In Shika, Ishikawa Prefecture, an 82-year-old man and his 83-year-old wife are resuming production of their colorful bite-size rice crackers, crediting local customer support for enabling them to continue after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake two years ago. The couple, Kunio and Fusako Shirayama, are preparing the treats known as Noto Shika Arare. Shipments are set to begin from mid-March.
Production of colorful bite-size rice crackers is in full swing at a workshop in Shika, Ishikawa Prefecture. Kunio Shirayama, 82, and his wife Fusako, 83, recently placed mochi into wooden boxes arrayed on the floor. The mochi, colored red, yellow, and green, is cut to produce the rice crackers called Noto Shika Arare, which are seasoned with salt and sugar.
"We thought about stopping production after the Noto Peninsula Earthquake struck two years ago. But thanks to the support of our customers, it seems we’ll be able to ship the crackers again this year," Fusako said with a smile.
The earthquake hit in 2024, severely impacting local industries, including this workshop. However, ongoing purchases from local residents have kept the business afloat. Shipments are expected to resume from mid-March this year.
Such community support highlights the resilience of local economies in post-disaster recovery efforts in Japan.
