What Growing Premium Grapes in Japan is Like

[@roku_nine]

I'm a grape producer in Japan and the reason why Japan authorities didn't register these valuable grape varieties is because they are run by old people who didn't anticipate potential export market! They think the whole world doesn't matter and just focused on domestic market which is in bind because there's no young farmers to continue the businesses!

[@user-no2mz9hl4f]

That’s too bad. I hope more young people will feel inspired to take up farming, and that such a job can be better compensated so that it will be more appealing. Farming is one of the most important jobs there is, and yet it’s one of the least compensated and most dangerous jobs.

[@somethingandahalf]

Inspired, huh.. its labour intensive and doesn't generate a lot of wealth, in the eyes of the high tech young generation what's inspiring about that? Farming is only good if scale is big enough to bring you good profits and when you can't export a certified premium product its tough because 'premium' as a niche requires a global approach not local. Another problem is Japan's buyer culture and their perception that all fruit should be perfect and presentable, a premium, like a delicacy.. we don't have that in the west, fruit here is an affordable snack. Fruits have short shelf life and if they're premium price.. it's difficult, and mind by the time it gets to the shelves its nearly doubled in price. I think the author of the comment is spot on - exports can solve it but it requires action from the govt. Is it not possible for business to apply for international certification themselves though? Apply, then quality control specialists from said certification organization visit to see if your farm and produce are compliant with the requirements and issue a certificate? Or you send it to a lab they've contracted with and get your product tested on molecular level. The other option is to export other varieties of grapes that are either certified internationally or ones that require no such ceritfication but then you give up on the local market and govt subsidies hence the conundrum, overall not a great spot to be in.

[@alfonsussavadipta8620]

Labor job need pay higher if this business still have a demand

[@The.Accountant.11]

How can one apply as a foreigner to such jobs on farms in Japan?

[@HI-cc6jf]

アジアの国に種を盗まれて、栽培されてそこから世界中に輸出されるさ。

[@RatikusuCh]

thanks for highlighting the small business side of japan. This generation needs to know hope, and where to look for it!

[@aileensmith7716]

I have tried the Shine Muscat a couple of times, and let me tell you they are easily the best fruit I have ever eaten in my life. My eyes literally bulged out of my head at the incredible, mind-blowingly good flavour. Eating that tiny punnet 12x D-grade Shine Muscats that cost $20, was life-altering and has ruined eating grapes in Australia (home) for me.

[@DeepRoy-b7e]

Yup still won't eat them after he said..they use growth hormones..not everything coming out of Japan is to be trusted blindly..

[@dereksbooks]

As someone who doesn't even like normal grapes, I agree that they are the best fruit that I've ever eaten.

[@user-no2mz9hl4f]

I had no idea so much effort went into growing these grapes. It really provides perspective for why they cost so much more. Where I’m from in North America, grapes and other fruits are mostly seen as an everyday food group, rather than a specialty item. Watching the farmer and Mr. Coutu try the grapes reminded me of a wine tasting or fine tea tasting. It’s a completely different experience. I don’t think either is better than the other, but each is good in its own way.

[@viniciussferreira]

Greg, the variety and quality of the content that you produce in your channel is unrivaled by any other content creators that I know of! I have just recently returned from a two weeks from Japan and had a marathon watching all your videos, to try to learn as much as possible from the culture and people from the land! This video, in particular, is an example of how one can merge knowledge and entertainment! Please keep up with the excellent and creative work! I am looking forward to watching your future videos!

[@etherdog]

This was fascinating! We never realized how much hands-on care is devoted to the vines to produce such beautiful fruit. I could watch a video like this for every bit of Japanese agriculture.

[@DomyTheMad420]

0:10 as a Botanist i cannot express my amazement and intense "TELL ME MORE" attitude right now!!!

[@treasurechest1993]

I always wondered why the grapes seem so expensive, but now appreciate the time and effort that goes into producing them.

[@020untitled]

That attention to details is worth every penny.

[@oldmanaarbeh5112]

I spent over 20.00 on grapes in Tokyo. Worth it, so good.

[@stillnessbetween5103]

I had the chance to help on an apple farm in Kozawa in Aomori one season. There is a lot of work involved to get the harvest to the point that the farmer was satisfied with in how the apples looked for harvest. LImb pruning, thinning the blossoms, taking care of the honeybees and wood bees for pollination. And always keeping an eye on the weather! Sakamoto-san shows that he really has learned the trade!

