightened by the sun and the ozone released by the snow’s evaporation Clothes produced by this method have been popular among people of various social classes for centuries Practised today mainly by older craftspeople the art remains a point of cultural pride and an important tool for reinforcing a sense of identity for the community Password forgotten? Niigata — The Junior Chamber of International Yukiguni in the city of Minami-Uonuma held an event on Saturday to help local residents rediscover the charm of the snowy region they call home please disable the ad blocking feature and reload the page This website uses cookies to collect information about your visit for purposes such as showing you personalized ads and content By clicking “Accept all,” you will allow the use of these cookies Users accessing this site from EEA countries and UK are unable to view this site without your consent titled “#YukiguniRantan — Furusato ni Hikari o Tomosu Hi” (#YukiguniLanterns — The Day to Light up Our Hometown) gathered on Bokushi Street and lit and released into the night sky about 350 lanterns they wrote their wishes on The participants also enjoyed taking photos of the orange-lit lanterns on their phones “The lanterns went up higher than I thought and were so beautiful,” said an eight-year-old boy of Jonai Primary School Our weekly ePaper presents the most noteworthy recent topics in an exciting © 2025 The Japan News - by The Yomiuri Shimbun Metrics details Physical activity is associated with subjective well-being physical activity may be affected by environmental factors (e.g. We examined the association of two physical activities in rural life (farming activity and snow removal) with subjective well-being in terms of happiness and ikigai (a Japanese word meaning purpose in life) we analysed data collected from community-dwelling adults aged ≥ 40 years in the 2012–2014 survey of the Uonuma cohort study Happiness (n = 31,848) and ikigai (n = 31,785) were evaluated with respect to farming activity from May through November and snow removal from December through April by using an ordinal logistic regression model with adjustments for potential confounders Among the participants who reported some farming or snow-removal time median farming and snow-removal time (minutes per day) was 90.0 and 64.3 for men and 85.7 and 51.4 for women Ordinal logistic regression analysis showed that longer time farming was associated with greater happiness and ikigai in men (adjusted odds ratio for first vs and also in women (adjusted odds ratio for first vs More snow-removal time was inversely associated with happiness and with ikigai in women only (adjusted odds ratio for first vs Our findings showed that physical activity in rural life was associated with happiness and with ikigai and gender differences were observed in their associations with more snow-removal time These results may be useful in helping to identify people in rural communities who are vulnerable in terms of psychological well-being happiness can be described as a pleasant feeling or positive emotion and is influenced by interpersonal relationships in daily life As previous studies have clarified structural aspects of well-being from a cultural perspective clarifying the concept of ikigai could have significance for understanding how psychological well-being can be maintained no study has investigated the relationship between snow removal and well-being and little is known about the relationship between these daily physical activities and ikigai To reveal the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being in a community culture-specific terms for well-being such as ikigai should be considered as should important contributors to daily living activities such as farming activity and snow removal we focused on the area in and around the city of Uonuma which we took to be representative of areas with abundant greenspace and snow accumulation in the corresponding seasons Uonuma is located in a rural area in the south-central part of Niigata Prefecture Although detailed characteristics of this area are described in the “Methods” section its topography and climate result in abundant snow accumulation and subsequently abundant water from snowmelt making the area a leading producer of rice in Japan no other part of Japan has such an even balance between farming and snowfall so the Uonuma area is valuable because both farming activity and snow removal can be studied as daily physical activities this study aimed to examine the relationship between physical activity and subjective well-being in terms of happiness and ikigai focusing on farming activity and snow removal carried out by Uonuma residents The study is based on data from the Uonuma cohort study a large cross-sectional questionnaire survey conducted in the Uonuma area this paper explores the characteristics of farming activity and snow removal and tests the hypothesis that physical activity in rural life would affect subjective well-being in terms of happiness and ikigai in community-dwelling Japanese adults we focused on Minamiuonuma City and Uonuma City in Niigata Baseline surveys of residents (aged ≥ 40 years) living in Minamiuonuma City were conducted in fiscal years 2012 (Muikamachi area) and 2013 (Shiozawa-Yamato area); a baseline survey of residents living in Uonuma City was conducted in fiscal year 2014 the Uonuma cohort study invited all 61,762 Minamiuonuma City and Uonuma City residents aged ≥40 years to complete a questionnaire and ultimately received consent from 39,761 (64.4%) Between October and November of the baseline survey year self-administered questionnaires in sealed envelopes were distributed to the residents and collected by hand in cooperation with the administrative district manager of each city Some questionnaires were mailed subsequently Informed consent was received from all participants The study protocol was approved by the Research Ethics Committee of Niigata University (approval numbers 2012–1403 and 2013–1640) Uonuma area in a the green season and b the snow season A flowchart of the study enrolment process is shown in Fig. 2. Participants were excluded from the study if they reported a history of depression, had a prescription for an antidepressant, or had incomplete questionnaire data. Finally, the total number of analysed subjects was 31,848 for happiness and 31,785 for ikigai. Inclusion flowchart for study participants The average time per week performing farming activity from May through November (green season) and performing snow removal from December through April (snow season) were assessed with no restriction on the type of farming activity or snow removal: “How many minutes per week do you spend on farming activity?” and “How many minutes per week do you spend on snow removal?” The total time spent on each activity type per week was calculated and then converted to time spent per day participants who responded with farming activity or snow-removal times that were excessive (more than 7 days a week or more than 1440 min per day including sleeping time) were excluded To validate the correlation between time spent on each activity type and intensity participants in fiscal year 2014 were also asked about activity intensity (vigorous Responses from 5305 participants (3108 men and 2197 women) were obtained for farming activity and 7527 participants (4563 men and 2964 women) for snow removal The total amount of activity was estimated as METs × hours per day by calculating time spent on each activity type per day multiplied by its MET intensity (for farming and snow removal Spearman’s correlation coefficients for total time spent performing farming activity vs Data were analysed between April and November 2019 using SAS statistical software (version 9.4 Characteristics of the participants according to quartile of time for farming activity and snow removal by sex are presented as means ± SD, medians (interquartile range), or numbers (percentage) (Tables S1 and S2) Physical activity for farming activity and snow removal was classified either as none or according to quartile of total time spent for each activity per day Differences across quartiles were assessed by one-way analysis of variance for continuous variables and the chi-square test for categorical variables Trend analysis was performed according to quartile of each physical activity except the “none” category To ensure the robustness of the relationship with farming activity for those who were not farmers or fishers by occupation similar ordinal logistic regression analysis calculating ORs of happiness and ikigai for farming activity was performed in the subpopulation excluding participants who were working as a farmer or fisher Distribution of happiness (a) and ikigai (b) according to quartile of time spent on farming activity and snow removal The adjusted odds ratio (95% CI) of happiness (a) and ikigai (b) are calculated by multivariable ordinal logistic regression analysis which the shortest amount of time on each physical activity *95% confidence intervals (CI) of odds ratios do not include 1.00 more time spent on snow removal was inversely associated with having ikigai in women only (P-trend < 0.001) Similar ordinal logistic regression analysis was performed for the participants who did not work as farmers or fishers the population that was analysed comprised 12,724 men and 14,752 women for happiness; 12,725 men and 14,704 women for ikigai Adjusted ORs of happiness for the first vs fourth quartiles of farming activity were 1.06 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91 P-trend = 0.432) in men and 1.17 (95% CI = 1.01 fourth quartile of farming activity were 1.16 (95% CI 0.98 This study identified not only positive associations of more time farming with happiness and ikigai in both men and women but also inverse associations of more snow-removal time with happiness and ikigai in women only not engaging in snow removal was demonstrated to be negatively associated with ikigai in men and women This study provides a unique perspective on gender differences in the association between rural physical activity and subjective well-being Considering these findings together with the present results plant-based activities including farming activity could have beneficial effects on subjective well-being Snow removal and farming activity are similar in terms of providing an opportunity to engage in social relationships and physical activity; however their effects were opposite for happiness and ikigai in this study