"Platinum Family: A Peek into a Magnificent Family" (TV Asahi, Tuesdays at 7pm, excluding some areas) is a program showcasing the lifestyles of "magnificent families." On January 20th, a long-established miso brewery in Ibaraki Prefecture that has been in business for over 170 years will be featured.
The man who inherited the prestigious family business is the eighth-generation president, Shigeharu Funyu. The home where Shigeharu and his wife live was built in 1871, has an 11LDK layout, and sits on a whopping 10,000 square meters of land. It features a Japanese garden surrounded by lush plants.
Shigeharu used to take care of his vast garden himself, but now he does it all by himself because hiring a contractor would incur high maintenance costs.
With the changing times, miso production has decreased, to one-eighth of what it was 40 years ago. The miso brewery once employed more than 10 people, but now Shigeharu runs it almost entirely by himself. Even so, the miso is made with no heat treatment and is fermented with the "natural fermentation" method that has been followed since the brewery was founded, using wooden barrels that have been handed down for over 100 years, and the taste is so great that even his wife gives it her stamp of approval, calling it "the best in Japan."
In the midst of all this, Shigeharu wanted to "spread the deliciousness of miso to a wider audience," so he started a miso school. The initiative, which allows people to experience making miso, has been well-received, with many repeat customers. Kotaro Koizumi and Takashima Chisako were impressed, saying it was "a great idea" and "good for everyone in the community," and Shigeharu also shared his thoughts about the family business.