[@murvuh]

In 2022, I came to Japan to a farm in Mizunami to help a local farmer tend to his grapes. It was an amazing experience. We talked a lot, tried local cuisine and learned about Japanese culture. Farming is hard work that should rightly be popular.

[@c.c.1051]

I'm sipping on a glass of Muscat wine and watching a video about the grapes. It doesn't get better than this 😂 Love the dedication to properly care for the plants even if profit is not that high. The fact that the Japanese still appreciate fruit based on freshness and season is so refreshing. Awesome video, Greg! ❤

[@FoxyfloofJumps]

This is so great! I wish Sakamoto-san, the best weather! It's amazing.

[@judeparsons9038]

I absolutely love your videos! I work in horticulture in Australia, and seeing the practice of caring for plants in different countries is always so fascinating!

[@TheTheoryofEverything111]

Recently moved and my new place has a plant draped over a frame around the awning on my porch instead of a closed shelter... I thought it was some random 'aesthetics plant'... This video just taught me it's a grape vine/tree! Thanks :) Hopefully it's an edible variety. Just learned not all grapes are

[@followtheforce]

Another great video! Definitely chuckled when Bobby said “booty bubble butt” 😂

I used to buy these grapes when visiting Kanazawa It is excellent!👌👌👌👌

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

That was captivating. Thank you so much. and thank you Bobby-san and Sakamoto-san.

[@Q2Japan]

Thank you! 😭

[@LuxFloat]

The crunch on them is crazy

[@77AlexS]

Right?! Depending on the variety, it sometimes sounds like I'm biting into an apple 😆

[@77AlexS]

Nice work Greg and Bobby 😍😍

[@franco3584]

This was so Fun to see how those Japanese Grapes are grown . I often wondered the science behind it. Thanks Greg

[@delven121]

Awesome video, grow grapes myself. If a bag or two of bark dust is put at the base trunk of grapes. It will keep the ground below wetter longer than no bark dust. Means less watering.

[@cecilearquette1637]

Your videos are so interesting, I enjoy watching them very much. You do a great job!

[@pydepyper]

This video made me pick up grapes at the grocery store! I know they may not be as delicious as whay he grows, but this video made me crave them! ❤

[@DogPrinctz]

The smile of that guy! I bet his grapes are some of the best❤

[@yujirorasy]

Japan really blundered it for not registering the pattern internationally.

[@sailingadventurer]

Yep, just like their Wagyu 😂😂. They only tried to protect the cows, when it was already smuggled outside. This grape only cost them 100 million dollars a year though. So it's not that important

[@1bstar4wstar68]

One of the problems is that South Korea is stealing from Japan and spreading it around the world. And then they claim they developed it themselves. This is very troubling.

[@kendelion]

I live in Okayama and I love Grapes and Peaches :D Coincidence? I think not :D

[@erictayet]

Ah! No wonder it's so expensive. I had the chance to eat these in Tokyo and Hokkaido during the winter so it must have been a heated greenhouse. In Singapore, we get a lot of China Shine Muscat at our local supermarket, and they are not cheap too. Funny thing is, at Donki, Japanese Shine Muscat are just a bit more expensive than in Hokkaido. I didn't know there were so many varieties of Muscat so I'd look out for it the next thing I'm in Japan.

[@mich5369]

Sakamotosan thank you for your hardwork!

[@ahadsalmajani2015]

Oh my God.. I just understand how the shine muscat grape plant come to Indonesia and BOOM...!!! famous now., and I say Thank you very much for Japan Farmer.

[@Q2Japan]

Niceee 🎉 Otsukaresama man ✌🏻

[@SmallBlogV8]

Quite delightful to hear someone say "Bubbelu but-to."

[@GojiMet86]

A couple of random observations: 20:02 Never seen a double-ended scissor like that; with regular cutting razors on one end, and basically pincers on the other end. 21:27 Bobby makes a very good point of overseas people eating grapes with the skin. I wonder if making them almost skinless makes them more expensive then they should.

[@crispian67]

Thinner skinned grapes would be more sensitive to external stressors such as overcrowding, heat fluctuations, fungus and pests meaning they would do better in controlled greenhouse conditions than outdoors. More careful cultivation along with overall maintenance costs and possibly some other inputs would likewise factor in pricing considerations.

[@YoJesusMorales]

@@crispian67 That makes sense, it definitely would raise the prices with that extra care.