The difference between characteristics of farming activity and snow removal might have caused this result; that is snow removal is considered an additional but necessary task for maintaining daily life whereas farming activity is considered a vocation for farmers but a freely selectable activity for non-farmers The varied relationship between farming activity and snow removal with subjective well-being could be positively influenced by economic benefits farming activity such as growing vegetables and fruits could provide economic incentives for both sexes snow removal in the Uonuma area can provide part-time work in winter to supplement wages but such an opportunity would not traditionally be applied to women Given that snow removal might relate to socioeconomic factor for men and family duties for women not removing snow could lead to compromised ikigai in the Uonuma area Whether or not to farm is a decision that can be decided by the individual but most people have no choice but to remove snow not removing snow may lead to less ikigai but not less happiness because happiness is considered from a hedonic perspective whereas ikigai is considered from a eudaimonic perspective From the perspective of policy efforts to maintain or improve subjective well-being in the community it may be useful to address environmental factors such as providing opportunities for farming activity and support so that people can perform snow removal within the amount of time they would like to spend future work may involve a longitudinal evaluation of the association found in this study as well as the specific forms or theories of measures such as social support frameworks that are culturally appropriate and effective for improving happiness and ikigai in rural communities Many more studies are needed to determine effective approaches for achieving subjective well-being in rural communities along with understanding relevant environmental factors and traditional social norms The factors identified in this study might provide anchors for interventions or other ideas for achieving subjective well-being in rural communities A strength of the present study is that it is the first report to assess the relationship of physical activity in rural life (farming activity and snow removal) with happiness and ikigai separately in a large-scale population meaning that misclassification bias may have occurred this study was conducted in a Japanese rural area there is potential sociocultural bias due to the selection of the study area even though there was adjustment for the survey area by year farming activity and snow removal depend on weather our results may be affected by uncertainty in the impacts of climate change although there was adjustment for major confounding factors of happiness and ikigai we could not 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Nat Hum Behav 2:5. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-017-0281-4 Bredin SSD (2019) Health benefits of physical activity: a strengths-based approach Frick B (2017) Intensity of physical activity and subjective well-being: an empirical analysis of the WHO recommendations Woo J (2019) Is neighbourhood social cohesion associated with subjective well-being for older Chinese people Zhen Z (2015) Social engagement and health: findings from the 2013 survey of the shanghai elderly life and opinion Zhen Z (2017) Leisure participation and subjective well-being: exploring gender differences among elderly in Shanghai Download references This research was supported by the government of Niigata Prefecture The funder had no role in the study design we used a supercomputer at the Academic Centre for Computing and Media Studies We would like to express our gratitude to all the study participants and members of our study group who assisted with this study We also acknowledge the governments of Niigata Prefecture and Uonuma City for their valuable cooperation in conducting the Uonuma Cohort Study retired) for discussions regarding data analysis Niigata University Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences Division of Clinical Nephrology and Rheumatology The authors declare no competing interests Publisher’s note Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations Download citation DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/s41599-021-00723-y Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: a shareable link is not currently available for this article Today's print edition Home Delivery One person has died and four more have been seriously injured due to heavy snow in parts of Japan according to the Fire and Disaster Management Agency with conditions particularly harsh in Niigata and northern Tohoku Eight houses in Hokkaido have sustained partial damage.googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display('div-gpt-ad-1499653692894-0'); }); The prolonged cold spell has already driven snowfall totals past seasonal averages in many areas the Meteorological Agency reported 3.92 meters of snow at Sukayu Onsen in Aomori Prefecture 3.24 meters in the village of Okura in Yamagata Prefecture and 3.2 meters in the city of Uonuma in Niigata Prefecture More snowfall is expected through Saturday as another wave of frigid air moves in The