Gunma Event report

Discovering the craftsmanship of Aritaya, an artisan soy sauce brewer.

On 22 May 2026, the CCIFJ organised a company visit to Aritaya, a soy sauce brewer located in Gunma Prefecture.

On 22 May, the Gunma Office held its first event of the year. On this occasion, participants had the opportunity to visit Aritaya, a member company of the CCIFJ located in the city of Annaka.

The event began with a tour of Aritaya’s facilities in a warm and friendly atmosphere. Mr Yuasa Kohki, representing the seventh generation of the family business, introduced us to the company’s craftsmanship as well as one of its signature products: a naturally brewed soy sauce matured in the Usui Tunnel. This product perfectly reflects the company’s philosophy of developing unique flavours rooted in the local terroir, shaped by Annaka’s climate and distinctive micro-organisms.

The visit continued with a workshop organised by the Annaka Tourism Association, during which participants had the opportunity to press their own soy sauce in an atmosphere filled with curiosity and enthusiasm.

The event then concluded with a tasting session featuring dishes specially prepared for the occasion, carefully paired with two soy sauce specialities: firstly, koikuchi, brewed from whole soybeans and fermented in a single stage; secondly, saishikomi, which undergoes a double fermentation process.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Aritaya for their warm welcome and kindness throughout the day.

Many thanks as well to all the participants for their enthusiasm and cheerful spirit.

We look forward to seeing you again at future events in Gunma.

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