At the Soy Sauce Brewery

The water reached two meters, Sodai Iwanaga recounted, gesturing toward the flood lines that once submerged his hometown of Ashikita, in Kumamoto Prefecture. In 2020, torrential rains devastated Kyushu, leaving 77 dead and two missing. Among those affected was the Iwanaga family, proud soy sauce producers now in their fifth generation. Despite the devastation, the Iwanagas never considered abandoning the business, founded in 1909. Instead, they turned to crowdfunding, raising nearly $90,000 from almost 1,000 supporters. Messages of encouragement poured in, including one that read, Our dining table has never been without a bottle of Iwanaga soy sauce.

We visited the Iwanagas’ brewery as part of our graphic design course at Sojo University. Located in Ashikita, a serene town in the southern part of Kumamoto near the west coast, the small factory is renowned for its high-quality local products. Soy sauces, vinegars, and miso pastes are crafted here with remarkable care and passion, embodying generations of tradition and dedication. As very creative design students, however, our interest extended far beyond the flavors and meticulous production methods. While we were deeply moved by the tales of resilience in the face of a devastating natural disaster, our focus was more on the visual language of their high quality products.

The scars of the disaster remain visible across Ashikita, from damaged homes to fragments of daily life unearthed at mudslide sites. Yet, resilience and determination define the community’s spirit. Residents have worked tirelessly to rebuild, even as memories of the destruction linger. Shattered neighborhoods are finding new life, and local traditions, like soy sauce brewing, have emerged as symbols of perseverance. The Iwanagas’ approach not only preserves tradition but also captures the essence of Ashikita’s spirit, creating products that tell a story beyond their taste or texture. It’s a testament to the strength of a town determined to rebuild itself, one bottle of soy sauce at a time.