Hello there! I’ve been trying to get in touch with people or company that does a specific craft.
But my written Japanese is really poor.
For a bit of context im currently a cooper (yeah like a cop in irish bit except hitting things and alcool not much in common)
And im seeking someone who know how to make soy sauce barrel.
I’ve been in touch with a cooperage in Japan but they work for whiskies and sōchū..
I’ve tried asking soy sauce factory too, but no luck.
Im open to any tips or idea for reaching out 🙂
But seems like learning to read Japanese will be necessary (and when i google translate some site i doesnt make sense sometimes, yea my english is broken too sorry)
https://www.reddit.com/r/japan/comments/uwcdg8/looking_to_reach_specific_craftsmen/
4 comments
Japan has a whole set of “trading companies” who handle connecting the japanese economy to the outside world. They hire a lot of people with language skills so that japanese companies don’t need to have on-staff language abilities.
You might try asking one of the trading companies if they could negotiate with the barrel makers to export them on your behalf.
There’s a bunch of documentaries on the shoyu makers on Shodoshima in Kagawa. That might be a good starting point for possible contacts
Supposedly the guy who runs Yamaroku Soy Sauce Brewery in Shodoshima hosts barrel making workshops, etc. I’m unsure how much Japanese is required, but that’s where I’d start my investigations were I you.
It’s the guy in this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MKbRu3_Ynpk
Here are a couple, but yes it looks like you’ll need an interlocutor.
[https://www.miyakekoumuten-ie.com/shouyu](https://www.miyakekoumuten-ie.com/shouyu)
[http://www.tamatele.ne.jp/~marusho/index.html](http://www.tamatele.ne.jp/~marusho/index.html)