Original Source
Charcoal craftsman in Noto Peninsula, hit three times by earthquakes, vows to rebuild with 'Japan's most beautiful charcoal'
Earthquake Damage and Business Transition
Choichiro Ono inherited his family's charcoal business at the age of 22. In response to declining demand for fuel charcoal, he shifted his focus to producing 'chazumi', a special charcoal used in tea ceremonies, and grows the raw material, hornbeam, himself. His kilns were damaged in the 2022 earthquake and repaired with the help of volunteers, but were destroyed again in the 2023 earthquake. Ono even considered closing the business, but decided to restart due to widespread support.
2024 Earthquake and Hope for Reconstruction
However, the earthquake on January 1, 2024, destroyed all four of his kilns, making business continuation even more challenging. Despite repeated disasters, Ono's resilience stems from his belief that continuing his family business in his hometown is his very 'reason for being'. He emphasizes that the value of his livelihood, which involves coexisting with nature amidst frequent disasters, is becoming increasingly important. Ono expressed his strong desire to 'revitalize charcoal making as a regional industry.'
*Source: YouTube: Kyodo News (2026-04-01)*
