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
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
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
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
Drinking Japan 