Meteorological Agency warns that heavy snow could reach areas that rarely experience a significant accumulation including the plains of the Kinki and Tokai regions strong winds are expected to cause blizzards and hazardous coastal conditions Marine forecasts indicate worsening conditions nationwide with high waves and rough seas anticipated Residents in affected areas are advised to be cautious of blizzards avalanches and the risk of accumulated snow falling from rooftops Transportation disruptions are expected to continue NEXCO West Japan warned of potential road closures going into Saturday and urged drivers to avoid unnecessary travel ANA canceled 30 domestic flights on Friday including routes to Shonai Airport in Yamagata Prefecture JAL warned that additional cancelations may follow depending on weather conditions throughout the day In a time of both misinformation and too much information quality journalism is more crucial than ever.By subscribing Your subscription plan doesn't allow commenting. To learn more see our FAQ Sponsored contents planned and edited by JT Media Enterprise Division Japan invites travelers and food lovers alike on an extraordinary culinary journey where each bite blends tradition with innovation to create unforgettable flavors a revered food culture that celebrates balance Japanese cuisine offers an experience that's both unique and timeless At the heart of its appeal is the thoughtful use of condiments like soy sauce and miso enhancing each ingredient's natural essence with subtlety and finesse Guided by the mottainai philosophy—a deep respect for resources—Japanese cuisine promotes mindful consumption and sustainability With its alignment to health-conscious values and sustainable practices Japan's culinary influence is reaching new heights inspiring global palates and industries beyond food This report will highlight nine Japanese food companies that are pushing the boundaries of international cuisine and teaching on masterclass on what it means to be food connoisseurs Niigata — Lilies have been in full bloom at Tsukioka Park in Uonuma City which boasts the largest producer of cut lilies in Niigata Prefecture About 10,000 flowers of six varieties in five colors — including purple yellow and white — are planted in a flower bed of about 1,500 square meters According to the Uonuma flower gardening association the blooming season came as usual this year and the flowers are at their best until around Sunday A 39-year-old woman who visited the park with her parents from Tokyo said “It’s uplifting view of the lilies blooming vividly against the magnificent mountain.” Niigata Prefecture; President: Kengo Suzuki) exhibited at “Niigata Sake no Jin 2025,” one of Japan’s largest sake events Many visitors from Japan and abroad had the opportunity to experience Tsunan’s sake one of the world’s few heritage stones The Japan Meteorological Agency is forecasting heavy snowfall predominantly in regions of Honshu facing the Sea of Japan as the strong cold air mass flowing over the nation reaches its first peak on Feb will also see heavy snowfall in mainly inland areas on Feb That side of the country can expect to see snow pile up even in lower-elevation areas (JR Tokai) announced that Tokaido Shinkansen Line trains are reducing their speeds between Nagoya and Kyoto stations due to the snow The predicted snow levels for the 24-hour period from Feb 20 is up to 70 centimeters in the Hokuriku region 60 cm in the Kanto-Koshin region and 50 cm in the Tokai and Kinki regions heavy snow is projected to hit some areas in the late hours of Feb with up to 60 cm expected in certain locales If the cold air mass grows stronger than expected 43 cm was recorded for the 24-hour period that ended at 7 a.m The second peak is expected to begin around Feb The Hokuriku and Tokai regions will possibly see warning-level amounts of snow Heavy snow is also forecast to once again affect parts of the regions on the Sea of Japan side from then The winter pressure pattern will likely continue until around Feb (This article was written by Shoko Rikimaru and Yuki Kawano.) Tokai regions may see heavy snowfall through Feb Blizzard forecast for Hokkaido; snow expected over wide areas severe weather forecast for weekend on Sea of Japan side Heavy snowfall expected from Tuesday as cold front advances More snow forecast after record level hits east Hokkaido Residents on Sea of Japan side brace as heavy snow in forecast since temperatures reach 30 degrees celsius during summer reconsidering typical architectural measures taken in constructions of the area the japanese studio has designed the house with a new approach on how to deal with snow bringing residents closer to the surrounding landscape all images by noriki matsuzaki instead of building a house with thick walls and high foundations, which would create a sense of discomfort and isolation between inside and outside, takeru shoji architects has designed the residence based on three principles: thin walls instead of thick ones the framework of the house’s wooden shell has been left exposed while insulation has been placed on the outer walls the floor level has been lowered to almost that of the ground bringing residents in direct contact with the foundations the architects have