[@DiRECs]

This video was more interesting to me than I expected. When it's grape season here in Greece, customers at the market will pick and eat a berry or two from a bundle to see if it's worth buying. It's kind of expected and accepted by the producer. I assume this doesn't happen in Japan... 😄 No fancy boxes either. Just a plastic or paper bag. 24:08 There will be a lot of vineyards available, but Sakamoto-san will need a lot more working hands, otherwise he'll go crazy

[@somethingandahalf]

We have this ridiculous behaviour of 'sampling' fruit here in bulgaria as well.. when we go with the gran she always does that its so embarrasing. Although I understand to a degree because 'presentable' isnt really a factor here in the balkans is it and there's hardly any quality control. People seem way more picky in Japan and its reflected in the prices, I remember one of my lecturers at university who's got export business to all across the world and he showed us an apple once to make a case.. said 'look at this apple.. no one will buy this in Japan because its not completely red'

[@Nico-ff2xo]

Great video! Bobby did a good job. More farmer food videos would be interesting.

[@ashe1317]

Sakamoto-san gives me such "Spike Spiegel survived and dipped to become a farmer" vibes... in the best way! 😂😂😂

[@ductritran8637]

Japanese grapes are very expensive , I visit japan last July and august , I bought them to try , they’re very good far better than my home in Melbourne , now seeing this video I understand why they are so expensive because the way they grow them and carefully trim to choose only the best , lots of times to take care of them and made sure only the best are serve to peoples .

[@Coccinelf]

So this is making me feel better about the fact that sometimes I can't eat the grapes skin. We never have any idea of the names of the varieties we buy at our grocery stores and sometimes it's a variety I can't eat the skin. The sweetest grapes I ever tasted were the Cotton Candy ones so it was funny to hear Bobby talk about cotton candy.

[@whynugs]

I just eat muscat yesterday, it was my first time. A big and juicy grapes but not too sweet, my new fav grapes

[@RandomCivilians]

I had always wondered why 'it's easy to eat' is such a common phrase Japanese use when it comes to various fruits. Fun to know from here it's because they actually breed them to have softer bodies and thinner skins. Also explains why Americans eat the skin and all, because the body usually just sticks to the skin because grape skins are probably thicker by comparison, where I assume it's probably easier to peel the skin on Japanese grapes with larger shape and thinner skins.

[@Q2Japan]

Thanks for watching! And I think another contribution is that the initial successful table grape varieties in Japan had relatively thick skin (like Delaware and Concord) so the Japanese preferred to peel them. Whereas a lot of Chilean grapes that we eat in America have characteristically thin skin 🤔

[@youngloudandscotty]

I feel like removing the skin of a grape is like peeling an apple. It''s just not something I'd ever think to do, and was surprised by the farmer in the video mentioning it. Is the skin really so bad?

[@Q2Japan]

@@youngloudandscotty I think it's different strokes for different folks :) But as a salient example, some people eat kiwi fruit with skin and all, while others prefer to peal it. Or eating fish tail vs not, etc ✌🏻

[@hope7317]

bobby describing the shine grape as like cotton candy makes me wonder if it was used at all in the breeding process to produce the infamous “cotton candy grapes” here in the US! this was so interesting. are the people who rent out their land and trees to new farmers retired farmers? i hope more young people who have the means to are able to become farmers so that the plants don’t get abandoned

[@ОльгаХорькова-ч8к]

Please tell me why "infamous cotton candy"?(cause I want to grow it)

[@kellybryson7754]

So very interesting for an American viewer. I have no idea what American grape farmers do. I can't imagine there is so much hands on stuff.

[@hp4415]

American farmers, produce as much and as fast as possible. Because of the culture, very few Americans are willing to pay crazy prices for fruits.

[@ahadsalmajani2015]

Thak's for launching this video finally I know shine muscat the famous grape was origin from JAPAN..

[@chinoyhealingfoodstravels8888]

Greetings from Redondo Beach 🇺🇸🇺🇸 Wonderful grape farm video👍🏽👍🏽

[@ReeshaLocklan]

This was super interesting and now I really want grapes

[@kristinjacobsen3417]

Thanks for finding so many interesting topics.

[@alderankorym]

Seeing this from the eyes of a south French farmer (altho not in wineyards myself like the vast majority here which is the largest grape producing place in the world), is somehow very strange and alien while familiar. While those luxury fruits feel very impressive in their craft, it's also very cynical to have essential healthy items such as fresh fruits and veggies be considered a premium item for rich people. Are there at least shops for "normal" grocery available to masses in Japan? All we see from here is either luxury or prepared food (restaurant, konbini bento, etc.) or processed. Is there a phenomenon of food deserts such as in the USA ? That said, I would also love being able to put so much love and care into each of the produces we make here (almonds, olives, tomatoes, thyme and eggs mostly here). But being in a poor backcountry, I feel that no-one would be able to afford that.

