**Scroll to the end for an update. (July 21st, 2020; 4:21 PM)
The Kyushu Floods
There has been massive flooding in Kyushu over the past week. Beginning on Friday, July 3rd, rain began to fall in the region and continued nearly unabated for days on end. The first floods hit Hitoyoshi, Kumamoto, with a vengeance on Saturday, July 4th after enormous rainfall in the region.
The floods in the Hitoyoshi region are believed to have killed more than 50 people and damaged or destroyed thousands of buildings. Since we count several Hitoyoshi shochu makers as our friends, this is deeply personal to us.
Also, we absolutely adore the historic Hitoyoshi Ryokan which was severely damaged with flooding coming just shy of the 2nd floor, which likely would have ruined any chance of recovery.
We know that there has been damage and disruption of business for at least 3 shochu makers – Sengetsu, Fukano, and Jufuku. Reports from each of them suggest they will be able to recover, but nevertheless the region needs our support.
Originally we thought about setting up crowd funding for the ryokan and distilleries to help them recover. However, as we researched this possibility, the rain continued to fall and several other regions of Kyushu have flooded. The Jojima region of Fukuoka, home to 8 sake breweries and the annual beloved Jojima Sake Fest, also flooded. In fact, evacuation notices have been issued for regions in all 7 prefectures in Kyushu.
Rain is expected to continue throughout the weekend. Given that 90% of shochu is made in Kyushu, we worry about the safety of the shochu making families and the condition of the crops for this year’s production.
Donating for Relief of the Kyushu Floods
We have decided to provide links to donation sites to help the Kyushu flood victims (we will update with additional links as we have them). As you can imagine, this disaster during the coronavirus pandemic is particularly hard on these communities. Fortunately, most of Kyushu does not currently have community spread of the virus. This may change as large groups of people are required to shelter together during the recovery.
For international visitors interested in helping, there is a campaign now organized by Civic Force for disaster relief in Kyushu. They are seeking to raise a modest $10,000, which we could raise simply through donations from visitors of www.kanpai.us.
For residents of Japan there are many other donation options including funds ollected by local governments for prefectural disaster relief. For more information, please check the Fukuoka Now website.
Japanese language links:
Fukuoka Government Donation Site
Smart Supply Kumamoto Donation Site
Helping the Shochu Makers
We believe the best way to support the shochu makers is to buy their products. For the ryokan, consider staying there next time you visit Hitoyoshi. And please visit Hitoyoshi once you are able. It is a wonderful part of Japan.
Overseas, Sengetsu’s Kawabe rice shochu is a crowd favorite while Fukano’s rice shochu bottled as whisky has been earning raves from drinks lovers in the US.
Jufuku Distillery does not currently export. However, for those of you in Japan, please look for their amazing Mushagaeshi brand in liquor stores or izakaya. As the smallest distillery in Kumamoto, run by a lovely family, they are the shochu maker we are most worried about.
We have offered to send them anything they need and will let you know if they have any requests. For now we will drink their great shochu in support.
Please donate and support relief for the Kyushu floods in any way you can.
not really a KANPAI time.
UPDATE: Donate directly to the Kuma Shochu Guild. (July 21st, 2020)
It is now possible to donate directly, even from abroad, to the rebuilding efforts under way in the Kuma Shochu industry.
Account Name: Kuma Shochu Saigai Gienkin (球磨焼酎災害義援金)
Bank: Higo Bank (肥後銀行)
Branch: Yunomae Shiten (湯前支店)
Branch No.: 274
Account Number: 1175439
Account Type: Savings (普通預金)
Bank Code: HIGOJPJT