[ROJI Nihonbashi Online] Mashiko Town, Tochigi Prefecture Blueberry Liqueur Project (Updated December 25, 2024)

Blueberries from Mashiko Town's Blueberry Picking Farm "Blueberry to Satoyama to" are used, and Mashiko's sake brewery "Tonoike Sake Brewery" This project will sell the "Mashiko x Mashiko Blueberry Liqueur" produced at the ROJI Nihonbashi ONLINE STORE and at shops in the Mashiko area. In addition to selling the product , the ROJI Nihonbashi ONLINE STORE will also be providing updates on the process from blueberry cultivation to liqueur production ! The liqueur is scheduled to be completed and on sale around December 2025.

~ The process from blueberry cultivation to liqueur production (updated regularly!) ~

"Blueberries and Satoyama" uses hydroponic cultivation. We will be reporting on the cultivation status of "Blueberries and Satoyama" from 2024 to 2025, as well as the process of liqueur production at "Tonoike Sake Brewery" !

[December 2024] Planting seedlings, cleaning the system, cleaning the fields, mowing the slopes (updated December 25, 2024)

In the southeastern part of Tochigi Prefecture, where the farm is located, blueberry leaves gradually begin to change color to autumn colors from around the second half of November. Some varieties are evergreen, but most show a variety of colors, including deep red and vivid vermilion. The farm at this time is enveloped in a beautiful gradation of colors, which is a sight worth seeing in a way that is different from the flowering and harvest seasons.

・Planting seedlings
The still tiny two-year-old seedlings are replanted in slightly larger pots. After two years, they will be potted up in even larger pots. Right now they are small and leafless and weak-looking, but in two years, when they become four-year-old seedlings, they will have grown large enough to bear blueberries. We will prune them at the right time so that the trunks will thicken and the roots will become strong.

・System cleaning
We clean over 100 irrigation tubes that supply liquid to the blueberries. To keep the inside of the irrigation tubes clean, we wash the inside of each hose with water pressure.

* Liquid fertilizer: A liquid fertilizer made by dissolving fertilizer ingredients in water. Note (1) Because it is a water solution, it is quickly absorbed by crops and has an immediate effect. Note (2)
* Watering: Watering plants to improve their environment. Note (3)

Note (1) Quoted from: Seiko Ecology Column
Note (2) Source: Ajinomoto Group Amino Acid Fertilizer Online Sales
Note (3) Citation: Seiko Ecology Agricultural Glossary

・Cleaning farm fields
In order to keep the fields hygienic, we clean them regularly even during the off-season. This also serves to prevent the intrusion and proliferation of pests.

・Mowing the grass on slopes
Mashiko Town is blessed with an environment rich in nature, so tenacious weeds quickly grow all over the farms.

"Blueberry to Satoyama to" has many steep slopes, so weeding is very laborious and dangerous. However, if we use herbicides, the roots will wither and the soil on the slopes will collapse, so we steadily mow the grass with a lawnmower .

Mowing is done periodically throughout the year, but in the off-season, all the mowing is done at once, as the weeds that grew in the fall die back in the cold of winter and the growth of new weeds slows down .

Regular mowing prevents the proliferation of weed seeds and maintains the landscape of the tourist farm. It also helps prevent the intrusion of pests such as civets, raccoon dogs, and raccoons, which cause damage all year round, and wild boars, which often appear in the spring and fall . We maintain an environment with as good visibility as possible to avoid creating hiding places or passageways for pests, and create an environment that is uncomfortable for them.

[Mid-November 2024] Removing vinyl from greenhouses and bird netting (updated November 27, 2024)

- Removing the plastic from the greenhouse <br>Blueberries taste amazing when fully ripe, but there are delicate varieties that will crack easily if rain comes into contact with the fruit.
At Blueberry to Satoyama, once the blueberries begin to turn color, they are covered with plastic to protect them from rain and they grow them with care, devising pruning methods and pot placements to create an environment that is conducive to the growth of varieties that are sensitive to the weather .

The vinyl roof not only protects the blueberries, but also allows customers to pick them comfortably even on rainy days .
At Blueberry to Satoyama, you can enjoy picking around 15 varieties of blueberries throughout the season, in any weather, even on rainy days.

Once blueberry picking season is over, all plastic will be removed.
This is to prevent the vinyl from being damaged by strong winds or snow .
Carefully fold and store, and then cover with plastic again next year when the blueberries begin to color.

