A handwritten letter from Ryo Ozesawa, author of Natsuko's Sake, on brush weeding and cross-national exchange

This rice had not even been harvested for the harvest celebration yet, but I had already received a big prize from the heavens - after I compiled the method of "brush weeding" described in the "Summer's Sake" manga, besides sending it to various media outlets to share, I also sent it back to Mr. Akira Oze, the author of "Summer's Sake". I never expected that he would actually write a handwritten letter and send me a wonderful gift–a book written by Mr. Yoshinori Kaneko titled "A Farm with a Future" (English-Japanese bilingual), as a long-handled brush built a warm transnational exchange.

Mr. Akira Oze's works are like the Japanese fine sake he is fascinated by - warm, solid, and deeply moving. He does not simplify events or emphasize opposition, but instead starts from the interaction between people and society and gradually discovers different issues. Examples include "Island of Light," which depicts the educational plight of a remote small island; "Home," about being forced to relocate because of airport construction; "Beyond the Peak," which depicts a woman's struggle in rock climbing; and "Kurabito," about a foreigner who becomes a sake brewing expert.

In 2009, Mr. Akira Oze came to Taiwan, China for the first time and met many enthusiastic fans, which surprised him greatly. From readers' feedback, he knew his works were successful. Now, seeing my letter, he said: "Summer's Sake is a work from more than 20 years ago, and I am very happy that readers like this still feel it even now."

Mr. Akira Oze
http://www008.upp.so-net.ne.jp/ozex/index.html
[email protected]

Introduction to Mr. Yoshinori Kaneko
http://www.nhk.or.jp/professional/2010/0105/index.html
http://www.thinktheearth.net/thinkdaily/report/2008/02/rpt-37.html#page-1
http://www.shimosato-farm.com/