19th-Century Kura, 21st-Century Innovation On a fine winter morning we caught a train to Oyama City, Tochigi Prefecture. A meandering city bus took us from the train station to our destination, Nishibori Shuzo, and to our appointment with Tetsuya Nishibori, the Sixth Generation Kuramoto (brewery owner). Only a short hour and a half from Shinjuku … Continue reading Nishibori Shuzo:
Takasaki is a city in Gunma Prefecture. It is famous for being the birthplace of the Daruma doll. For those unfamiliar with this interesting, Humpty-Dumptyesque object that never falls and the custom surrounding its use, we have included a picture above and will provide a brief explanation. Distilled down to its very essence, the Daruma … Continue reading Oosakazuki Oke 53 Gou (大盃 桶５３号） Number 53: Fill In the Other Eye
We were reminded recently of that old song “Smoke Gets in Your Eyes” (1933). Yes, it is a bit of an irritant when it creeps into your peepers, but when it meanders up your nose, as it does with this beer, it is not unappealing. This drink has an almost peaty aroma, which is not … Continue reading Fujizakura Heights (富士桜高原麦酒 ラオホ) Rauch: Smoke Gets in Your Nose
The third definition of the word pastiche as given by Wiktionary is “an incongruous mixture; a hodgepodge.” Hodgepodge has negative connotations for most speakers of English, as it conjurers up images of motion-picture monstrosities such as Sharktopus (2010) and culinary crimes al la kitchen-sink succotash. But wait…the word can also refer to the sublime syllabub … Continue reading Yamaso Hop from Minamishinshu Beer (Komagatake Brewery): A Pleasant Pastiche
Enthusiastic Wolf We at drinkingjapan.org are always open to new experiences. Recently, we decided to spend some time with the animals—no, not the Black Friday sales crowd! Sensing the need for a little rustication, we got up off our old rusty-dusties and traveled to Gunma Prefecture to visit Gunma Safari Park safari.co.jp. In addition to … Continue reading Animal Kingdom Safari Park Special Reserve (Red)
Creator: George Cruikshank (creator); Date: n.d.; Material: etching “…Aphrodite (Venus)…was…playing with her little boy Eros (Cupid). He is one of the children in mythology who never grows up [sounds like at least one of us here at drinkingjapan.org] and never grows any wiser [here she must be talking about your average politician]. He carries about … Continue reading Valentine’s Day Special: Cupid, Draw Back Your Bow and Let the Chocolate Flow
Fukagawa Winery’s TOKYO 2021 Orange Sparkling Ah, orange, that’s an interesting word. It can refer to that narcissistic color that demands attention in nearly any setting in which it is encountered or to the fruit produced in such sunny climes as Florida or Valencia. The English language did not start to employ it in its … Continue reading Fukagawa Winery’s TOKYO 2021 Orange Sparkling: The Color or the Fruit?
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