Almost all of the vinegar in Japan is made from rice. My mother’s home is a vinegar manufacturer, so that could be the reason I love it! In the UK, pickles like piccalilli, or malt vinegar on chips – fantastic! As a child, my grandfather’s house had a big old vinegar plant like a sake brewery, lined with huge cedar barrels much taller than a man. My memories of grandpa’s house are filled with a pungent, vinegary smell!

My cousins run Grandpa’s company now, and still makes vinegar in the traditional way.  The local newspaper made this short film about it.