From time to time the feral critters of Japan have a tendency to act up. This is especially true of the monkey population, some of whom enjoy sharing a bath with their human cousins. We are not especially fond of having monkeys share a tub with us, but we are very interested in their relationship … Continue reading Snow Monkey IPA by Shiga Kogen Beer
We don’t use the word “unique” too often around here, and we are not prone to hyperbole, unless we are talking about our own accomplishments, of course, but this week we are going to use the word quite a bit. The beverage under review is Yamabushi, which translates as “mountain priest.” The name suggests a … Continue reading Yamabushi—Unique
The idiom “a pig in a poke” has long fascinated us. For those unfamiliar with this expression, here are the facts: it is very old, still in use; and totally inscrutable, if one does not know the meaning of “poke.” Poke, in this case, is a sack. Why, you might ask, would anyone want to … Continue reading Tastings—Free or Paid—Benefit Consumers and Producers Alike
In last week’s entry we reviewed a European wine that one of us tasted at the 2023 Sakura Awards tasting, which was held at the Imperial Hotel, Tokyo. This week we will focus on two wines produced by a Japanese winery. An impressive array of fine wines was laid out before me, the vast majority … Continue reading The Sakura Awards, Part 2: Encounters with the Ultimate in Terroir
Sakura, or cherry blossoms, have proven to be the gift that keeps giving for artists and writers. The blossoms have a tenuous grasp on the branches that quiver in the spring wind and eventually succumb to the inevitable and shed their petals like swirling snowflakes of pink. Sakura are symbolic of the impermanence of beauty … Continue reading Sakura and the Sakura Awards, Part 1
Osakazuki Macho Junmai Aiyama 80 (大盃 マッチョ 純米・愛山80) Call us old fashioned, but we have a thing about words. We find emoji-infused missives and the like not only irritating but inadequate, as well. Is that ubiquitous smiley face conveying happiness or smugness? Perhaps neither. After all, it bears a certain resemblance to the unchanging gaze of that … Continue reading Macho: Con Fuoco
This is the second editorial published by drinkingjapan.org. Last year we uploaded a multi-part series on eel (unagi), which culminated with an editorial exhorting Hamamatsu to use its reputation for eel to attract high-end tourists. The piece begins as follows: “The Japanese tourism industry was thriving until the crisis of 2020. Even during those boom … Continue reading Confluence: Hirosaki, Music, Apples, and Gastronomic Tourism
Drinking Japan 