A roadside rest stop in the town of Kozaki, Chiba, sells
some 500 different fermented foods from across Japan.
"Kozaki, the 'fermentation town,' originates from
the Edo period when local products
such as rice and soy beans were prepared into fermented foods with long shelf life
such as sake and miso, which was  then sent to the capital, Edo."​
"We wanted to create, not just a commercial facility,
but a place where people could experience
(making) fermented foods themselves."​
The town holds courses on various topics
concerning fermentation, including making your own "nuka" rice bran.​
"The benefits of nukazuke are that
it is abundant in plant based lactic acid bacteria,
which protects against gastric acid
and reaches the intestines."​
Students are given rice bran powder, which is then combined with water and yeast.​
Ingredients such as common vegetables, boiled eggs
and fruits are coated in the nuka paste.
The vegetables become more nutritious and savory after being pickled.​
"A simple daikon radish becomes more savory and nutritious after fermentation
-- there are only benefits."​
"We would like to let locals and visitors alike
know about our efforts and the benefits of fermented foods." ​
Kozaki is also home to a soy sauce brewery Fujihan Shoyu, run by sixth-generation owner Hanji Takahashi.​
The company's brewery has been certified by the government
for the role it played in Japan's industrial modernization.
"This is a wooden barrel (that was) used to store unrefined soy sauce,
which would be stored for about a year.
It can hold about 3,000 liters."
Takahashi hosts periodic soy sauce lessons at the former Yoshida family residence in Kashiwa, Chiba.​
Students use locally-sourced soy beans, bore water, salt and yeast
to create their homemade soy sauce in plastic bottles.​
The ingredients are shaken
and left to ferment for about a year.​
The soy sauce is filtered using a slow drip when it is ready.​
"Miso and soy sauce are preservatives and don't rot easily.
It improves your gut environment and is good for your health."​
