Tone Nishiki Shiboritate Nama Genshu (利根錦しぼりたて生原酒): Of Glassware, Sake Label Art, and Roaring Mice

It is not often that we just happen to find a sake bottle with label art that perfectly matches our glassware, but that is what happened when we stumbled upon—no that’s not appropriate here—ran into—no that won’t do, either—encountered—yeah, yeah, that’s it—this Gunma-ken nigorizake which, according to one of our sources, is from the smallest … Continue reading Tone Nishiki Shiboritate Nama Genshu (利根錦しぼりたて生原酒): Of Glassware, Sake Label Art, and Roaring Mice →

Kikunotsukasa Shuzo (菊の司酒造): Innocent 40

Not too long ago we were in Iwate Prefecture, where we missed this gem. Fortunately, we picked up a bottle of Kikunotsukasa’s Innocent 40, “a non-filtered, non-pasteurized, non-hydrated,” high-end daiginjo sake, with 14% abv. Forty refers to the rice polishing rate or seimaibuai (精米歩合). Contributing to the Iwate influence, terroir, if you will, are Yui … Continue reading Kikunotsukasa Shuzo (菊の司酒造): Innocent 40 →

Lucky Rabbit Beer

We decided to kick off the New Year with a beer called “Lucky Rabbit,” which just sort of leaped out at us from the supermarket shelf. This is a pale ale produced by sake behemoth Kizakura. There were a number of reasons for our purchasing decision. First, 2023 is the Year of the Rabbit. Second, … Continue reading Lucky Rabbit Beer →

Significant Encounters at Expat Expo Part 2: The Story of Sake, Ltd.

As mentioned in last week’s posting, Expat Expo was held on November 25-26, 2022, at Hamamatsucho-kan, Minato Ward, Tokyo. Our second significant encounter thereat was with Mr. Yuki Ojima, a Japanese fluent in English who runs a business that we believe is poised to meet what will probably become a growing demand. Simply put, there … Continue reading Significant Encounters at Expat Expo Part 2: The Story of Sake, Ltd. →

Significant Encounters at Expat Expo Tokyo 2022 Part 1: Asahi-Shuzo (朝日酒造), Makers of Kubota

Expat Expo was held on November 25-26, 2022, at Hamamatsucho-kan, Minato Ward, Tokyo. It, along with the concomitant International Job Fair, attracted 2,917 people and featured 182 exhibitors. We attended last year’s Expo and based on our experience in 2021 decided to return this year. Needless to say, which of course is needless to say, … Continue reading Significant Encounters at Expat Expo Tokyo 2022 Part 1: Asahi-Shuzo (朝日酒造), Makers of Kubota →

Initial

One of the most famous hot springs in Japan can be found in the town of Kusatsu, Gunma Prefecture. As it is impossible to describe adequately the exquisite pleasures of total immersion in the waters therein and the salubrious effects, both physical and psychological, the experience seems to impart, we will encourage our readers to … Continue reading Initial →

Kurako (蔵子): A Sake Purchased in Aomori’s Main Market

On the spur of the moment we bought this nihon-shu at the main market in Aomori City. The market should be a stop on any tourist’s list of things to do there. In addition to fish and other foodstuffs for sale, there are a couple of restaurants of note. We enjoyed a delicious and very … Continue reading Kurako (蔵子): A Sake Purchased in Aomori’s Main Market →