Some say that it is not a good idea to compete with yourself. Others argue that that is the most beneficial kind of competition. I am in the latter group. When applied within the context of product development, it equates to a constant striving to improve on one’s already high standards, taking steps that are … Continue reading TOKYO HACHIOJI DISTILLERY’s Elder Flower 47: A Win-Win Competition
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, … Continue reading Wonderful World in Toyama
Encountered at JFEX, July 2025. There was an Expo in Japan recently. In a newspaper article entitled “Expo Offers Opportunity to Drink Alcoholic Beverages from Around the World,” appearing in The Japan News on June 10, 2025, a visitor makes the following comment after having drunk a Pisco Sour, “…they [the alcoholic drinks he presumably … Continue reading Portrait of Pisco
It was at Summer JFEX 2025 that I was arrested—stopped in my tracks—by the blowfish. No, it was not the result of having ingested a smidgen of tetrodotoxin, but owing instead to the sign on a booth and the bottles displayed on its counter announcing the presence of “Blowfish Tequila.” “What is that?” I asked … Continue reading Blowfish Tequila
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”
A rose is a rose, is a rose, is a rose…No, that’s not right! A rosé is a rosé, is a rosé, is a…. No, that’s not right, either! There can be significant differences among rosés. Some of the variables that may account for these differences are terroir, grape variety, and decisions made by the … Continue reading Of Roses, Rosés, and Bellwood Vineyard’s 2023 Assemblage Rosé
There are several definitions for the term white heat. Two are relevant here. white heat The state or temperature at which matter emits white light. A state of intensive activity. [Wiktionary] Heated sake is a pleasure to consume, all year round, of course, but especially on those stygian winter nights. To some people, preparing this drink is simple. Pour some sake into a cup; put it … Continue reading White Heat Night at JSS Information Center, Tokyo: Hot-Sake Science
Drinking Japan 