The Production

The Last Cooper tells the untold story of the rise and fall of Japan's huge wooden barrels - oke - which have played a key role in creating the unique flavours of Japanese cuisine. Oke have been used for hundreds of years in making Japan's famous staples - sake, miso, and soy sauce.

The documentary film, currently in production, uncovers the secrets of the last cooper of Japan - the only man still making the giant oke. We meet sake makers, soy sauce and miso brewers, and interview forestry experts, chefs and writers to get the full picture of Japan's disappearing coopering craft - and learn how its loss could change the traditional taste of Japanese cuisine forever.  Filming has begun and is taking place all over the country, from the northern prefecture of Akita to Shodoshima, a small island on the south east coast of Japan.

We are currently raising money for the production of the film and have so far received donations from the Great British Sasakawa Foundation and the Daiwa Anglo-Japanese Foundation. If you are interested in helping to make this film, please click here.