Tokyo Hachioji Brewing Celebrates 100 Years with Innovative Student Agriculture Program

Tokyo Hachioji Brewing Celebrates a Milestone

In a remarkable fusion of education and agriculture, Tokyo Hachioji Brewing, located in Hachioji, Tokyo, is gearing up to celebrate the centenary of Yano Gakuen Hachioji Jissen School with an innovative program. This initiative not only honors the 100 years of the educational institution but also engages students in a hands-on experience in sake brewing.

A Year-Long Initiative

The project is designed to span an entire year, encompassing agricultural experiences that allow students to learn about rice farming intensely. Activities include rice planting, scheduled for June 2025, and harvesting in September of the same year. Each step of the farming process will include interactions with local farmers, providing students with firsthand insights into the agricultural challenges faced today.

Throughout the program, students will also work on developing the branding and labels for an original sake that will be produced from the rice they cultivate. The aim is to make the sake a commemorative drink for Yano Gakuen's 100th anniversary.

The Educational Journey

Students will participate in fieldwork sessions that will break down the complexities of rice agriculture.

- Rice Planting: Scheduled for June 10, 2025, this event invites students to plant sake rice under the guidance of local farmers who will share insights about the climatic and geographical characteristics of Hachioji. In case of rain, the backup date is June 17.
- Rice Harvesting: The harvesting event is set for September 17, 2025, with an alternative date of September 24 in case of rain. Students will learn about rice management and the intricacies of harvesting, enabling them to appreciate the journey from rice paddy to sake.

Additionally, there will be three fieldwork learning sessions covering:
1. The Rice Production Process: Discussions on the various stages of rice cultivation and the differences between table rice and sake rice.
2. Agricultural Challenges: Conversations surrounding the realities of rice consumption, production quantity, and the scarcity of agricultural workers.
3. Crafting Japanese Sake: Insights into the sake brewing process, revealing how the rice cultivated by the students transforms into their unique sake.

Tokyo Hachioji Brewing: A New Local Gem

Tokyo Hachioji Brewing is the tenth sake brewery established in Tokyo, a testament to modern brewing practices combined with traditional methodologies. This urban brewery, located conveniently near Hachioji's city center, has been designed to produce small batches of sake while embracing community partnerships for sustainable rice cultivation. The brewery emphasizes that sake production is a natural extension of agriculture and is committed to crafting unique sake that reflects the terroir of Hachioji.

Connecting Community and Future Sustainability

By undertaking this project, both the brewery and the school aim to shed light on the diminishing interest in rice agriculture while reinforcing the importance of local production. Emphasizing collaboration, this initiative highlights how urban farming, sake brewing, and educational institutions can come together to create impactful learning experiences.

As we look ahead, Tokyo Hachioji Brewing is on a mission to redefine sake, focusing on every aspect of production, storage, and distribution, ultimately expanding the horizons for Japanese sake.