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Reuters: Japan to sell two-thirds of state alcohol maker
The Japanese government plans to sell two-thirds of a state-owned alcohol maker at an auction in February, the Ministry of Finance said on Tuesday. The government currently owns all 60,000 shares of the company, Japan Alcohol Corp., and it aims to sell 39,999 of them at an auction on Feb. 15, a ministry official said. The government will continue to own just over one-third of the company for now in order to maintain its right to veto any important decision that could be proposed at a shareholders' general meeting...Japan Alcohol, which produces fermented alcohol, recorded sales of 11.05 billion yen and a recurring loss of 293 million yen in the half year to Sept. 30...more...
The company's website provides the useful information that udon, miso and soy sauce contain around 2% alcohol. Sadly though:
Q: Can one become intoxicated by consuming food products that contain this type of alcohol?
A: Alcohol found in food products completely evaporates upon exposure to heat. As for sauces, such as soy sauce, that are not heated and sometimes directly consumed, the alcohol content will immediately evaporate once poured out of the container. Since the amount of alcohol included in these types of food products is extremely minute, there is no need to worry about becoming intoxicated from use as seasonings for cooking.
