Hello. My name is David. I'm just getting interested in making cheese at my home. I've made some very basic fresh cheeses and a a couple other cheeses with some liquid rennet I bought from an cheese supply Ebayer in England.
I'm an American and I live in a small city in Japan. My choice of cheese at the local stores is woeful. Very very little choice at very high prices. There is basically no cheese making culture in Japan. I feel that there is an opportunity to make a go at some type of modest artisan cheese making business if I can gain enough knowledge and experience. As of now, I am barely at the stage of producing cheese that my family will willingly eat.
Other than the huge amount of information contained within this forum, I am looking for:
1. Others in Japan with an interest in cheese making.
2. Others who are interesting in, or have started, their own small businesses who could give advice.
Also, I've been kicking around the idea of doing some sort of summer apprenticeship at a small cheese making operation. I usually spend my summers in New York, either in the the southern part of the state or near Albany. If anyone could give me a heads up on a friendly cheese artisan in the area, I'd be willing to work for free.
Thank for reading. Nice to meet you.
Hi MinoriStar,
great to meet you, sounds like you have some great opportunities over there in Japan, Good luck with you plans.
Hi MinoriStar (David) and welcome, sadly I think you are the first one here in Japan!
I've just added a Geographic Japan Board where you could start a thread asking there also for any others in Japan.
On starting small business there are several threads, mostly in the Dairy Factory Board, but some litered else where, suggest search on key words like commercial and artisan and read lots on this Forum.
On apprentice jobs I don't know of any, but have seen some on monster.com at one time we had a Jobs Board but wasn't used, you could try putting a Wanted - Summer Apprentice Job in the For Sale/Wanted board.
Hi David and welcome to the forum. How did you wind up in Japan? After reading your post it made me realize that I had never heard of a Japanese cheese although many cultures have them in their roots. I live about an hour south of Albany and I know that there are a few small artisan cheese makers in the region. I'll gather some information for you if you would like. Also member steffb503 is in the process of getting her license to sell fresh and pressed goat cheese locally here, maybe she could give you some pointers.
Hi David, I'm just across the sea in Korea. I imagine your cheese environment is much like mine, desolate. Fortunately Costco carries an average, though limited for a cheesehead, selection.
I think it's interesting that you're looking for a cheese apprenticeship. I'm curious what you've learned about going about and doing that because it's something I'm interested in too. Although that will have to wait because I'm committed for a while here in Korea.
I often think about starting a creamer, bakery, or brewery and love to hear about others who do to.
Quote from: MinoriStar on January 12, 2011, 01:40:18 AM
Also, I've been kicking around the idea of doing some sort of summer apprenticeship at a small cheese making operation. I usually spend my summers in New York, either in the the southern part of the state or near Albany. If anyone could give me a heads up on a friendly cheese artisan in the area, I'd be willing to work for free.
Check out WWOOF. It's volunteer work, but you'll get room and board. I did two weeks on a dairy goat farm in Australia last year. There are surely some cheese makers in NY who have opportunities.
Welcome to the forum, David.
How is the milk situation in Japan? Not a problem? Expensive? It wouldn't seem like there would be vast herds of grazing cows or goats.
-Boofer-
David, I see on the news this morning that Japan has suffered a terrible earthquake/tsunami.
I hope you survived well.