[@PostSasso]

Japan has some of the best produce and without GMOs. Poverty is at an all time low, and one of the lowest in the world. Everyone has access to fresh food. Convenience stores like 7/11 have food that is LEAGUES ahead of its western counterparts. The Japanese care about their people, unlike the West. There is nothing wrong with doing a exquisite version of a common food with care and passion and the price reflects that. They have Pears and Watermelons that is purely for display. Americans like killing animals and like to display their skins and heads on their walls along with the guns used to kill them. The Japanese display fruit. I know which is more harmful.

[@kai663]

Since this is "premium grapes", I'm assuming there are regular, more affordable grapes for every day consumption.

[@udishomer5852]

@@kai663 Not in Japan. Fruits are extremely expensive there for some odd reason.

[@JacobPadwa-sd5wk]

When I visited Japan I really disliked how hard it was to buy fresh fruit. The only none premium apples were some Washington us hybrid that was clearly heavily subsidized by the Washington government

[@sonarsphere]

Fresh fruits are not "essential healthy items" as they contain a lot of fructose which is even worse than sugar because the only organ that can process fructose is liver. Just like alcohol. Constant consumption of fructose eventually creates a fatty liver which leads to obesity and diabetes.

[@davids8177]

I'm not a farmer, but can totally understand how nice it would be to only have to work hard 75% of the year, and get to take the winter at a relaxed pace. Makes life more enjoyable.

[@DioJeanBaptiste]

Thank you again for such great quality material :-)

[@pamanthanos9742]

i want work there, looks peaceful

[@h.kzx.]

how are the kids it feels like it’s been years! how are aiko and shin doing

[@04wildflowerr]

Yes we want to see Aiko and shin! We miss them!

[@WANDERER0070]

In Ontario grapes are mostly to make wine. Best grapes are imported from US and S.america and even Africa

[@ladyEnchantressGarden]

Shine Muscat is crunchy, sweet, big berries. No Seeds (maybe they apply GA3) but a fresh ones is really an explosion of juicy and sweet

[@chrysm6842]

I love grapes, especially the seedless ones.

[@ramenandtacos]

This is fascinating. Love shine muscat 🤤

[@son_60han]

25:40 aaaaaahh sakuna ! ❤

[@frevrix]

I love your videos, you have such an entertaining documentary style! I recently stumbled across a random Facebook post talking about daisugi forestry and was very fascinated by it, would you consider doing a segment on this unusual forestry practice? I hear it is still being done in Northern Kyoto…

[@DarkboyxX8]

What I love for Japanese culture is how they would dedicate their entire life to master a craft.

[@heythave]

I was recently in Japan and had a chance to try some Nagano grapes (don’t know the variety but they were red in color) and let me tell you that they were the most delicious and juiciest grapes I’ve ever tasted in my life. How much was it for a cluster of grapes? It was close to USD$100 for the cluster! I came back to California and saw some grapes at Whole Foods and wanted to taste such grapes again. And to no avail, I had to throw them out because they were horrible compared to what I had tasted.

[@19800910]

I did a wine tasting in Kinosaki at Sanpou Nishimuraya Honten. They do have some very good red and white wines.

[@entingkabesote2197]

Shine Muscat controversy how south-korea and China got the seeds... now the word "Korean shine muscat" is more famous in social media the the original 😮

[@Kevin6059]

Love Miumiu!! I wish my guitar skills were half as good.

[@overthecounterbeanie]

Yay, just in time for my dinner!

[@TerasPengangguran]

So inspiring 👌

[@DungNgocDuy47]

It really provides perspective for why they cost so much more.

[@madhavaraop8787]

Japanese hard work people great country from India Visakhapatnam

[@maiy8786]

Mr. Sakamoto said that the farmers dont actually earn that much despite the insanely high prices for fruit. That does raise the question: If not the farmers who does? How and why? I used to buy 1kg of Organic Grapes for give or take 7€/1100yen (which is already quite pricey). Funnily enough those were imported aswell so despite the transport and import tax prices are still incredibly cheap compared to Japan.

[@mrlaoben]

The Shine Muscat Grapes (Green ones) are in a league of thier own. The sweetness and juiciness is unbeatable. Even the chinese varieties that are sold at a fraction of the japanese ones cannot compare.

