Yourou Shuzo, Ozu, Ehime

I am so happy to receive these very special bottles of Yourou Shuzou’s “Kaze-no-Sato.” These come from the first year of brewing at their restored kura which had been ravaged by flooding.

Yourou Shuzo was completely destroyed in July 2018 by Typhoon Jebi, one of the worst typhoons to hit Ehime and Western Japan. Everything–sake tanks, steamer, and all the essential brewing tools and machinery–and much of the building, including the family home were all gone. However, the owner, Yamauchi-san, bravely decided to rebuild his brewery and get back to brewing.

When I visited them in December 2019, they were finishing up the restoration work and getting ready for their first brewing season in the newly refurbished brewery. I still vividly remember the sad feeling seeing the clock on the wall pointing to 7:45, although I was there in the late morning. They kept the clock that stopped at the time of flooding hanging on the wall. But the energy of the Yamauchi family during the visit made me happy. It’s a family operation by Mr. and Mrs. Yamauchi and their son, Rintaro-san, and they were very excited to be able to brew again.

I did not take many pictures of the inside of the brewery, but you can see some beautiful photos at @hijikawagraph or updates on Rintaro-san’s twitter @rinYOROssk113

If you live in Japan and want to support them by purchasing their sake, here’s the link to Makuake, their crowdfunding campaign closing at the end of August. Or, search 養老酒造 on Makuake.

Also here’s the link from 2018 crowdfunding site with the brewery information.
https://readyfor.jp/projects/yourousyuzou