173: Aomori to Nagano | inCiderJapan

173: Aomori to Nagano | inCiderJapan

Lee Reeve is the Publisher and Editor of the quarterly magazine inCiderJapan, the country’s first and only bilingual magazine dedicated to all things cider. Lee and I recorded a chat while attending CiderCon2019 in Chicago.

Lee Reeve w:Tekikaka Cidre

He came ready to pour a selection of Japanese ciders from makers in two primary regions in the country or what are caller Prefectures - Aomori and Nagano.

We discuss:

• Lee’s goals for inCiderJapan
  • Develop the Japanese Market
  • Connect with the Japanese makers
  • Communicate to the outside world what is happening in Japan
• How to recover the loss of revenue in apple production
• Getting people to come back to the rural apple growing regions of Aomori and Nagano
• The growing Japanese cider market
• Japan's Bullet Trains and how it gets from one region to another
• No public drinking laws in Japan - you can walk about with open containers.
  • The drinking age in Japan is 20 years old
• The aging maker community in Japan
• Encouraging makers to offer smaller bottles for consumers - moving from a 750ml bottle to a 375 format
  • Average price for a 750 ml of cider $20. Offering a smaller bottle size entices consumers to reach for a bottle on the shelf due to the price point and the cider or cider brand, being for now an unknown product
• And taste a cider from Tekikaka

What is new for Lee beside all of the above?

He is in partnership with Jeremy Stunt of Authentic Cider and they are looking to bring cider to Japan from Tom Oliver, Pilton, Little Pomona, Hallets, and more…Stay Tuned!

Contact info for Lee Reeve

• Go to inCiderJapan
• Here you can find out the latest news on cider in Japan
• Sign up for the quarterly paper inCiderJapan
• Buy a t-shirt and showcase your international know how - the t-shirts rock!!!

Upcoming Cider Events in Japan

• May 25th - The Nagano Cider Collection with a surprise super secret cider maker from Australia
• July 21st  - The Tokyo Cider Collection

Mentions in this Chat

• April 3rd Ethic Cider Event in Petaluma California
• May 5th-6th - Big Apple Blossom Festival - UK
• Totally Cider Tours rolling out in 2019:
  • Monterey Bay, California April 12th & 13th, 2019
  • Normandy, France September 22nd - 28th, 2019, Early Bird end March 31, 2019
  • New England Cider Tour - October 31, 2019 - stay tuned for tour info in May

• 172: Tour and Tasting with Eric Bordelet
  • 20+ minute Bonus audio clip with Eric Bordelet on cider making from press to bottle. Become a Patron today via Cider Chat's Patreon page
• 168: Barrel Aging Cider Inspiration | Ryan Monkman
  • 40+ minute Q&A with Ryan Bonus audio clip - this is a Patron only listen. Become a Patron today via Cider Chat's Patreon page