Morikuni is the only sake brewery from the tour on an island. Besides Awaji、 an island that is part of the Kansai cultural area、 Shodoshima is the largest island in the Seto Inland Sea. Centering on the Uchinomi area of the island、 there is a brewing district with more than 10 soy brewers. The water comes from a spring flowing from Hoshigajō、 which at 871 meters、 is the highest peak among the inland sea’s islands. In addition、 the cool wind of from the ocean surface serves as a natural means for cooling. President Morikuni (40 years old) certainly had excellent judgment in establishing a sake brewery here.
The characteristic of this brewery is the Sake Gallery Morikuni、 which was established in 2007. The Gallery has as its goal both “to teach people how to drink sake” and “to advertise information about Shodoshima.” The Sake Gallery Morikuni is a place where tourists as well as locals can come together.
President Morikuni is from Nankoku City in Kochi-ken. His family originally specialized in shrine carpentry. He transferred from Fujitsu、 where he first found work、 to making sake in Shikoku、 the area to which his fate seems to be bound. There he was drawn in by the appeal of sake making、 and at last he established his brewery independently、 thinking “I’m going to make the sake that I want to make!” Having moved his house and having brought his family to the area near the brewery、 he is now trying to become one of the local residents of the island. Right now he is really getting into local matsuri (festivals). He is helping in the year-long preparations for the Hachiman Taiko Festival、 where all the people of the area prepare a chosa (large wooden float with a taiko drum inside) for carrying around town. To specifically point out his part of the preparations、 he is actively participating in the drinking party for the festival! By jumping into the local scene in this way、 he has probably already made good friends for the next 100 years!