地鎮祭: A Photo Essay

Kamui Whisky's Groundbreaking Ceremony

Hey, I’m Casey. Welcome to our newsletter, sharing the startup journey of Kamui Whisky K.K.. We’ve been busy, but when we aren’t overwhelmed, the team or I will share a story as we set up a craft whisky distillery on a remote, volcanic island in the most northern part of Japan.

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Over this past 4th of July weekend we were able to get many of the Kamui family together in Rishiri. Of course, it wasn’t a celebration of America’s birthday, but the celebration of another momentous event - breaking ground for the construction of our distillery.

Unfortunately, with Japan’s borders closed members of our team outside of Japan couldn’t make it to the dedication ceremony, but we were able to get members together who had never met in real life, and even a couple team members who had never been to the island. With negative PCR tests in hand, we were able to experience a special moment.

Heroes staring down the sun:

Investors and team members watching the sunset from the spot of Kamui Whisky’s future distillery. Perfect weather the day before construction was officially to begin.

Sunsets at Kamui Whisky are gorgeous:

Sublime

A few minutes later.

The construction equipment stood guard overnight. The dedication ceremony would be the next day, July 4th, a fortuitous link considering the heavy US makeup of Kamui’s founding team.

July 4th, day of our Groundbreaking ceremony:

The square, about to be holy ground. The Shinto alter offerings in the center, the sake gifts on the right, and the little hill in the right foreground is the symbolic construction site.

The Kamui Whisky Distillery groundbreaking ceremony begins:

The new Mayor begins the proceedings with a thoughtful speech.

In his research about Kamui Whisky’s land the Mayor found that it used to be the site of a Shinto Shrine, Sankichi Jinja (三吉神社). It was moved years ago, but if you can somehow find its current home then that is a serious level unlock in your Rishiri skills.

Sankichi Shrine. We found it, and were let inside the day before the groundbreaking ceremony when we went house to house around the neighborhood to give Aisatsu.

Back to the ceremony:

The Shinto Priest starts the blessings.

The ceremony starts to get real.

Letting the gods know what we are here for, and how they should help.

Blessing all of us. No unwashed here. Team Kamui Whisky on the right, Local government, and city councilors on the left.

You can just see the sacred paper being thrown, just above the priest. Sacred paper was thrown in each of the four corners of the site.

The Shinto priests calls opened up the sky, and the sun came out.

A drone shot once the sky cleared, looking back over Mt. Rishiri-Fuji.

Construction is a good industry in Rishiri, at least being an owner. All the cars, other than our little rental, were Lexus.

I get to break ground:

First, a prayer to the gods.

A once in a lifetime experience, breaking ground on such a beautiful site. Gold sneakers for the win.

I was enjoying the moment so much I didn’t realize there was a small gaggle of reporters shooting away.

Solid form for a first-timer.

Miku, my wife, and one of the founder’s of Kamui Whisky, in Kimono, with our two youngest ones. Giving the prayer, and about to lay a sacred wreath.

After the ceremony:

In the foreground the wreaths laid by all the attendees of the ceremony in prayer for safety and success.

A year’s supply of what now must be sacred Sake. Stop by, come share some with us.

Everyone who attended the ceremony. Team Kamui Whisky in the front row plus the Mayor and the Priest, the construction bigwigs and local government team standing in the second row.

The power shot. Let’s Go!

The Formal Celebratory Luncheon:

After the groundbreaking ceremony we moved to a banquet hall for a formal celebration lunch. Team Kamui, the city councilors, and the construction leaders were all in attendance for a lunch of the delicacies Rishiri has to offer.

Me giving the opening remarks.

Most of the speech:

Finish with a BBQ

Later that day Team Kamui Whisky met up again for a BBQ, another nice 4th of July link, at the small fisherman’s port next to our land.

Everyone, especially my wife, got to enjoy the best uni (sea urchin) of the year. July is the time to go to Rishiri if you are a foodie.

The world’s best uni, at the most delectable time of year, experiencing a moment of sunset happiness. Mana for the soul.