Thanks to everyone, the "Umeshu Festival in Hakata" concluded successfully.

Since it was a consignment sale, I didn't go to the venue,

but BAR LONDO in Hakata sent us photos of the event.

Thank you!

The large number of people queuing for tastings conveyed the excitement and vibrancy of the event.

It's truly wonderful to have such a great event for enjoying umeshu.

A big thank you to the event staff for their excellent hygiene!

The event ran from Thursday to Sunday, but our umeshu reportedly sold out on Saturday.

When I saw the sign, I was surprised it was Almond Umeshu!

The order of umeshu I found easy to drink was:

1. Ginger Umeshu

2. Lavender Umeshu

3. Almond Umeshu (Due to the plum's tartness, it wasn't sweet almond, but more like a sweet and sour canned fruit punch)

But to think Almond Umeshu was popular...

It's hard to accurately guess what customers will like.

I started my business at 30, so I've been self-employed for about 14 years now,

and I often realize how different I am from what customers feel.

Everyone has their own secret to focusing on work, but for me, it's not going out.

I don't enjoy eating out at all.

Since I owned a bar for 6 years, it actually meant I didn't have to go out at night.

If I go to one drinking party a year, that's a lot.

I grew up in the countryside and watched my grandparents live without leaving their posts,

so everyday life is more important than travel, and I prefer cooking to eating out.

My family travels without me (I only handle hotel bookings).

I also don't particularly like receiving services or being a customer.

I have other ways I prefer to spend my time.

This feeling doesn't seem to be shared by the majority.

I loved consumer activities until I was a student, as I wanted to absorb many things,

but as soon as I became a working adult, my focus shifted to what I could provide, and I grew to love the time spent creating things.

Even if I don't move around much, the seasons turn, the available vegetables, flowers, and scenery change,

and I myself age and change,

so staying in the same place and feeling those changes is dramatic and meaningful enough.

Actually, my mentor at the BAR where I trained also never went out for drinks.

My mentor's hobbies were watercolor painting and kirigami, a typical creative person.

I think he found joy in work and manual labor itself.

It's the nature of creators that they don't necessarily go out after work!

The existence of customers is what gives them that sense of purpose and support.

The words "Thank you for coming" are said with genuine feeling precisely because going out isn't a given.

And there's also concern for their health and well-being.

Thank you for coming despite the cold, your busy schedule, the heat, and the bad footing due to rain.

It's very meaningful to deepen introspection while preserving the changing everyday.

It's like writing a love letter to the future while making the present certain.

However, since creation is for the drinkers,

I want to be careful not to write a love letter that can't be delivered.

It was Almond Umeshu... (still bothered by it)