CAMOCY Rikuzentakata's Fermentation Facility

The entrance to CAMOCY

Overall Description

“To brew”. In Japanese, the word is “kamosu”, hence the name CAMOCY (pronounced kah-moh-shee). By “brewing”, we mean fermenting malted rice to create alcohol and soy sauce - or brewing up a fun and vibrant atmosphere for everyone. Likewise, "hakko" is the word for fermentation in Japanese, and you can see this word plastered all over CAMOCY (including the two huge kanji characters to the side of the main entrance).

Opened on December 17, 2020, CAMOCY was born with the intention to allow people to produce and sell brewed/fermented products and food, providing various services, such as a space for people to develop their skills and sell their own items. All this, to sustain the beautiful environment that we have in Rikuzentakata, and to protect the health of everyone and the region.

History of Fermentation in Rikuzentakata

CAMOCY is located in the District of Imaizumi, in the Town of Kesen, Rikuzentakata. Imaizumi is a land where underground water constantly gushed out, and in the Edo Period the brewing industry flourished here. Imaizumi was famous for being the "brewery of fermented food", for being where the historical Yoshida Family Residence (that was designated by Iwate Prefecture as cultural property) was located, and where the 900-year-old local festival Kenka Tanabata was born.

To the local residents, fermentation came naturally; their lives were deeply intertwined with fermenting and fermented goods. However, when the Great East Japan Earthquake struck in 2011, it washed most of the Town of Kesen away, causing a lot of damage.

Buildings and breweries were destroyed during the disaster, but the smell of fermentation, the ambience the storehouses bring, the sound of the machines at work... these memories of fermentation that were nothing short of everyday life for these people still linger on in their hearts.

The idea to create CAMOCY was born with strong emotions of the residents of the Town of Kesen. They did not wish for the town to go back to exactly the way it was, but at the very least, they wanted to rebuild their town so that one could smell the fermenting of goods, feel the ambience it brings, and even listen to the sound of products being fermented - these of which were part and parcel of the culture of this region.

Looking forward, CAMOCY wishes to collaborate with various businesses around the Kesen region, as well as organizations, educational institutions, and people around the world who love fermentation, to spread the culture of fermentation, and to produce grand, new fermentation plans.

The Design of CAMOCY

The exterior of CAMOCY looks like a Japanese storehouse. CAMOCY has three roofs that are joined together, reminding people of how storehouses of fermented products used to line the streets one after another in the Town of Kesen in the past. It was designed to look this way in hopes that, even if it is just a little bit, people will think that the ambience of the town has come back, or will feel that the place they were born and raised in has returned.

Moving towards realizing an inclusive society where no one gets left behind, a ramp at the entrance, a user-friendly sliding door, and an accessible restroom have been installed in CAMOCY. There is also a nursing room and high chairs for children within the facility, so that people will have a peace of mind if they come with their kids.

The building, the tables, the chairs, the shelves... everything in CAMOCY was made using wood from local cedar/pine trees. Local sawmills did the lumbering, local furniture stores did the processing of the wood to create the building and furniture. CAMOCY aims to build a sustainable society - instead of throwing out the wood from trees that were selectively removed from forests, they were used for the interior of the building and as a source of energy (for fireplaces and the like).

The pellet fireplace burning bright, keeping the area warm

Eating at CAMOCY

The most famous attraction at CAMOCY is none other than the food. With so many different stalls and each stall having a variety of dishes to choose from, you will be spoiled for choice.

At Yagisawa Restaurant, their set meals provide 3 different ways to enjoy your food: to first enjoy it as it is, then to add in the condiments of your choice (such as wasabi or seaweed bits) and enjoy the change in taste, then finally pour soup onto your rice and enjoy yet another change in taste. Fun and addictive! You can get as many refills of rice as you like, with set meals starting from just JPY900. I recommend the salmon and roe set meal as well as the Arisu pork set meal.

Salmon and roe set meal (above) and the Arisu pork set meal (below).

There might be bakeries in every corner of every town, but Bakery MAaLo wants to be a bakery that is loved by everyone in Rikuzentakata and the Kesen region. Here, you can get freshly baked delights, and the bread you can buy changes all the time. There are Valentine's Day specials, event specials, Wednesday specials... No matter which day you visit, you are in for a treat. Their miso-an butter bread ("sweet paste of white beans and miso with butter") is a popular favorite, and they constantly come up with new ideas for their bread, such as a strawberry and coconut pastry.