placed living areas almost at the same height of the ground as foundations are considerably lower than those of typical constructions in the area the foundations store a large amount of heat from the wooden stove rather than providing a small buffer space such as a terrace adding more comfort to the interior and connecting indoor and outdoor organically architect: takeru shoji architects .co.,ltd structural design: tetsuya tanaka(tetsuya tanaka structural engineers) AXOR presents three bathroom concepts that are not merely places of function but destinations in themselves — sanctuaries of style 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 Saifukuji temple here is offering visitors the opportunity to snap photos of a richly colored wood carving by master sculptor Uncho Ishikawa (1814-1883) hailed as the “Michelangelo of Echigo,” but only until the end of September Temple authorities said they wanted those unable to visit due to the COVID-19 pandemic to appreciate the masterpiece through photographs Uncho moved to Echigo Province in what is now Niigata Prefecture when he was in his 30s to create artworks for temples in Sanjo Many other works are also kept at Saifukuji including an openwork carving themed on a legend in which Zen master Dogen is saved by a dragon deity just as he is about to be attacked by a tiger It adorns the ceiling of the Kaizando hall The carving is designated as a cultural property by the prefectural government including a 2-meter-tall statue of the demon-slaying “Nio” Buddhist deity carved out of a single trunk of a zelkova tree “If visitors observe good manners and don’t bother those coming to worship here we want to consider ways to allow photography in and after October,” said vice chief priest Tatsuhiko Hirasawa visit the temple’s official website at (https://www.saifukuji-k.com/) Ancient Buddhist statue in Kyoto reveals secrets during repairs Daigoji temple plans to expand from Kyoto to outer space in ’23 Nara’s Daianji temple to rebuild long-lost initial form with CGI Niigata is home to the most sake brewers of all Japan’s prefectures many traditionally sound businesses are turning to a beverage originally from halfway around the world amid strong demand At a traditional Japanese brewery in a region famous for its “nihonshu” sake four deep black sherry casks--quite the unusual sight--were in full view recently at Hakkaisan Brewery Co The brewery is famous for its Hakkaisan nihonshu rice wine brand and it will mark its 100th anniversary next year It boasts the second-highest sales figures among all the sake breweries in the prefecture but it is nonetheless pivoting to making whisky a key part of its future “I believe whisky will become a core product for our business 10 to 20 years from now,” said Jiro Nagumo head of the Tokyo-based Japan Whisky Research Center said strong whisky sales can be attributed to a shortage of unblended whisky in Japan The growing popularity of mixed drinks such as highballs have resulted in major distillers being unable to meet demand for prolonged periods of time shochu and other products are entering the whisky business,” Tsuchiya said The shrinking sake market is one of the main reasons behind Hakkaisan Brewery tapping into the whisky business in 2017 Demand has dropped off for Japan’s most famous alcoholic beverage over the past few decades According to data from the National Tax Agency taxed sake shipping dropped by half to 457,470 kiloliters in fiscal 2019 from 949,068 kiloliters in fiscal 2001 whisky shipments shot up relatively recently They rose 2.3 times to 164,784 kiloliters in fiscal 2019 from fiscal 2009 Hakkaisan Brewery’s own sake shipments dropped by 10 percent from its peak period turning to whisky and a wider range of products and “amazake,” a traditional sweet beverage with low or no alcohol content Nagumo said distilling whisky is especially appealing because “the ingredients and alcoholic content can be freely determined and the taste and flavor can dramatically change depending on the length of maturing periods.” Another attractive aspect is that the government imposes fewer regulations on whisky distillation than shochu or sake production Hakkaisan Brewery obtained its whisky making license in 2016 it chose sake rice as the main ingredient for its whisky in a bid to stand out But it took a few tries to get the recipe right the finished three-year-old whisky tasted “bitter and harsh--so terrible that I thought I had no choice but to throw it away,” Nagumo said But the quality drastically improved this year It has a much milder acridity and boasts a pleasant aroma The brewery also began distilling whisky from barley in Niseko It is looking to produce more than 90 kiloliters of whisky and gin annually to win over international tourists expected to visit there once the novel coronavirus pandemic ends Though when exactly the whisky made in Minami-Uonuma will be marketed is unclear the brewery is planning to eventually ship the new product to consumers both in and outside Japan While the sake business is going through tough times Niigata has meanwhile enjoyed something of a mini whisky-production boom six businesses in Niigata Prefecture hold whisky distilling licenses as of March--five of which have only had theirs since 2016 