
Suisen President Mr. Konno in his temporary brewing facitilty in Ichinoseki, Iwate.
On our first day of visiting Suisen brewery, we met with company President Mr. Konno in their new facility in Ichinoseki, Iwate. As outlined in this news report, a deal was worked out with another Iwate sake brewery, Iwate Meijo Corp., for Suisen to use one of their facilities for as long as needed until they get get rebuilt and back on their feet in Rikusentakata. Suisen was not yet shipping sake out of this new facility, but settling in and getting used to the new brewing set up in Ichinoseki.

My picture with Mr. Konno

The devastated site of Suisen Brewery in Rikusentakata, Iwate. Mr. Konno plans to rebuild and is dedicated to staying in Rikusentakata.
When it was time to say goodbye, Mr. Konno thanked us for our support, but I felt it was really us with so much to be thankful for. As we pulled away in a steady rain, I watched Mr. Konno wave goodbye from under his umbrella. He continued waving for several minutes without pause, as did we from the bus, until he slipped out of sight.
There is no telling what the future will bring for Suisen or Rikuzentakata, but if Mr. Konno’s spirit is any indication, I plan on coming back to tour their rebuilt brewery in a few years.
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