Japanophiles: Phillip Richards - Japanology Plus

Key Concepts

• Nozawa Onsen: A historic hot spring village in Nagano Prefecture, Japan, known for its traditional culture and ski resort.
• Dosojin Festival: A 300-year-old fire festival designated as an Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property of Japan, involving the defense and burning of a temporary shrine.
• Craft Distilling: The production of small-batch spirits (gin and whiskey) using locally sourced botanicals and natural spring water.
• Botanicals: Natural ingredients (juniper, kuromoji, kakidoshi, cedar) used to flavor gin.
• Unlucky Ages (Yakudoshi): In Japanese tradition, specific ages (notably 25 and 42 for men) are considered years of potential misfortune, traditionally addressed through community participation in festivals.

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1. The Nozawa Onsen Distillery

Phillip Richards, an Australian expatriate, established the Nozawa Onsen Distillery in December 2022 on the site of a former canning factory. The distillery utilizes German-made "Carl" stills to produce craft gin and whiskey.

• Production Philosophy: The distillery focuses on "terroir," using local ingredients to capture the essence of the Nozawa Onsen environment.
• Water Source: The spirits are crafted using soft spring water derived from snowmelt, which filters through beech forests for 30 to 50 years before emerging from a local spring.
• Recognition: In April 2023, all four of the distillery’s signature gins were awarded gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, competing against approximately 6,000 entries.

2. Botanical Sourcing and Methodology

The distillery emphasizes labor-intensive, local sourcing to create unique flavor profiles:

• Key Ingredients:
  • Juniper: The foundational flavor for gin.
  • Kuromoji: A fragrant wood traditionally used in tea and bath products.
  • Kakidoshi: A wild vine/herb that requires manual harvesting and leaf-by-leaf processing.
  • Cedar: Both leaves and nuts are utilized.
• Process: Ingredients are gathered from local forests and farms. The production is daily, with one batch of gin and one barrel of whiskey produced per day.

3. The Dosojin Festival and Community Integration

Phillip Richards made history as the first foreigner to participate in the Dosojin Festival.

• The Festival: Held annually in January, it features a "fire battle" where men at the "unlucky ages" of 25 and 42 defend a temporary shrine from villagers wielding torches. The event culminates in the burning of the shrine.
• Cultural Significance: Participation is a rite of passage that fosters deep community bonds. Richards was invited to participate at age 42, a year traditionally associated with bad luck, which he viewed as an opportunity to integrate into the village.
• Economic/Cultural Reciprocity: The distillery produces a special gin named after the festival, incorporating charred wood from the shrine’s central pillar. A portion of the proceeds from this product is donated back to the festival organizers.

4. Personal Journey: From Banking to Distilling

• Background: Born in Melbourne (1973), Richards first visited Japan at 19 on a working holiday visa. He spent 18 years in the banking sector, primarily in Tokyo, working in foreign exchange trading.
• Transition: Following the 2008 financial crisis and a desire for a more community-oriented life, he moved to Nozawa Onsen, where he had previously vacationed for skiing.
• Motivation: Richards sought to "give something back" to his adopted home. He notes that while Tokyo offered excitement, Nozawa Onsen provided a sense of belonging through shared responsibilities like snow clearing, bath maintenance, and festival participation.

5. Notable Quotes

• On the spirit of the community: "People still care for other people. You know, it's kind of like it's that kind of feeling that really... it's also about, you know, community other people. And I think I really connected with that kind of feeling." — Phillip Richards
• On the definition of home: "I'll always be Australian. Love Australia. Proud to be an Australian, but this is home now and this is where family and friends are." — Phillip Richards

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Synthesis

The Nozawa Onsen Distillery serves as a bridge between traditional Japanese craftsmanship and modern, globalized craft spirits. By leveraging the village's natural resources—specifically its pristine water and forest botanicals—Phillip Richards has created a business model that is deeply rooted in local culture. His integration into the community, symbolized by his participation in the Dosojin Festival, highlights a successful model of expatriate assimilation where the individual contributes to the preservation and promotion of local heritage rather than merely consuming it.