"Miyaguro Cider," which was developed to support the areas affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake, will celebrate its first March 11th.

This cider uses apple juice from Kuroishi City, Aomori Prefecture and salt from Miyako City, Iwate Prefecture. Jointly developed by two sister cities. Mr. Masataka Higashi, the chairman of the “Shining Kuroishi Apple City Association,” says, “The idea proposed at the meeting held at the beginning of the new year in 2014 has taken shape.”

Masao Miura of M Foods (Miyako), a food processing wholesaler who is a member of the reconstruction project “Kakeashi no Kai” in Miyako City, was informed of the plan and the product was developed in a short period of time. At first, Mr. Higashi was thinking about a collaboration product that uses apples that will be harvested in the fall of 2014, but Mr. Miura said that he wanted me to send you apple juice immediately. Sample production started in March, and production began in early June.

The cider will be the first collaboration product as a sister city since 1966. “Because it's a sister city, we wanted to do something we could do together,” said Higashi. Having lived in Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture for 7 years, I have a strong feeling for the disaster area. At the time of the earthquake, he bought oil and daily necessities, and visited the affected areas many times.

The first production, which was limited to 2,400 pieces, was almost sold out in one month, and the production increased immediately. Currently sold at supermarkets and product stores in the city. Accept orders online. “I just did what I could do within the reach of my own. I want everyone to do the same,” Higashi-san calls. The project is planned to be made into a series in the future, and the second product is currently under development.

It contains 340 ml and costs 250 yen.