Akane Hotta: "Challenge is my lifestyle." A way of life that never gets boring, and empathy for Kirishima Shuzo.

The first episode of "#MeetTheOshiKiri" features Akane Hotta, who is active in a wide range of fields including modeling, acting, and even variety shows. In the part 1, we spoke to her about behind-the-scenes stories from the commercial she appeared in, as well as the recommended "Oshi" points of her favorite Kirishima Shuzo's shochu.

Read "'#MeetTheOshiKiri' Akane Hotta (Part 1)"

"Honestly, I've never really stuck with fan activities "Oshi-katsu" for very long."
When I asked Hotta about her "Oshi" other than shochu, we got a surprising answer.
"When I see people around me getting into idols or anime, it looks like so much fun and I think it's great. But I seem to be the type of person who gets excited easily but loses interest quickly."
She says that personality is the same for herself.
"If I spend every day the same way, I'll get bored of myself. That's why I don't have a set routine in my daily life, and I've been given the opportunity to work in a wide range of genres, including modeling, acting, and variety shows. I think that suits me better. And to avoid getting bored of myself, I always want to challenge myself in different ways."

She says that she is currently trying her hand at cooking.
"I recently got a wok from a specialty store. It's such a professional wok that it's a bit difficult for a woman to lift with one hand, and when I cook simple stir-fried vegetables in it, it tastes so different I'm amazed at how delicious it is! Everything I make tastes delicious, so recently I've been hooked on using it to make snacks that go well with alcohol."

She also changes the drinks she pairs with food depending on her mood.
"I don't mind eating the same food all the time, but drinks are a different story. Depending on my mood that day, I might want something light today, or something substantial today. Rather than drinking my favorite alcohol all the time, I'm the type who likes to enjoy a variety of drinks depending on my mood that day."

One person who tried Kirishima Shuzo's shochu because of Hotta's influence became a fan of Kirishima Shuzo's shochu, "Oshi-Kiri."
"After seeing me in commercials, my parents started drinking Kirishima Shuzo's shochu with me. They weren't big drinkers before, but now they enjoy it, saying, "I didn't think sweet potato shochu was so easy to drink! My mother is already in her 60s, but this is her debut imo shochu at that age. It really made me realize this is a drink any generation can enjoy. I am glad that I can now enjoy it with my parents.

Hotta enjoys Kirishima shochu with her whole family. To help her learn more about Kirishima Shuzo, employees introduced the company's recommended "Oshi" points in a panel format. She selected the topics that interested her.

The first topic chosen was "Cars running on electricity made from sweet potatoes!?"
Kirishima Shuzo introduced the "Sweet Potato EV e-imo," a company car that runs on electricity made from sweet potatoes, starting in 2021.
In 2006, the company built a facility to convert and recycle by-products from shochu lees and sweet potato scraps, into biogas. In 2014, the company named this initiative "Sweet Potato Power Generation," and began power generation business using biogas, continuing their efforts to reuse things that would otherwise be thrown away as energy. Furthermore, they have declared that they will "achieve virtually zero CO2 emissions from their factories and offices by 2030," and are taking on various initiatives aimed at sustainable shochu production.

Read the article about the sweet potato EV e-imo

Hotta also serves as a navigator for a radio program themed around SDGs.
"For a company to publicly announce its goals involves risk, and it's something that can only be achieved if you're truly serious about it. It's amazing that you've set such goals and are now on track to achieve them."

"Oh, I'm interested in this too," said Hotta, and the next topic of her interest was, "A shochu company making beer!?"
Kirishima Shuzo entered the beer business in 1996. Using the pure, cool groundwater "Kirishima Rekkasui," which supports the quality of Kirishima Shuzo's honkaku shochu, they brew beer that is characteristic of Kirishima Shuzo.

Read the article about KIRISHIMA BEER

"I also love beer, especially pale ale. I didn't know there was a Hyuga Natsu beer^*. I've never tried it, so I'm really curious. If it's available online, I might order it."
*KIRISHIMA Hyuganatsu is classified as a low-malt beer (malt content of 50% or more).

She was also intrigued by the topic, "A shochu company holding a design competition!?"
Kirishima Shuzo has been holding design competitions since 2001 to promote both Nishitachi, the largest restaurant district in Miyazaki Prefecture located on the west side of Tachibana Street in Miyazaki City, and designers in Miyazaki Prefecture. The winning designs are made into flags and hung on streetlights to liven up Nishitachi.

Read the article about Nishitachi Kirishima Flag

"It's wonderful and fun to see you contributing to the local community with creative ideas that go beyond just shochu production!"
Furthermore, during the period when people were unable to go out due to the COVID-19 pandemic, they remade old flags and produced tote bags and other items.
"It's a unique design. If I had this bag, I'd probably be asked, 'Where did you buy that?!'"

"As a distillery with a long history and deep roots in the local community, I had the impression that you were actively involved in community contributions and SDGs. But after learning more, I really felt that you are taking on initiatives unique to Kirishima Shuzo. You use by-products and apply the techniques developed in shochu production. The creativity is impressive, but more than anything, I think this wouldn't be possible without tremendous corporate effort."

「堀田茜さん「今が一番楽しめている」。30代で変化したお酒や仕事との向き合い方。」へ続く