Bread on display for sale at Bakery MAaLo

DELI and BENTO gentil is yet another gem of a food stall. At first glance, it might look like a simple food stall that sells set meals where you can pick 3 sides and get soup and rice with it (at JPY900), but the sides change every day and they are all fermented products - delicious and healthy. The name of the stall, "gentil", is the word "gentle" in French. These items on the menu are definitely gentle to your body, and will leave you feeling full and satisfied. Not bound by Western, Japanese or Chinese cooking methods, we hope these dishes will make your dinner table look a little livelier.

Side dishes that you can choose from at DELI and BENTO gentil

For those of you who might try to limit your intake of chocolate because "too much isn't good for you", you're in luck. At CACAO broma, you can eat as much of their chocolate as you like and stay healthy - the epitome of a chocolate lover's dream. CACAO broma produces and sells pure, simple chocolate made with organic cacao, brown sugar, and unrefined sugar from Okinawa, without a hint of cacao butter. The nutrients of organic cacao are not hindered by additives, and will be absorbed by the body.

CACAO broma

It all started from liking beer and wanting to drink beer - the owner of Rikuzentakata Microbrewery was then interested in legal homebrewing. What began as simple malt extracts ended up in a beer product called Ringo ("apple") Ale Rikuzentakata that was launched in 2013, and now he makes his own craft beer. This stall provides the best locally made craft beer for you, paired with delicious snacks that go with it. Not into alcohol? There is also amazingly addictive curry and rice that you can order here.

Rikuzentakata Microbrewery

Other Services

Apart from food, CAMOCY has a variety of services to suit your every need - for example, 2 Tsubo is a space where people can hold pop-up exhibitions or bazaars. People can also hold meetings there, or read up on books about fermentation, about food, about living.

Shimin Energy helps with organic farming, reforestation, and renewable energy, and would like to become an existence that helps to use renewable energy as much as possible, to provide various services to their customers, to create products made out of local lumber, using thermal energy, as well as operate gardens and farms.

The CAMOCY Hakko Market has every single souvenir you would ever need to satisfy your cravings for fermented food, from miso to soy sauce to local sake. You now know what to buy as a gift for your family and friends back home!

CAMOCY Hakko Market

The ATELIER TERRACE is free for all to use - be it for a pop-up restaurant or a one-time workshop.

ATELIER TERRACE

Personal Review

In all sense of the word, CAMOCY is simply magic. There's something about the stylish wood-themed interior that gives the place a warm tone. Something about the bright lights drooping from the tall ceiling; something about that pellet fireplace at the back of the facility. Most importantly - there's something about the food that leaves you craving more. Fermented food products are both healthy and delicious; you get the best of both worlds. I have been visiting CAMOCY once every month since its opening, but every time I go I always look forward to the next time.

Information

Official website: https://camocy.jp Please note that their website is only available in Japanese.

l Address: 74-1 Kesen-cho, Rikuzentakata-shi, Iwate, Japan 029-2204

l Facility Opening Hours: 10am - 9pm (weekdays), 9am - 9pm (weekends)

l Facility closed on Tuesdays

l Opening Hours (of Individual Stalls):

Ø Yagisawa Restaurant 11am - 9pm (Last order at 8.30pm)

Ø Bakery MAaLo 10am - 6pm (weekdays), 9am - 5pm (weekends and public holidays) Every Wednesday is White Bread Day (open 11.30am - 6.30pm)

Ø DELI and BENTO gentil 11am - 7pm Contact No.: 070-1362-6219

Ø CACAO broma 10am - 6pm (Last order at 5.30pm) Contact No.: 080-1693-3148

Ø Rikuzentakata Microbrewery 11am - 9pm (Last order at 8.30pm) Contact No.: 070-4283-0852

Ø 2 Tsubo 11am - 7pm Contact No.: 03-6416-8025

Ø Shimin Energy 9am - 5pm Contact No.: 0192-53-2612

Ø CAMOCY Hakko Market 11am - 7pm

Contact No.: 080-2345-5162

Ø ATELIER TERRACE

11am - 7pm (Mon, Wed, Thu, Sun) 11am - 10pm (Fri, Sat)

For any inquiries regarding CAMOCY in general, you can direct them to https://camocy.jp/contact or email them at this address: info@camocy.jp.

Please be reminded that the staff only speak Japanese, so if you would like Japanese help, please contact the Rikuzentakata City Hall at this email address instead: visit@city.rikuzentakata.iwate.jp.