Whisky production in the prefecture increased to 113 kiloliters in fiscal 2019 compared with just 19 kiloliters in fiscal 2017 has been distilling its Koshi-no Shinobu whisky since 2017 It ships about 150,000 bottles under its label each year Whisky accounts for about 60 percent of Niigata Beer’s total sales of 570 million yen ($5.23 million) Most of the bottles are exported to Europe Sake brewers are not the only ones in Niigata turning to whisky to bolster business a major “hanko” personal seal manufacturer in Niigata’s Konan Ward invested a total of 250 million yen in a distillery to begin whisky production in March The small distillery is one of the prefecture’s six licensed whisky distillers Otani decided to expand into the whisky market due to the difficult situation its main business is facing “As the number of Japanese children is on the decline we cannot continue business only with seals bought to coincide with coming-of-age ceremonies and other ceremonial occasions,” said Hiroyuki Doda the president of the distillery and a director at Otani Doda said they landed on selling Japanese whisky since its popularity with consumers has spread both in Japan and abroad The completed whisky bottles are expected to be delivered from 2024 after the three-year maturing period The distillery is seeking cask owners so it can operate on deposits from them and other funds Doda said his company signed a contract with an agricultural corporation in Niigata Prefecture to distill genuine Niigata-made whisky with grain cultured in the prefecture The distillation is to start around this summer “Many people must want to try whisky distilled in the sake-producing area of Niigata,” Doda said an associate professor of business management at Niigata University’s Sakeology Center has high expectations for the prospects of whisky brands from Niigata Prefecture “Food products from the prefecture have strong brand power,” Kishi noted “The belief has taken root nationwide that Niigata has sake Kishi has some advice for how smaller distilleries can stand out such as maturing bottles in ‘yukimuro’ snow storehouses for added value Local whisky maker wins ‘world’s best’ title for 5th year Confusion over what constitutes real Japanese whiskey settled Nagoya exhibit hosts decorative whisky bottles made in Japan In the “snow country” of Niigata Prefecture fresh food produce used to be stored all year round in natural refrigerators called “yukimuro” (literally a brewing company is drawing on the wisdom of snow refrigeration to produce “uniquely mellow and rich” sake No article or any part there of may be reproduced without the express permission of the Cabinet Office. Copyright inquiries should be made through this form Niigata Prefecture--A natural phenomenon known as cloud waterfall is mesmerizing early morning sightseers at the Shiori-toge pass that forms part of National Route No 352 and lies more than 1,000 meters above sea level The spectacle of a sea of clouds flowing down the ridge lines can be seen until early November when the road closes for the winter due to heavy snow Cloud waterfalls are generated in the early morning of clear days when there is a major temperature difference from the day before 12 saw sightseers busily setting up their cameras along the mountain pass before the sun rose in the hope of snapping spectacular shots according to the city's tourist association the cloud waterfall only gently flowed down the mountainside due to a weak wind Starting from this season, the tourist association provides forecast information on its official Instagram account (https://www.instagram.com/uonumacity/) notifying visitors of when they can expect to see the cloud waterfall Spectacular falls in Kyushu found on island of Amami-Oshima Tourists climb aboard to visit scenic unstaffed train stations VOX POPULI: Jomon sites worth a look not only ones on UNESCO’s list Streetcar that survived A-bomb gives kids virtual Hiroshima tour Remote isle with little going for it sees a silver lining in tourism Hundreds of motorists remain stranded on the Kan-etsu Expressway that connects Niigata Prefecture and Tokyo after heavy overnight snow from Dec about 1,000 cars were still stalled on the inbound lane of the expressway between the Koide Interchange in Uonuma and the Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange in Minami-Uonuma Heavy snowfall also snarled expressway traffic in Gunma Prefecture 17 at many locations between the Koide and Minakami interchanges NEXCO East closed off a stretch of the expressway from the evening of Dec 17 to clear snow and steer stranded motorists to a nearby interchange The gridlock on the outbound lane of the area was solved by 5:40 a.m Some motorists endured a nightmarish two nights a 25-year-old driver who had already spent two nights in her car found herself stuck again on the expressway between the Muikamachi Interchange in Minami-Uonuma and the Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange “I am all by myself and I’m really worried,” she said in a phone interview “I just want to get out of here as soon as possible.” from Niigata city when traffic slowed to a crawl because of snow She did not have any food except chocolates She got out of the car frequently to remove snow from