On April 6th, Tomioka Winery successfully held its pre-opening.

Yesterday (April 6th), Tomioka Winery successfully held its pre-opening.

The idea for a winery in Tomioka dates back about 23 years, when he was living in Tokyo and overseas. After the earthquake, seeing his hometown devastated, he started working with local volunteers in 2016 to put his pre-disaster vision into practice. He commuted to cultivate in the deserted town. He made progress step by step under extremely tight circumstances, clearing the Obama field, acquiring land in front of the station, developing the land, procuring and planting seedlings, and more. It took a considerable amount of energy up to that point, but looking back, the past two and a half years since he decided to open a winery have seen him step up a gear, using almost everything he has learned in his life, and consulting with many experts to constantly make changes.

However, the most important thing is the support we have received from so many people over the past nine years, and the many times we have been in difficult situations, such as heavy rain, extreme heat, cold waves, and major disasters, when no one wanted to work. I believe that the connections and trust we have built between people are what make Tomioka Winery what it is today.

I have learned a lot over the past nine years, and I feel like I have taken a step forward in understanding the true essence of the region's recovery and revitalization. Thank you very much. Today marks the beginning of the second chapter of Tomioka Wine. I look forward to your continued support.

On the day of the completion ceremony and opening ceremony, I barely had time to take any photos, so I'd like to share a few here.