Don’t know much about pesticides
Don’t know much about killing flies
Don’t know much about nematodes
Don’t know much about toxic toads
But I do know what I don’t like
And how I want my rice
Organic and chemical free
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh,
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh
What a wonderful world it would be!
William F. O’Connor
[Sing to Sam Cooke’s “Wonderful World.”]
Well, Yoshinotomo Brewery, located in Toyama City, Toyama Prefecture, has taken a couple of steps in the direction of making this a wonderful world, at least for us sake drinkers. As reported by Sake Industry News (Issue #140), they are growing their own rice for the production of their Kisaki brand, which we wrote about a few years back (Link: https://drinkingjapan.org/2021/12/15/kisaki-%e5%90%8e-the-queen-and-other-members-of-the-royal-family/), and the sake made therefrom will be released this year. The rice is a local strain known as “Tomino Kaori,” and it is organic! Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh—wonderful world.
We ran into some of their people at last summer’s JFEX 2025, held at Tokyo Big Sight, and had the opportunity to taste Kisaki 65, which, as the number suggests, has a somewhat low polishing ratio. The rice variety used in its production is Toyama’s Gohyakumangoku. Sensory evaluation: Color: pale yellow. Nose: floral notes (lilies), some vanilla, and a hint of banana. Palate: Initial sensation of sweetness followed by a moderate level of acidity ending in a medium (+) finish. Body is noticeable here—pleasant mouthfeel. The ABV is 16%.
Link: https://yoshinotomo.com/
Drinking Japan 