Mitsubishi Corporation

Press Room

March 4, 2016
Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation

Fukushima Winery Issues First Batch of Wines and Liqueurs

Fukushima Winery, located in Koriyama City in Fukushima Prefecture in northeastern Japan, today held a ceremony to commemorate the release of the first batch of wines and liqueurs produced at the facility onto the market. The winery was built with support from the Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation (MCDRF).
 
Construction of the Fukushima Winery was completed on October 27 last year, and production of wines and liquors using locally produced grapes, apples, pears and peaches began in earnest. The first batch, consisting of 500 bottles of sparkling wine made from grapes and 5,000 bottles of cider made from apples, was launched at today’s ceremony.
 
The newly produced wines will be sold to hotels and restaurants as well as at souvenir shops and other tourism-related establishments in Fukushima. The target market will initially be centered in Fukushima Prefecture, but as production volumes increase, the winery will also target restaurants and retail outlets in other parts of the Tohoku region as well as in the Tokyo metropolitan area.
 
In February of last year, MCDRF entered into a partnership agreement with Koriyama City, under which the Sixth Industry Fruit Farming Project was established. The project introduces a new business model to Fukushima by setting out to create a value chain involving the cultivation, processing and sale of products made from locally grown fruit. The ultimate aim is to provide a stimulus for the revitalization of the local agro industry. The release of the first batch of wines therefore marks a first step in that direction. The project will continue to support the farming of wine grapes, the production of wines and liqueurs and will provide support aimed expanding the market for these products.
 
In addition to wine and liqueur production and sales, Fukushima Winery also hopes to play a key role in helping the Fukushima community become more involved in industry. To that end, the winery plans to open wine-tasting facilities to the public during the 2016 fiscal year, and to set up facilities where community members can learn about wine and liqueur production.
 
Five years have passed since the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami, but areas in northeastern Japan that suffered severe damage are still on the way to recovery. MCDRF remains committed to working with Koriyama City and the farming community to execute this “Sixth Industry Fruit Farming Project,” which is part of broader objectives to propel recovery in areas affected by the disaster and to stimulate economic revitalization in the region.
 
 
Reference Information
 
Fukushima Winery Brands
The MUSCAT BAILEY A ROSE 2015 sparkling wine made from grapes (left) and the CIDLE 2015 apple wine
Apples used in the production of cider
Bottling sparkling wine made from local grapes
Brand Listing
 
 
Item
Quantity
Unit Price
Grape
Sparkling Wine (Rose)
MUSCAT BAILEY A ROSE 2015
500 bottles
2,000 yen
Apple
Cider
CIDLE 2015
5,000 bottles
2,000 yen
Peach
Liqueur
(Brand Name TBD)
Planned for release
Summer 2016
TBD
Pear
Liqueur
(Brand Name TBD)
Planned for release
Summer 2016
TBD
 
About Fukushima Winery
 
  1. Location:        Ose-machi, Koriyama, Fukushima, Japan
  2. Site Area:        Approx. 9,000 m²
  3. Floor Area:      Approx. 1,400 m²
  4. Production Volume:       10,000 liters produced in 2015 fiscal year (target increases: 30,000 liters in 5 years; 50,000 liters in 10 years)
 
About the Agreement between Koriyama City and Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation
 
Koriyama City and Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation (MCDRF) reached a partnership agreement on the provision of support for recovery efforts following the Great East Japan Earthquake on Tsumani, as follows.
 
Objective:       
Koriyama City and MCDRF agree to pool their resources on initiatives that effectively support post-disaster recovery following the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami of 2011, particularly in areas related to agriculture, tourism and manufacturing, with a view to stimulating the recovery of industry in the area.
 
Main Focus Areas:
1) Dispelling of negative rumors and sales promotion
2) Development of “sixth-industry” agriculture and strengthening agro-industrial linkages
3) Tourism industry recovery
4) Overall recovery of local industry
5) Product development based on local resources
6) Other initiatives that contribute to regional revitalization
                            -
About Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation
 
Mitsubishi Corporation set up a 10-billion yen "Mitsubishi Corporation East Japan Earthquake Recovery Fund" in April 2011 with the purpose of making concerted efforts for supporting restoration and recovery for the afflicted regions over the next four years. The Fund provided donations for emergency support and equipment, delivered scholarships for students and grants for NPOs working in disaster relief and recovery. The Mitsubishi Corporation Disaster Relief Foundation (MCDRF) was established nearly a year later, in March 2012. In addition to support already provided by the pre-existing Fund, MCDRF has been working with local financial institutions to provide financial support to initiatives aimed at industry recovery and employment generation. In 2015, Mitsubishi Corporation injected an additional 3.5 billion yen into the Foundation as a way of continuing its support for recovery efforts in the region.
 
1) Headquarters:                  2-3-1 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo
2) Founded:                        March, 2012
3) Endowment:                    10 billion yen
4) Purpose:                  
To contribute to the recovery of regions affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake through the provision of scholarships and grants for NPOs and social welfare corporations, as well as for recovery of industry and job creation.
5) Representatives:     
  • Chairman, Ken Kobayashi (President and CEO, Mitsubishi Corporation)
  • Deputy Chairman, Yasuhito Hirota (Executive Vice President, Mitsubishi Corporation)
  • Executive Director, Yoshiyuki Nojima (General Manager, CSR and Environmental Affairs Department, Mitsubishi Corporation)

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