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Company Name: Ikema Distillery,
Inc.
Founded: 1946
Address: 57 Aza Nishihara, Hirara City
TEL: 09807-2-2425
FAX: 09807-2-4383 |
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A stylish distillery where
the simple and refreshing taste of awamori is carefully produced.
Niko Niko Taro ('Smiling Taro'), the uniquely named awamori
brand of the Ikema Distillery is very popular at taverns on Miyakojima
('Miyako Island'). According to President Taro Ikema, efforts have
been made to produce a sweet and smooth liquor that is free of the
distinctive awamori odor.
Needless to say, awamori has been an indispensable part of
the lives of the Miyako Islanders since olden times. However, it
was originally not the type of liquor found today on restaurant
menus, but a liquor that people drank at home. Mr. Ikema says that
Niko Niko Taro helped to trigger the opportunity for awamori
to be introduced at restaurants and taverns, and to reach people
who were not previously acquainted with the liquor. The company
works to produce 'an easily acquainted liquor for the general public
and kusu for the awamori experts'. But it is the careful
attention paid to detail, regarding both the ingredients and the
production methods, that has achieved 'a smooth awamori free
of odor'.
President Ikema, who took over from his father, Kinjiro, in 1986,
has enthusiastically been taking part in international fairs, such
as the Mondo Selection and International Wine & Spirits Competition,
since 1985. The company has won a number of awards at home and abroad.
At present, five employees work at the Ikema distillery to produce
100,000 liters of awamori per year, most of which is sold
in Okinawa. As President Ikema says, liquor is part of our eating
habits, and awamori is best enjoyed when drunk at its place
of origin together with local food. On the other hand, the president
also makes continuous efforts for his products to be sampled by
visitors at souvenir shops on the main island of Okinawa. His enthusiasm
is sure to increase the number of true awamori fans in various
parts of Japan, far away from its place of origin. |
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