406: Japan Is An Apple Country | Lee Reeve

406: Japan Is An Apple Country | Lee Reeve

Author: Ria Windcaller: Award-winning Cidermaker, Podcaster | Craft Beer Columnist March 27, 2024 Duration: 1:00:10

Japan is not only Cherry Blossom, but also Apple Country!

Lee Reeve of InCiderJapan kicks off this episode stating "Japan is Apple Country." And he is right… because Lee has been on the podcast 3x's and has taught listeners all about this apple country and the regions were orchards are abundant that the growing cider community.

Cider Chat Episode 406 Lee Reeve Japan Apple Country

He is the Publisher and Editor of inCiderJapan, the country's first and only bilingual magazine dedicated to all things cider. He was first on the podcast in Episode 114 and again in Episode 173. Each time we were able to catch up on the happenings in Japan. By the way, there are two main apple growing regions: Aomori to Nagano.

In this Cider Chat

  • Cider in Japan post the pandemic and updates for Lee as his role evolves
  • The state of cider today
  • Japanese culture and cider education
  • Rules around making cider in Japan
  • The Japan Cider Cup
  • OK Adam Cider a Japanese cider brand

Contact InCiderJapan

Cider Chat Episode 406 Japan Apple Country

Mentions in this Cider Chat


There’s a whole world in a glass of cider, and Cider Chat is your invitation to explore it. Hosted by award-winning cidermaker and writer Ria Windcaller, this podcast travels far beyond the bottle to meet the people who make the global cider culture so vibrant. Each conversation is a journey-you might find yourself in a heritage orchard learning the history of forgotten apple varieties, in a bustling taproom with an importer explaining regional traditions, or in a kitchen with a chef pairing cider with unexpected foods. The discussions get into the delightful nuances, too, whether that’s the semantics of what we even call this drink or how the concept of terroir translates from soil to sip. It’s not just about production; it’s about the community, the travel, and the stories that fermentation unlocks. This is for anyone curious about the craft, history, and sheer enjoyment of fermented apple juice in all its forms. So, pour a glass and settle in for a series that feels like a wide-ranging, informative, and genuinely good-humored chat with friends who happen to be obsessed with cider. You’ll come away with a deeper appreciation for every effervescent, tart, or sweet sip, hearing directly from the growers, makers, and enthusiasts who are shaping this drink’s exciting present and future.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Cider Chat
Podcast Episodes
490: Let Cider Lead [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:32
An editorial on leadership, scarcity, and why cider no longer needs to borrow authority from beer or wine. In Let Cider Lead, host Ria Windcaller steps back from interviews to offer a clear-eyed reflection on the state o…
489: Natural Cider Production Seminar | CiderCon 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:53
Natural cider is often misunderstood as funky, volatile, or flawed. Recorded live at CiderCon 2025, this seminar reframes natural cider as a philosophy of low intervention, balance, and intentional care, not a free pass…
488: Vintage Cider Label Lawsuit [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:10
A pending lawsuit spearheaded by Ron Extract of Garden Path Fermentation could change how cider makers label harvest year and "vintage" on cider over 7% ABV. Ron explains why the current TTB rules block truthful harvest-…
487: Further Tales of Chocolate Pears [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:00
In This Episode, We Cover Why Sorbus domestica is often nicknamed "the chocolate pear" (and why that name actually helps people get it) What bletting means, and why sorbs can be delicious before they turn fully brown (de…
485: Cider as a Catalyst for Chile's Edible Forest [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:14
Carlos Flores is an architect, landscape designer, and co-founder of Punta de Fierro Fine Cider. At the 2025 CiderCon in Chicago he presented Carlos presented "Developing An Experimental Edible Forest in a Heritage Apple…
484: Rethinking American Cider History with Patrick McCauley [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:59
Meet Patrick McCauley, a Michigan-based cider maker and researcher, who is questioning some of the most common myths about American cider history. What Patrick uncovers is a far more regional, farm-based, and resilient c…
483: The Talking Pomme's Grand Winter Party [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:23
Enjoy this annual winter tale from Cider Chat Central! In this special holiday episode, Cider Chat invites you to step into the enchanting world of the Talking Pommes. The Talking Pommes Grand Winter Party is more than j…
482: FLX Cider & Cheese Pairing with Cheesemonger Rachel Freier [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:53
At the New York Cider Fest in November, there were 2 Cider and Cheese sessions. Cider Chat Emcee Ria Windcaller attended one featuring ciders from 4 different makers. This cider and cheese pairing was led by Rachel Freie…
481: Totally Cider Tour: A Merry Visit to Tom Oliver's [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:34
Tom Oliver is delightfully talented, mischievously witty, and not only a renowned cider maker but also a top-notch perry maker. He may say, "If you're going to make perry and work with pears, you've already identified yo…