The 2009 Japan Beer Festival was held in Yokohama from September 19 through 21 and over 20,000 beer lovers attended the festival.
I was there to enjoy tasting different kinds of beers and meeting different people from all over Japan (over 200 kinds of craft beers were presented this year) and was not expecting to be on the stage let alone making a speech.
However.
Ise Kadoya Brewery was selected "Brewery of the Year" for 2009. This award goes the the company that contributed to improve the craft beer industry in Japan in addition to continue its efforts to improve its own quality, marketing and people development. The winner is decided by a large body of people who are involved in the craft beer industry and it is that fact that makes me so humble and honored to receive such an award.
To celebrate our success, we are brewing a "President's Special Part 2" and plan to sell it around the middle of November.
Cheers,
Narihiro.
