Over the two days of September 23 (Sat, holiday) and 24 (Sun), 2023, the Gastronomy Festival and Gastronomy Tour of "Shinshu Ueda Matsutake & Wine Festival 2023" will be held in Ueda City, Nagano Prefecture.
In addition, crowdfunding has also been launched to preserve the endangered matsutake mushroom for the next generation.
Here are the details.
About the Event
Ueda City, with its rich nature and romantic Sengoku-period history, is actually one of the largest matsutake-producing areas in Japan, while the Chikuma River Wine Valley is one of Japan's leading renowned wine regions and a notable area where new wineries are opening one after another.
This initiative reportedly originated from "UEDA WINE BUSINESS LAB," a talent discovery and development program in the wine business carried out as part of the "Ueda Wine Project" organized by Ueda City and the KIRIN Group.
Domestically produced matsutake mushrooms are in a critical situation, with harvest volumes dropping to around 0.3% of pre-war levels due to the decline of satoyama landscapes and other factors, leading to matsutake being designated as an "endangered species."
In order to pass down these richly fragrant and flavorful domestic matsutake mushrooms to the next generation, activities to restore satoyama will be carried out through this festival and gastronomy tour, giving thanks to the blessings born from the marriage of nature and people.
About the Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding has also been launched to help save these endangered matsutake mushrooms.
A selection of return examples is summarized below.
(1) 2,000 yen
・Postcard (by mail), Thank You email, name listed on official website
(2) 3,000 yen
・Shatterproof glass, neck-strap wine glass pouch, postcard (by mail), etc.
(3) 5,000 yen
・Food & beverage tickets worth 3,000 yen, shatterproof glass, neck-strap wine glass pouch (handed out at the event venue), etc.
(4) 120,000 yen
・Gastronomy tour (2 days, 1 night, equivalent to 90,000 yen), VIP seat (chair seating inside tent for half a day), etc.
Matsutake is a precious Japanese resource.
If you are interested, why not consider making a donation through crowdfunding?
References
・Shinshu Ueda Matsutake & Wine Festival 2023 Official Website
・CAMPFIRE Crowdfunding
https://camp-fire.jp/projects/view/692926?utm_campaign=cp_po_share_c_msg_mypage_projects_show