Italy, Greece, Spain, Croatia, yes, but Japan??? The answer is an unequivocal “Yes.” The subject is olive oil. That Japan can produce high-quality olives and the oil therefrom does not surprise me. I have been eating Japanese olives off and on for roughly fifteen years. I did not have the opportunity to taste Japanese olive … Continue reading The Olive Trees of Gunma and Their Oil
Author: drinkingjapan
This is the blog about Drinking Japan by the authors of Drinking Japan: It's Not Just Sake available at fine bookstores everywhere and on Amazon Japan.
Oh, Say Can You See How Good This Product Can Be?: Say Inc.’s Hanamamemiso, Part 2
I think there are a number of things that can be confidently stated about miso. First, there are big differences between the mass-produced versions of the product and those that are labeled “craft” or “artisanal,” with the latter nearly always being more complex and satisfying. Second, it is healthful. Third, it is an old product … Continue reading Oh, Say Can You See How Good This Product Can Be?: Say Inc.’s Hanamamemiso, Part 2
Oh, Say Can You See How Good This Product Can Be?: Say Inc.’s Hanamamemiso, Part 1
On December 5, 2025, I attended JFEX Winter at Makuhari Messe. The first series of booths that I encountered was comprised of companies from Gunma Prefecture, with products ranging from miso to yogurt and beyond. At drinkingjapan.org we have written about Gunma and its output many times. If you would like to see past entries, … Continue reading Oh, Say Can You See How Good This Product Can Be?: Say Inc.’s Hanamamemiso, Part 1
Buzzer Beer, Durian, and “Sesame Street”
This entry is nothing if not eclectic and radically different from the usual material found at drinkingjapan.org. It was prompted by a recent visit to Singapore. Singapore is a country that I have visited numerous times. It is always a pleasure to be there. Most alcoholic beverages are rather pricey, though, as they are heavily … Continue reading Buzzer Beer, Durian, and “Sesame Street”
Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
Last week we looked at an artisanal vinegar designed for drinking. This week we will turn our attention to the rarefied world of balsamico tradizionale, that’s the slow-aged variety of balsamic vinegar, not the kind that you may run across at your local supermarket. If there were a musical composition best suited to accompany the … Continue reading Traditional Balsamic Vinegar
Gaba Berry: Made in Kyushu Cacao Vinegar
The practice of drinking vinegar is fairly well established in certain quarters. This is usually done because it is believed that vinegar is salubrious, rather than because drinking it can be a gratifying experience in and of itself. I used to be in the habit of mixing up my own vinegar-based libation using rather mundane … Continue reading Gaba Berry: Made in Kyushu Cacao Vinegar
Wine: The Flip Side
The Vinegar Merchant (17th century) by Abraham Bosse Way back in recent antiquity (how’s that for an oxymoron?), in the early days of rock’n’roll, there was something called a “45.” No, this was not some Saturday-night special: it was a little record that would go around the turntable forty-five times per minute. These records usually … Continue reading Wine: The Flip Side
Drinking Japan 