When it comes to local cider from Yamagata, it’s the well-known “Pine Cider”. It has been featured on nationwide TV programs and became so popular that it sold out temporarily on online stores. Of course, it can also be easily purchased at supermarkets within the prefecture.

But!!

For Yamagata residents born in the Showa era,
– Scratched-up bottles (reuse empty bottles from other cider)
– Labels peeling off due to condensation
– Using a bottle opener borrowed from local shops or candy stores in town to open them
– Returning the empty bottles to the shop lady after drinking

Don’t you sometimes have memories resurfacing like that?
(I feel like back then I could buy it for around 80 yen.)

And now, are there places that sell bottled pineapple cider?

What exactly is pineapple cider?

It is a soul drink of Yamagata residents that has been enjoyed for generations, characterized by the strong stimulation of carbonation and the glamorous aroma of pineapple.

In Yamagata Prefecture, since pineapples were hard to come by, they used the pigment from the prefecture’s flower, the ‘safflower’, to give it a pineapple-like appearance.

Therefore, it is actually juice-free!!

By the way, the [ingredients] are high fructose corn syrup, sugar, acidulants, flavoring, safflower coloring, and so on.Yet, for some reason, it has been a beloved cider in Yamagata Prefecture since long ago.

During gatherings with relatives on Obon or New Year’s, adults would have beer, and for the children, juice—’pine cider’ has always been a staple in my household.

In some households, it is also served when guests come over.
Many households might have kept stock by the case, right?

Why pineapple in Yamagata? The reason pineapple cider became popular

The possible reasons include the following points.

1. The boom in soft drinks and the popularity of carbonated beverages
The mid-Showa period (1950s–1970s) was a time when the soft drink market in Japan rapidly expanded. As life became more prosperous following post-war reconstruction, carbonated beverages in particular gained popularity. Alongside the craze for sodas like cola and ramune, fruit-flavored carbonated drinks also appeared one after another.

2. The Popularity of Tropical FruitsIn the 1950s and 1960s (Showa 30s–40s), tropical fruits such as pineapples and bananas became popular in Japan. With increased imports from Okinawa and Taiwan, pineapple juice and canned pineapples became widespread.

3. Affinity with Ramune CultureDuring the Showa era, Ramune was beloved as a summer tradition. Pine cider, like Ramune, is a sweet and refreshing carbonated beverage and is believed to have been especially popular among children and young people.

4. Demand for Bottled Carbonated DrinksDuring the Showa era, carbonated drinks in glass bottles were mainstream. They could be easily purchased at candy stores and shops, and were enjoyed by children after school and families during gatherings.

In a work by Isao Takahata, the director of Grave of the Fireflies, there is also a scene like this in the Ghibli film “Only Yesterday”, set in the Takase area of Yamagata City, Yamagata Prefecture.

A scene where Taeko’s father buys a whole pineapple, and she eats it for the first time. In the past, people didn’t eat whole pineapples, didn’t know how to cut them, and would try them before they were fully ripe, so they weren’t very tasty.

Perhaps because she had eaten the canned fruit in syrup first, the disappointed expressions on Taeko and her family’s faces were indescribable.

It was an era when most people knew pineapple only in canned form.
Since fresh pineapple was a luxury and rare, the fact that pineapple-flavored cider could be easily purchased at candy shops and stores likely contributed to its establishment as one of those popular treats.

Since when has it been on sale?

There are various theories about its origin,
It is said to have been released around the 1950s and was born from a longing for tropical fruits.

According to the website of Yamagata Kyoei, which sold Kyoei Pine Cider (the website is currently closed),

Bottle cider around the years 1950–1951 was mostly colorless and transparent.

Meanwhile, even in the snow country of Yamagata, where the temperature difference is significant, everyone eagerly looked forward to the buds of spring while diligently shoveling snow. At that time, even in the fruit kingdom of Yamagata, pineapples were one of the rare and highly coveted fruits that people could hardly ever eat.
So, in an effort to somehow capture the flavors and aromas of the southern islands in cider and have people enjoy them even in Yamagata, our association’s current chairman took on the development of it.

‘Flavor Characteristics’A refreshing throat sensation and clear taste are brought out by the aroma of pineapple + champagne flavor and strong carbonation.

Source: Kyodo Kumiai Shokuhin Kyoeikai

To think it was inspired by a champagne flavor…! There are probably many people in the prefecture who don’t even know about it. It’s also moving to think that it became a huge hit and is still loved and consumed even now in the Reiwa era.

The pineapple cider sales company at that time

There used to be several companies in Yamagata Prefecture that produced bottled pineapple cider.

I also looked up the ingredients from the labels, but it seems they do differ depending on the company.
So Nissin’s version contained pineapple juice! It wasn’t juice-free…!

However, it seems that unfortunately no company is currently manufacturing, as some have gone out of business or their factories have been destroyed by fire…

In the midst of this, I came across information from an old article that Marudai Horiuchi Co., Ltd. in Murayama City had taken over the business of Yamagata Kyoei. I contacted them, hoping for a solution.

Are bottled pineapple ciders still being sold?

When we contacted ‘Marudai Horiuchi Co., Ltd.,’ which took over the business of Yamagata Kyoei,

“Production was discontinued about five years ago…”

It seems to be so.

I also contacted Sanwa Canning Co., Ltd. and Yamagata Foods Co., Ltd., but

“It seems they have stopped production because the jars are prone to breaking.”

That was the response….
Our last hope~!!
It seems it was no longer being manufactured around 2020.

かつては、300-500ml程度のビン入りで、「三ツ矢サイダー」や「宝サイダー」のビンが使われていましたが、今のビンはガラスが薄く、炭酸を入れると割れてしまうとのこと。

残念・・・。やはり瓶のパインサイダーを手に入れることはできないようです。

現在はスーパーなどでいつでも買える！

現在は缶のパインサイダーが主流です。
山形県内なら、スーパーやコンビニ、県内の道の駅などどこでも買えるのがうれしいですね！

県外の方はネットショップや、山形県アンテナショップ「おいしい山形プラザ」でも購入できます！
▶山形県アンテナショップ「おいしい山形プラザ」
東京都中央区銀座一丁目5-10　ギンザファーストファイブビル１Ｆ・２Ｆ

キラキラなデザインがオシャレな【サン＆リブ】さんの山形パインサイダー。
▶山形パインサイダー　参考価格　143円（250ml）

現在はサクランボ・ラフランス・カキ・スイカサイダーなども販売！
■山形食品株式会社（サン＆リブ）https://www.sunliv.jp/

パインサイダーマンも活躍中！ Instagram
＠pineapple.cider.man
▶やまがたパインサイダー　参考価格　151円（380ml）

県内スーパーでいつでも買える！
パインサイダーと金龍さんがタッグ！
▶大人のパインサイダー　参考価格 220円（380ml）

やわらか食感、やまがたパインサイダー入り
▶やまがたパインサイダーグミ　参考価格　500円（100g）

■三和缶詰株式会社 https://www.y-sanwa.co.jp/

どの商品もネットでの販売や、ふるさと納税の返礼品にもなっているようですので、気になった方はぜひ飲んでみてください！

夏場はキンキンに冷やして飲むとさらに美味しいですよ～！
大人の方は、お酒の割りものとしてもgood！

【まとめ】せっかくなので飲みながら

瓶入りパインサイダーがもう手に入らないのは残念ですが、復刻版が登場することを期待したいですね。

県内の企業様、ぜひご検討を！！

さて、雪おろしで疲れたので、雪の中でキンキンに冷えたパインサイダーでひと息いれたいと思います。
春を待ちながら飲むパインサイダーもうんめえぞっ！