Distillers in Kyushu seek to build fan base abroad for "shochu"

Spirits makers in Japan's southernmost main island of Kyushu are working to attract overseas customers for their flagship product "shochu" distilled liquor.Shochu, typically distilled from barley, sweet potatoes, rice, buckwheat or sugar cane, is very popular domestically, but not nearly as well known abroad as Japanese "sake," an undistilled alcoholic beverage made from rice.Kirishima Shuzo Co. in Miyakonojo, Miyazaki Prefecture, is one of the shochu makers working to change that.It recently launched a website in English as part of its effort to enhance overseas recognition of its signatur…READ FULL ARTICLE