Local News

The Fukuoka branch of Teikoku Databank released its data for shochu and awamori sales nationwide for the country’s 50 leading companies for FY 2011. Nationwide, sales were down 4.7% from the previous year to 279.1 billion yen, the fourth consecutive decline and the lowest level since 2005. The 10 leading companies in the industry are all Kyushu-based, as are 47 of the top 50 companies in Japan. Teikoku Databank said one factor in the falloff was the increased popularity of highballs and other drinks.