- Removal of bird-proof netting <br>The farm has a total area of ​​approximately 10,000 m2 and is divided into two levels, an upper and lower level, and bird-proof netting has been installed on the ceiling where the blueberries are grown on both levels.
It is effective in preventing damage by birds, which are quick to detect when the fruit is ripe to eat , but more importantly it is extremely useful in keeping the field environment clean .
The bird netting can prevent birds from invading and leaving behind droppings.

Like vinyl, this bird netting will be removed before winter to prevent damage from strong winds and snowfall .
Several people work together to remove four pieces of bird-proof netting, each measuring approximately 50m x 40m, that have been installed in the upper and lower fields.
Work on a sunny, windless day.

[End of October 2024] Pruning, weeding, and watering seedlings (updated November 12, 2024)

- Pruning work
Prune away unnecessary branches , focusing on those that have finished bearing fruit this summer . This will allow nutrients to flow to the necessary branches, helping the tree grow thicker and bigger for next year. Thick, healthy branches are more likely to bear large, sweet fruit.

- Weeding and watering the seedlings <br>Weeds growing in the pots and water the seedlings.

▼What kind of place is Mashiko Town, the birthplace of Mashiko pottery?

Mashiko Town in Tochigi Prefecture is located where the Yamizo Mountains, which run from the north, meet the Kanto Plain. In this rural area, which changes with the seasons, people live their lives and do business rooted in the local climate, focusing on pottery, crafts, and agriculture .
It is a lively town with many events throughout the year, including pottery markets in spring and autumn, the Gion Festival in summer, hand-held fireworks, and the three major flower festivals (sunflower, rape blossom, and cherry blossom).

Agriculture
In agriculture, a wide variety of crops are grown throughout the year, creating beautiful rural landscapes throughout the area. Fruit cultivation is also thriving, including blueberries , strawberries, grapes, pears, and apples.

< Ceramics and crafts >
It is the birthplace of Mashiko pottery and the base of the Mingei movement. In addition to pottery, many other craftspeople have moved here, and the culture of craftsmanship is at the foundation of life here.

▼About Mashiko Town's blueberry picking farm "Blueberry to Satoyama to" and Mashiko's sake brewery "Tonoike Sake Brewery" founded in 1937

・Mashiko Town Blueberry Picking Farm "Blueberries and Satoyama"
The blueberry picking tourist farm "Blueberry to Satoyama to" will grand open in June 2024, just a five-minute drive from Mashiko Roadside Station.
Based on the concept of "making your days off more enjoyable," "Blueberries and Villages" has sprinkled in ingenious ideas into the picking experience so that customers can spend more time concentrating on the "here and now." (In addition to enjoying the picking, there is also a picking guidebook, a giant canvas to draw on, a letter post to send to your future self, a water play area for children, etc.)
There are currently 1,300 blueberry stalks of 40 different varieties on the farm, with 10 to 15 varieties available at any given time from June to August, allowing visitors to enjoy comparing the texture, aroma, and flavor of each variety.

[Farm Overview]
[Farm name] Blueberry and Satoyama
[Address] 453-1 Honuma, Mashiko-cho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture, 321-4224 (next to Honuma Parking)
[Reservations and inquiries] WEB: https://blueberry-mashiko.com/
[Opening period] Open only from June to late August
[Closed] Thursday and Friday
[Business hours] [Weekdays, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays] 9:00-16:00 (last order: 15:30)
[URL] https://blueberry-mashiko.com/

・Tonoike Sake Brewery, a sake brewery in Mashiko founded in 1937
Tonoike Sake Brewery was founded in 1937. They brew the sake "Sanran" and "Bobo:" in Mashiko Town, Tochigi Prefecture. They also manufacture and sell a variety of other products, including shochu "Mashiko no Honoo," doburoku, strawberry liquor, and the "Kuramoto Bijin" cosmetics series.
They also won 4th place in the 2019 World Sake Breweries Ranking, which selects the most highly rated sake breweries in domestic and international competitions. They are also focusing on exports overseas, and as of 2023 they are shipping to 17 countries (Taiwan, Hong Kong, South Korea, Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, the UK, Austria, France, Italy, the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Germany, Spain, and Brazil).
The brewery is visited by tens of thousands of people every year, helping to boost the tourism industry in Mashiko . We strive to provide warm hospitality to our customers, and share the joys of sake and the charms of Mashiko.

【Company Profile】
[Company name] Tonoike Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
[Head office contact information]
Address: 333-1 Hanawa, Mashiko-cho, Haga-gun, Tochigi Prefecture, 321-4216
Phone: 0285-72-0001 Fax: 0285-72-0003
Email: info@tonoike.jp
[URL] https://tonoike.jp/