[@qqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqq537]

the shine muscat is my favourite grape ❤❤

[@ladyEnchantressGarden]

Much respect!

[@srinivasansukumaran2479]

Can you please make an episode on how rice is grown by small Japanese farmers and how it eventually reaches the markets and consumer please. That will be interesting but needs filming over an extended period of time.

[@GRofD2]

Great video! 😊

[@sheenasaighal3627]

Enjoyed learning about the Shine Muscat grape. Was a bit disappointed to see something pumped with hormones as a favorable desired trait. I like my Thomcord grapes seeds n skin!

[@Yohann26]

If Japan ever build a programme to train and give visa to foreigners to get a stable job as farmer in Japan, I would seriously consider leaving my office job in Europe and move there !

[@dollfin5235]

We've been eating "Cotton Candy" grapes over the last month. They really do taste like cotton candy.

[@JasonB808]

The main difference of Japanese fruit is they have to look as good as it tastes. In USA is common to see blemishes in our fruit. We are more price conscious than quality conscious. In the states is quite common to buy fruit that doesn’t taste good and you have to discard it. In Japan you pay a premium price but you get a premium product made by people who care about their craft. The only thing that remains the same is that Japanese and American farmers don’t get paid what they deserve while the industry that sells their hard work makes all the profits.

[@nexustom5823]

No, this has become a trend because Japanese doesn't have much land to grow fruits so they became premium and sell most of these the fruits as gifts You still get normal fruits on supermarket which still cost a lot because they are imported

[@youngloudandscotty]

Most of the world can't afford premium things at premium prices. We pathetic commoners have to satisfy ourselves with eating plain, old, boring, ordinary fruits. How dull. Or we can learn to garden and grow our own fruits. Man, your statement is one of the most overly simplified generalizations about food and culture I've read in some time.

[@soulnime8065]

i like you put english text like video "Small town...."

[@greenamarthajogja8379]

Woooo very good

[@Mikketamakulo]

he is a real graper

[@yourMARKIE143]

One of my dream is to work in farm like this ❤❤🌿🌿🌿🥰

[@richplants7313]

I love grape ❤

[@Jonefishingtv]

Woww. Thanks for sharing.. I like berry's

[@xm2895]

the best grapes I have tasted were from Japan

[@jotapxrosfire]

wait bobby is from Chile ? when he mentions the nostalgia i thought about that, anyways greetings from Chile, i love your videos

[@kochichris]

Yummy~☆kyoho grapes🍇🍇🍇🍇

[@surft]

Fascinating. I learned a lot. I wonder how Japanese Muscat conpares to Cotton Candy Grapes

[@lumbaracres3587]

Where I'm from, the plant the grapes grow on is called a vine, rather than a tree. Does "tree" come from direct translation of the Japanese term?

[@Dragonheng]

It's nice that they give smaller businesses a chance to showcase themselves. But outside of Japan, this work is probably not appreciated, at least in my country, where fruit is a matter of course for many. -.-

[@PepinieraDraghiceni]

Bravo! 👍👍

[@Matpeixelegal]

Vídeo show de bola! Fez eu me questionar sobre o quão artesanal é a produção de uvas aqui no Brasil...

[@madmommy]

Interesting he would say the Shine Muscat tastes like cotton candy, as I’ve seen “cotton candy” grapes at the supermarket here in the US.

[@cleverduck3921]

Very interesting. Has there been any sort of effort to restart a winemaking industry since the pest problem was gotten under control? Or are the current varieties not suitable for winemaking? I would think the muscat varieties would at least be usable for wine, as champagne and moscato wines in Europe are made from that family of grapes.

[@bolengerin]

The bloom is from natural yeasts, not pollen

[@doseofjean]

second? hi! - thanks for all the amazing videos

[@caivsivlivs]

bobby did u know about cotton candy grapes in america/other places?

[@midofu-r9k]

日本はフルーツがどんどん値上がりしてて、一般人には買う気にならない値段になっている💧 昔はリンゴ、みかんは箱買いしてたのに… 夏はスイカ、ブドウ、苺もよく食べてた。 30年前の話。 今はブドウなんて高すぎて買う気になれない😭

[@thonyahmad4720]

ruby roman the best perfom

[@AnnaAnna-uc2ff]

！Good choice！

[@Bubblepoot]

Who is Bobby? I've never seen them before on here .

[@77AlexS]

He’s been in other videos before with Greg and has done some editing with him 😊 this time, he wrote the script, shot the material and edited the video ❤ Greg mentions what other videos he has appeared in ✌🏼