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Hands-on Soy Sauce Pressing for Everyone 

As part of Civic Force’s NPO Partner Projects, a soy sauce pressing workshop was held on October 25, 2026, at Oretachi no Denshokan (operated by the Moyai Exhibition Executive Committee) in Fukushima. Now in its fourth year, the event welcomed approximately 20 participants who experienced traditional soy sauce making under the guidance of soy sauce presser Yasuhide Miyazaki.

First, Mr. Miyazaki showed the participants the soy sauce mash (shoyu-kasu). Hot water was then added, and the mixture was slowly stirred from the bottom. When participants tasted it partway through, voices of surprise rang out as they noticed how the saltiness and flavor shifted the more hot water was added.

Next, the mash was placed into cloth bags and pressed using a traditional wooden press known as a shoyu-bune ("soy sauce boat"). Drop by drop, freshly pressed soy sauce began to trickle out. 

As the savory aroma of soy sauce filled the venue, everyone gathered to enjoy imoni (taro and meat soup) and freshly harvested rice seasoned with the freshly pressed soy sauce. 

Mr. Miyazaki also performed a handmade kamishibai (paper theater) story, offering participants a valuable opportunity to connect with the culture and wisdom of traditional soy sauce making passed down through generations.

At the end of the workshop, participants received freshly pressed soy sauce and leftover mash to take home. Mr. Miyazaki also shared helpful tips on storage methods and recipes using the mash so participants could continue enjoying the flavors at home.

A Mother and Child Attending Since the Very First Workshop

A mother who has attended the event with her child since the beginning shared, "We have been participating since my son was two years old. It is a rare and valuable opportunity to experience how the food we eat every day is made. My son actually thinks Oretachi no Denshokan is a 'soy sauce shop.”

She also reflected on what the space means to her: "My husband’s family is from Minamisoma, so we relocated here. This is an important place where I belong - somewhere I can come to view artwork or seek advice whenever I feel anxious about radiation. I am truly grateful that a place like this exists in our community." 

A First-Time Participating High School Freshman and Her Mother

A first-year high school student began creating her own artwork after learning about the nuclear disaster at Commutan Fukushima, a facility dedicated to education on the disaster, which eventually connected her to Oretachi no Denshokan. Her mother, who originally farmed in Tamura City, evacuated voluntarily out of Fukushima for many years following the Great East Japan Earthquake and nuclear accident before recently returning. 

"I can no longer farm the way I used to, nor can I sell wild mountain vegetables," the mother explained. "Although my daughter has no direct memory of the disaster, she is confronting the nuclear tragedy through her art. While I sometimes find it difficult to talk about Fukushima with her due to our generational gap, here I feel safe sharing my own experiences."

Her daughter’s artwork is scheduled to be featured in a special exhibition at Oretachi no Denshokan in June 2027.

Student Organizer from a Participating University Group

A group of university students also took part in the event after their professor took an interest in Oretachi no Denshokan’s initiatives. One of the students helping run the event had visited previously and joined the organizing team out of a desire to "have everyone else see this place, too." Currently studying in the Faculty of Education, the student holds a deep interest in the disaster and the transmission of its memory. 

Exhibition Artist Kyoko Takeuchi 

The team also spoke with Kyoko Takeuchi, the artist behind the exhibition "Oku" (Memory/Remembrance), which runs from October 24 to November 23. Originally from Aichi Prefecture and currently residing in Germany, Ms. Takeuchi transported the artworks she created in Germany for this exhibition. Her pieces reflect her thoughts on the Great East Japan Earthquake and were previously shown at a solo exhibition in Germany, where the word "FUKUSHIMA" is widely recognized. The title "Oku" carries meanings of memory, remembrance, never forgetting, and deep reflection.

Initially, Ms. Takeuchi intended to crack a mirror to symbolize the scars of the disaster, but the glass did not fracture as she had envisioned, so the piece was displayed uncracked on the day of the workshop. However, she later procured a sheet of plate glass, placed it over the mirrored display stand, and fractured that top layer - successfully achieving the artistic expression she had originally imagined. 

During the workshop, she left a lasting impression as she listened earnestly to the stories of disaster survivors.

A Place Where Everyday Interaction and the Passing Down of Memory Intersect 

While Oretachi no Denshokan is a place dedicated to passing down the memories of the earthquake and nuclear accident, it is also a space where people of different generations and backgrounds gather and naturally strike up conversations through everyday cultural experiences like pressing soy sauce. Those who experienced the disaster share their feelings, while a generation with no direct memory of the event engages with that history through their own forms of expression. Through this workshop, it became clear that Oretachi no Denshokan serves as a vital community hub where daily life and the preservation of memory come together. (Masaki)

A Valuable Space for Dialogue Forged Through Shared Experience 

The workshop brought together people from diverse walks of life, creating an environment where participants could reflect deeply on the Great East Japan Earthquake through the exhibition. Throughout the venue, conversations went far beyond soy sauce and the disaster, with participants eagerly getting to know one another. Even though attendees came from both within and outside the local area, a warm sense of unity filled the room, as if everyone were longtime acquaintances. Through the shared experience of pressing soy sauce, people who might rarely cross paths in daily life were able to converse and speak openly about the disaster, making it a truly meaningful space for connection. (Mori)