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ABC News
25-04-2025
- Business
- ABC News
Sake imports soar in Australia amid decline in Japanese domestic market
Over the last decade, Australia has emerged as one of the most promising international markets for Japanese sake. This trend has been fuelled by cultural curiosity, international travel, and a deepening appreciation of craft beverages. Industry insiders say the surge in demand has transformed the local market and could soon position Australia among the top importers of the iconic Japanese drink. Australians are visiting Japan in record numbers, and they're returning with more than just memories. They're bringing home a taste for sake. Last year, Sydney based sake importer from Japan, Yoshi Honda, said the tourism-fuelled demand has translated into booming imports. He began importing sake to Australia over a decade ago and has noticed significant market growth. Yoshi Honda is a Japanese sake importer based in Sydney. ( ABC Asia: Sophie Johnson ) "[The number of customers] has grown more than three times [since I started importing] … maybe five times the size," he said. What started as Mr Honda working with two Japanese sake brewers has grown to a network of about 16, and importing different varieties of the drink. Japanese sake brewer Kenji Iwa has also noticed a major uptick in Australian consumers. "I think that Australia has the most interest in Japanese sake at the moment," he said. It is the eighth biggest exporter for Japanese sake, and at this rate, Mr Iwa said he can see the country potentially cracking a top five spot in the future. In 2024, Australia imported 677,962 litres of sake, More Australians are consuming Japanese sake. ( ABC Asia: Sophie Johnson ) Declining Japanese market Ironically, while sake is booming in Australia and other Western markets, it's struggling to maintain popularity in Japan. Both Mr Iwa and Mr Honda say younger Japanese drinkers are increasingly turning to beer, wine, and whiskey. "Not many people in Japan are drinking Japanese sake at the moment," said Mr Iwa. "Young people are not really drinking Japanese sake … they think it's something their parents drank." Kenji Iwa brews sake, and says less people in Japan are consuming the product. ( ABC Asia: Sophie Johnson ) Mr Honda said many young people in Japan are following American and European cultural trends, resulting in less interest in sake. That global interest is keeping the sake industry alive, and for some brewers, it's becoming the primary focus. Mr Iwa said there's not much of a market for the beverage in Japan. " We have to export as much as possible. And at the same time, we can export our culture. " Australian sake and festivals Another key factor in sake's growing popularity is a wave of cultural festivals and events. Melbourne and Sydney have both hosted major sake festivals in recent years, drawing thousands of attendees and dozens of breweries from Japan. Photo shows Two cups of sake about to cheers. Despite its household name, sake has long been misunderstood. This year, a sake festival debuted in Brisbane as well. But sake's rising profile in Australia isn't just about imports. Local brewers are getting in on the action too. Quentin Hanley is the owner of Melbourne Sake, Australia's first craft sake brewery. His craft operation uses local rice from New South Wales and combines traditional Japanese methods. "We started home brewing. It kind of snowballed out of control, and here we are," he said. Mr Hanley said he isn't trying to compete with Japanese sake. Quentin Hanley brews sake in Australia. ( ABC Asia: Sophie Johnson ) Instead, he's working to raise the drink's overall profile, and he says it's working. "If people drink more sake, whether it's ours or from Japan, that's a win for the whole industry," he said. "We saw high-end restaurants doing sake and wine pairings, and that told us there was real interest." He said the food culture, especially in Melbourne and Sydney, is driving domestic demand. "Every time I mention sake, someone says, 'Oh, I love that stuff', even people you wouldn't expect," Mr Hanley said. "Everyone seems to be interested."
Forbes
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Where To Find It Hawaiʻi's Tallest Mural In Honolulu
HONOLULU - Kamea Hadar paints the tallest mural in Hawaii at 220 feet tall and 25 stories. We've grown accustomed to seeing murals dominate cityscapes, as building owners around the world partner with artists to beautify and personalize blank spaces, big and small. While all art pieces add something special to a city or community, some stand out for their sheer size or embedded meaning. In the case of a new record-breaking mural that was just painted on the island of Oʻahu in Hawaiʻi, both are true. Kamea Hadar recently completed what has become Hawaiʻi's tallest mural, measuring about 220 feet tall and spanning 25 stories of a large Honolulu skyscraper. The mural took months of planning, according to Hadar, but only four days to paint. The size of the mural in itself is a great feat, but the story behind the artwork, its connection to the purpose of the building, and the message the artwork sends to residents of the building make it extra special. The mural is painted on Nāulu Tower in Honolulu, a new affordable housing project that's set to help local families struggling to afford the high cost of living in Hawaiʻi. 'It's going to be Hawaiʻi's new record-breaking tallest mural,' Hadar told local news station KHON2. 'Affordable housing for over 300 families in Hawaiʻi, that just kind of makes it doubly special for me.' The subject of the artwork is an Iwa bird—a Hawaiian seabird—that has historically been used by the Hawaiian people as a sign of life, safety, and navigation when out on the water. 'I thought that the Iwa bird would be a perfect fit for that because it was used by sailors to navigate,' Hadar told KHON2. 'When they're out at sea, you know that the water and weather is calm, and that's why they're flying out there. So, they're kind of like one of the oceans telltale signs of land, weather, rain… et cetera.' The idea of painting a bird with such traditional meaning on a building set to house families who may be going through turbulent times is a nice message, signaling that calm waters are just ahead. When visiting Oʻahu, you can find the new mural on the outskirts of Honolulu, in an area called Hālawa. Here's the exact address for the building. It's adjacent to the Pearl Harbor Memorial, so very convenient to check out on your way to or from the National Historic Site. When visiting, be aware and courteous to traffic—never block a roadway or stop in a dangerous place—and be respectful of local residents.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Artist paints Hawaii's tallest mural in Halawa
HONOLULU (KHON2) — A local artist is beautifying the city and breaking records. A neighborhood in Halawa will soon be growing with some impressive news sights right in their backyard. Kamea Hadar started drawing even before he could remember. When other kids stopped, he never did. Hawaii Pacific Health ESPN Honolulu Open brings pickleball fever to the islands 'My main goal is just to leave the world a more beautiful place than I found it,' Hadar said. 'So, when I can cover an enormous canvas with beautiful, bright colors that hopefully brighten some of the community's day, it makes me feel really happy inside.' Chances are you know his work. He's painted the mural of Duke Kahanamoku and Carissa Moore on the corner of South King and Pensacola Streets. Now, he's found a new canvas in Halawa that's over 25 stories high at 220 feet tall on the side of Naulu Tower, a new affordable housing project between the city, state and Pacific Development Group, which is costing 168 million dollars.'It's going to be Hawaii's new record-breaking tallest mural. Affordable housing for over 300 families in Hawaii, that just kind of makes it doubly special for me,' Hadar said. According to PDG, the project is the biggest the state's tax credit program has seen, costing $168 million. 'The county is under-sourced by over 10,000 units of affordable [housing],' stated Joe Michael, PDG president. 'But it barely makes a dent into what's needed for the state.' Hadar said it took months planning the mural, but only four days of painting it to completion. 'I thought that the Iwa bird would be a perfect fit for that because it was used by sailors to navigate,' Hadar said. 'When they're out at sea, you know that the water and weather is calm, and that's why they're flying out there. So, they're kind of like one of the oceans telltale signs of land, weather, rain… et cetera.' Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
