The sake under review today is a nigorizake from Shirakawa-go, Gifu Prefecture, home of the famous gasshō-zukuri, or thatched-roof houses, which is one of the most famous UNESCO World Heritage Sites in Japan. Shirakawa-go is also famous for its Doburoku Festival. What is the difference between these two types of sake? “The difference between doburoku … Continue reading Miwa Shuzo’s Shirakawago Junmai Nigorizake Dekitate Nama
This post is about Children’s Day (Kodomonohi) which takes place on May 5. On Children’s Day, a common sight is carp-shaped windsock called Koinobori. The carp-shaped windsock come in various colors, a big black one representing the father, a red one representing the mother and often a smaller blue one representing the child. In Hotarunosato … Continue reading Children’s Day and Beer Cans
As winter wanes and spring waxes, many rejoice, but for some in Japan, the transitional period between death and rebirth brings with it quite a bit of unpleasantness in the form of cedar-pollen allergy. After World War II, an inordinately large number of cedars were planted in Japan. According to an article published in the Weekly International … Continue reading Yamamoto Tensugi – Yamamoto Brewery
The subtitle of this entry sounds like it might be an oxymoron. After all, how can a cosmopolite be a local boy, too? Well, if wine can have legs—and it does…in a glass, of course—it can also have figurative legs that take it, not necessarily as a finished product, around the world in the form of varietals whose … Continue reading Goichi Wine-Hayashi Winery’s Merlot 2017:International but Local
And, as the Cock crew, those who stood before The Tavern shouted—“Open, then, the Door! You know how little while we have to stay. And, once departed, may return no more.” As the current pandemic unfolds, there is no doubt that there are many of us who share the sentiments expressed in these lines from … Continue reading Rubaiyat Manriki Rouge
This is a simple, easy-drinking wine that has a flavor profile more typical of a soft drink than that of a wine. From its grapey/strawberry nose to the sweetness that predominates on the palate, its low abv—9%—and rosé-like pinkness, it is Sweet Sixteen (or whatever the legal drinking age is in your place of residence) … Continue reading Tsuno Sparkling Wine Campbell Early
Shichida is a sake made by Tenzan Brewery in Saga Prefecture. We tried two namazake (unpasteurized sake), one made from Omachi rice (more about this later) and the other from Aiyama. The former sake had a pleasing nose with liquorice notes, an abv of 17%, and was predominantly sweet. We found it easy to drink … Continue reading Shichida Namazake
Drinking Japan 