‘Grown with love’: Grapes harvested at reformatory in east Japan to be turned into wine

USHIKU, Ibaraki — Bunches of grapes picked by boys at a reformatory here are set to be processed into wine that will hit store shelves in the spring of 2025.

The grapes were grown in a corner of the spacious grounds of Ibaraki Nogei Gakuin, a reformatory in Ushiku, Ibaraki Prefecture, that accommodates about 80 boys between the ages of 15 and 19, including those with developmental disorders. The grapes will be vinified at Ushiku Chateau, a local winery with a history of some 120 years.

Fifteen boys and others participated in the harvest on Aug. 26. They carefully picked bunches of merlot grapes, one of two varieties on the reformatory’s 364 vines. Ushiku Mayor Kazutoshi Numata and people related to Ushiku Chateau joined in the work and shared the joy of the harvest.

Viticulture at the facility began in 2020 as part of a vocational training program. Technicians from Ushiku Chateau served as instructors as they harvested approximately 1,500 kilograms of grapes this season — more than double the amount harvested last summer.

The wine brewed from last season’s grapes has been on sale since May this year as “Ushiku Wine Merlot 2023,” and according to the chateau’s president, Kotaro Kawaguchi, “the mild and refreshing taste is well received.” The harvest from this season is scheduled to be sold under the same brand name for 4,000 yen (about $27) per 750-milliliter bottle in the spring of 2025.

One of the participants, 19, told reporters, “Growing grapes is just like raising children. I’m looking forward to seeing the grapes grown with love become wine that will be delivered to many people. When the 2024 wine goes on sale, I want to drink it with my precious family and friends.”

Another boy, 17, said, “The harvest was deeply moving. Experiencing viticulture made me realize that I want to work in farming in the future. I’m happy to think that lots of people will enjoy the produce we worked so hard to grow.”

Bunya Nakahashi, 48, a facility instructor who guided the boys, said, “The work is a series of simple tasks (such as removing cobwebs and insects), but when the boys learn that the grapes they grew and harvested are on the market as products, they can realize agriculture as a profession. I hope that in the future they will be able to afford to buy this wine and live with family and friends who understand them.”

(Japanese original by Miho Suzuki, Tsuchiura Local Bureau)