牛久シャトーワインは更生の味 気ままなリライト157
Horticultural therapy programs have provided a meaningful, effective path to rehabilitation for juvenile offenders by incorporating farming activities into community projects. The therapeutic approach, utilized within correctional settings, has aligned with a city's plan to combine business acumen with cultural preservation, thus maintaining the city’s historical legacy. Through those programs, juvenile offenders have played a behind-the-scenes role in rejuvenating Japan’s first full-scale winery, established in 1903 in Ushiku City, Ibaraki Prefecture. Their collective efforts have brought forth a dark purple masterpiece, reflecting their profound personal growth, to present to the world.
The Ibaraki Agricultural Academy, a juvenile correctional institution in Ushiku City, has welcomed the city’s offer to contribute to the rehabilitation plan for the 120-year-old Ushiku Chateau winery. Oenon Holdings, the owner of Ushiku Chateau, had deemed its operation unprofitable and ceased operations in December 2018. In response to local residents' demands for its early reopening, the city invested 95 million yen to establish Ushiku Chateau Co., Ltd as a third-sector company. The city leased the entire facility from Oenon Holdings in 2019 and subleased it to the new company to revive historical winemaking techniques, cultivating grapes and handling wine production and bottling on-site. Nearly 90 juvenile offenders at the academy are receiving vocational training as grape farmers, aiming to generate sufficient income to make the city-run business viable and profitable.
A grape-growing program designed to instill a sense of purpose among juvenile offenders at the academy has yielded remarkable results. With the goal of producing an Ushiku brand wine from grapes grown at the academy’s vineyard with 220 vines, under the guidance of experienced winemaking technicians at the chateau, the juveniles diligently harvested one ton of crops, including Merlot, last summer. Their regular care and attention in the academy’s greenhouses paid off, culminating in the launch of Merlot 2023 under the Ushiku brand. This brand, which must be made with at least 85% of the grapes harvested within the city, is noted for its refreshing fruit aroma and is easy to drink. Priced at 4,000 yen per bottle, it has been available since May 2024 and is receiving positive reviews and strong sales among chateau visitors and online shoppers alike.
The Ministry of Justice has recommended the therapeutic benefits of group farming projects to help delinquent juveniles transition back into the real world, reducing the likelihood of reoffending. Several juvenile correctional facilities have reported positive outcomes from agricultural programs, including enhanced psychological well-being and improved social adjustment. For incarcerated juveniles who have struggled with relationships and social interactions, nature and farming offer a much-needed respite from the stress and conflict of human relationships, helping them feel less judged and more at ease. The slow, nurturing process of growing plants fosters deeper soul searching and mindful insights into their past behavior, providing a springboard for planning a better future. The repetitive tasks involved in agriculture, such as planting, weeding, and harvesting, teach patience and perseverance. Successfully growing plants and achieving tangible results boost self-esteem and confidence.
Like Romanée-Conti wines known for their aging potential, the emotional value of the limited-production Merlot 2023 under the Ushiku brand will increase over the decades. For the juveniles who cultivated the grapes with great care and dedication, those wines stand as a testament to their redemption and a beacon of a better future. As those individuals mature and mellow like fine vintage wines, the Merlot they presented to the world, will mirror unparalleled complexity and depth, potentially surpassing even the esteemed Romanée-Conti's sensory richness. The section chief of the Ibaraki Agricultural Academy advises the juvenile grape farmers, saying, “When you feel lost at a crossroads on your life journey long after being discharged from the academy, open the bottle. The familiar taste of the academy’s vineyard will guide you in the right direction.”
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