the exhaust pipe to prevent carbon monoxide fumes from entering the vehicle Her car was close to running out of fuel by midnight on Dec forcing the woman to switch off the engine and shiver in the cold A truck driver who was also stuck on the expressway came over to her and said: “You haven’t eaten anything 17 when the driver returned with two bags of “senbei” snacks made from rice He was hauling a shipment of products made by Iwatsuka Confectionery Co The driver said the company willingly agreed to him sharing some of the cargo with other stranded motorists desperate for something to nibble on The grateful woman could not help but share the driver's generous gift with other motorists She tweeted from the icy road: “22 hours have passed since I got stranded But I’ve got “osenbei” (rice crackers) from a truck driver.” had more luck than the woman and was finally able to leave the Muikamachi Interchange on the morning of Dec “I am so relieved to have gotten out of that,” he said The man was heading to Tokyo on the evening of Dec 16 when traffic came to a standstill after he passed the Muikamachi Interchange He had some beverages in his cab as well as an internet connection but it was so sporadic the man said he did not know what was going on A snowplow arrived in the area on the morning of Dec 18 to clear the stretch of expressway so stranded motorists could drive back to the interchange Vehicles started to get stranded on the evening of Dec according to the Niigata prefectural police’s expressway division a large truck skidded and got stuck on the inbound lane near the Shiozawa Ishiuchi Interchange blocking both the driving and passing lanes Traffic behind the truck started backing up leaving many motorists with no choice but to remain where they were multiple cars became stranded on the outbound lane at many locations between Shiozawa Ishiuchi and Koide interchanges SDF asked to assist motorists stuck by snowfall in Niigata Hefty fines and longer prison terms for reckless driving Saitama temple takes in exploited Vietnamese trainees Japanese version Niigata Prefecture boasts the largest rice acreage and harvest both of which are essential to the Japanese diet Among the famous Koshihikari rice produced in Uonuma Minami Uonuma rice is particularly popular for its excellent taste a new local festival where you can encounter music will be held in this place where other local cultures such as sake breweries and skiing are sprouting in the rich nature of the area Local sustainability is the theme of this event which will be held at the new viewing area of Ishiuchimaruyama Ski Resort In addition to live music and DJs in a location overlooking the Uonuma Plain the festival will also feature new Minamiuonuma Koshihikari rice You can taste the charm of Minami Uonuma from various angles The live performances will feature Tagaryu Come celebrate the autumn harvest by eating and dancing in a venue where even the air is delicious Niigata Prefecture--The Night Market will return from Aug creating an extraordinary space here with about 30 food trucks and market stalls each day The event is the brainchild of Shingo Kimura "I want to continue (the Night Market) for many years to come and make it an event that makes people in and outside the prefecture want to see at least once," Kimura said The third installment will feature about 60 vendors--among the most booths in the prefecture--joining the five-day event to be held in the “Minami-Uonuma Yukiakari” roadside rest area as well as street vendors offering daily goods new vendors will replace them the following day who operates a food truck equipped with a wood-fired kiln to serve pizzas came up with the idea to invigorate the community with its declining population The first edition was held in August last year and it was planned for nine days along the Uonogawa river Although the event was only held for four days due to rain held in December at a park and an adjacent gymnasium in the city center The latest installment will see about 20 more stalls compared to the previous two editions with an additional 10 or so stalls expected to open each day A merry-go-round will also be set up at the venue visit the official Instagram account at (https://www.instagram.com/minamiuonuma.nightmarket/) Arita ceramics fair a go for the first time in three years Bangkok’s street food hub comes alive as lockdown eases Fans wary of going to baseball game with eased attendance limit Snow removal crews battling continuing heavy snowfall finally won the day clearing the way to reopen the Kan-etsu Expressway linking Tokyo and Niigata Prefecture on the night of Dec The reopening came three days after motorists and truck drivers in hundreds of vehicles became stranded in a long line on the expressway due to heavy snowfall planned to lift the closure on the morning of Dec But as it snowed more heavily since that morning 80 snow removal vehicles enlisted were forced to repeatedly clear snow accumulations The inbound and outbound lanes between the Koide Interchange in Uonuma The vehicles had been stuck on the snow-packed expressway since the evening of Dec Hundreds of drivers stuck by heavy snow on Niigata freeway VOX POPULI: ‘Snow country’ evokes proper imagery for this wintry weather Japanese version