Buckwheat-based imitation beer hits shelves in nuclear disaster-affected village [View all]

[yuiyoshida]

KAWAUCHI, Fukushima Prefecture--A tourism association here has turned to booze created with buckwheat, a local specialty, to breathe life back into a village depleted by the nearby Fukushima nuclear disaster.

At the request of the Kawauchi tourism association, beer brewers in Fukushima Prefecture have developed two types of low-malt imitation beer using buckwheat, which is typically used to make soba noodles.

“I want to encourage residents of the village by developing new local specialty products,” said Shigeru Ide, who heads the tourism body.

The 330-milliliter beverages are each priced at 620 yen ($4.99), including tax, and became available at shops throughout Kawauchi earlier this month.

http://ajw.asahi.com/article/0311disaster/recovery/AJ201507200062