The Enigmatically Titled Giant Squid Versus Sperm Whale* Though less exciting than some of the antics of Conor McGregor, both inside and outside the ring, the Shiraz v Syrah metaphorical slugfest provides wine lovers with more than a modicum of entertainment, especially in an age of seemingly endless remakes crawling out of the subbasements of … Continue reading Soleil Syrah 2019
Bonfire, Toyohara Kunichika In last week’s entry, we implied, and if you were paying attention, you inferred, that UNESCO would designate the “Traditional Knowledge and Skills of Sake-Making with Koji Mold in Japan” to be Intangible Cultural Heritage. Well, they have, at their recently held meeting in Asunción, Paraguay. Prior to the announcement, a number … Continue reading Celebrating Sake, Part 2
Three Servants of the Palace * This week and next week we will focus on a significant international development in the world of sake. “Intangible cultural heritage includes the practices, knowledge, and expressions that communities recognize as part of their cultural identity, along with associated objects and spaces.” The above citation is from UNESCO’s website. … Continue reading Celebrating Sake, Part 1
When asked to name a Japanese varietal, most knowledgeable wine drinkers outside of Japan are liable to say “Koshu.” This is not surprising, as the grape seems to get a lot of publicity from various quarters and because its cultivation is closely associated with Yamanashi Prefecture, which is readily accessible from Tokyo, making it an … Continue reading Yamanashi Koshu 2021
We have always been partial to practical education here at drinkingjapan.org. Why spend your precious time conjugating Latin verbs if you are not going to become emperor of Rome? And it’s a little too late for that, right? So, when we learn of a university project that engages students in an activity that is professional, … Continue reading Asia Beer 2024
A number of years ago we paid a visit to Amami-Oshima, the largest island in the Amami archipelago, which is located between Kyushu and Okinawa. The area is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and noteworthy for its flora and fauna. Included among the latter are some pretty rare creatures, such as the Amami Rabbit——this … Continue reading Kiwami 2014: Kokuto Shochu
Sorry. This crept in from last week's Halloween Special. Please disregard this early manifestation of AI. Earlier this year we wrote about FARM8’s wonderful Jogurt. This week we will write about two other products with connections to the firm. A few months ago we had an opportunity to sample both. One is a nihon-shu made … Continue reading Nihon-shu and Gelati
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