Sino-Japanese bonds strengthened over a glass of Shaoxing huangjiu

On a bustling Tuesday in Tokyo, a unique celebration of culture and taste unfurled. The "World Wine Tour - Japan" kicked off, shining a global spotlight on a hidden gem - Shaoxing Huangjiu wine and the literary city of Shaoxing itself. This inaugural event also marked the beginning of an intriguing global promotion, promising an international odyssey of flavors and traditions.

Photo provided to Shaoxing publicity department

The event was no ordinary affair, achieving five groundbreaking 'firsts': the inaugural overseas promotion of huangjiu since the pandemic, championed by none other than the Shaoxing City Government; the unveiling of a one-of-a-kind Shaoxing Wine sommelier system; a pioneering dialogue between the masters of huangjiu and sake in Japan; the launch of the heart-stirring film Wine: A Family Tradition; and the international premiere of the breathtaking high-definition video Only This Qingyu.

Huangjiu, Shaoxing's pride, is an ancient Chinese wine with a legacy spanning thousands of years. It's crafted through a unique fermentation process, a closely guarded secret that gives it a distinctive character and cements its place in the annals of Chinese heritage.

Speaker Lu Bing, the vice chairman of the Shaoxing City Political Consultative Conference, wove a tale of China and Japan's intertwined histories and relationships, revealing Shaoxing's robust ties witt Japan through seven friendly cities and twenty Japanese-funded companies. His passionate address ignited a hope that this event would kindle a love affair between Japanese consumers and Shaoxing huangjiu, and bolster the bonds of cooperation between the two regions.

Yang Yu, the chief envoy of the Chinese Embassy in Japan, added to the narrative, highlighting Shaoxing's legacy as a 2,500-year-old cultural powerhouse in East Asia. He painted a vivid picture of the deep-rooted appreciation the Japanese have for Shaoxing's rich culture, including Da Yu's mastery of a flood prone river, the Lantingji Xu, Lu Xun's works, and of course, Shaoxing's Huangjiu. to its revered huangjiu. His address echoed with a resounding hope that this event would further cement the bonds of friendship and cooperation between China and Japan.

In a heartening moment, former Japanese Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama, a professed aficionado of Shaoxing and its wine, shared his affinity for this cultural icon. He drew intriguing parallels between Shaoxing wine and Japanese wine, highlighting their shared brewing techniques and the potential for mutual enrichment. In a poignant nod to the 45th anniversary of the establishment of peaceful relations between China and Japan, he raised a toast with Shaoxing wine to their enduring friendship, marking a memorable climax to the event.