SAKE + URUSHI OF NORTHERN JAPAN -At latitude 40°N-
New York meets Ninohe city, a small town of Iwate, Nanbu-Bijin (a.k.a.
Ninohe City is a small town of 30,000 people, in Iwate Prefecture of northern Japan that still offers a glimpse of traditional Japan. The city continues a long history of lacquer production and is currently the largest producer of lacquer in Japan, accounting for 80% of domestic lacquer. The lacquer is harvested from Urushi trees grown by local tree farmers and transformed into beautiful tradition
al lacquerware by local artisans. Known as Joboji-Urushi, the particular Urushi found in Ninohe City is renowned for its high quality and has been designated as the lacquer of choice in the preservation of World Heritage Sites such as Kinkakuji (the Golden Temple in Kyoto), Chusonji Konjikido (the temple of Iwate), and Toshogu (the shrine of Nikko). Southern Beauty) is a sake brewery that takes pride in using local ingredients, such as locally grown rice and fresh water from a prefectural park, to produce sake that is reflective of the abundant nature in Ninohe City. Nanbu-Bijin won many of national and international sake competitions such as the best of class award at the inaugural International Sake Challenge in 2007 and is now served on Japan Airlines’ first class international flights.
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We are hosting the second annual Ninohe City Fair in New York 2014 with the hope of introducing New York to artisans like these from Ninohe.
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