Doburoku is the Japanese word for a thick home brew made from rice. It is only brewed and sold in certain rural communities; zoning and other regulations limit the supply.

In Niigata Prefecture, devastated by a massive earthquake a few years ago, several local farmers have remodeled their toppled farmhouses into no-frill inns featuring the potent brew and regional cuisine.

Do you have such a local brew from your country? Many rural areas of Japan are begging for residents, accompanying investment, and in some cases homesteaders to sustain these beautiful regions of Japan.

Join SIJ Mastermind and Networking Seminars

A shop dating back to the 17th Century is in the final stages of creating dye cloth from rice straw and hulls.  If this new technique pans out, Reiko Yamaguchi, the wife of the owner of this thirteen-generation shop located in Niigata Prefecture, will be credited for the achievement.

At present, she is working in cooperation with a local textile plant.  Ms. Yamaguchi has a method which could be worth millions, if for no other reason than it will become an exotic art from the Orient.

A soft and professional nudge from someone outside her small Japanese world may bring stardom to this local and her sponsor.  If you are in the textile trade, then this may well be an avenue to pursue.  Unfortunately, I don’t have details of her  whereabouts, but a good starting point would be the Niigata Chamber of Commerce.

Join SIJ Mastermind and Networking Seminars