Daiginjo Shizukusake Juhachidai ihei(大吟醸雫酒十八代伊兵衛) from Okunomatsu Sake Brewery (奥の松酒造)

Expressing the Ineffable Some might think that the staff here at drinkingjapan.org have an easy job. They believe that we just kick off our shoes, open a bottle of something, and the words flow like beer at a frat party. True, the bottle-opening and tasting, even the shoe-kicking, are lots of fun, but conveying our … Continue reading Daiginjo Shizukusake Juhachidai ihei(大吟醸雫酒十八代伊兵衛) from Okunomatsu Sake Brewery (奥の松酒造) →

A Sake Brewery Like No Other: Yoikana Shuzo (善哉酒造) in Matsumoto City, Nagano

In November of 2020 we took a short one-night trip to Matsumoto City, a castle town in Nagano Prefecture. It takes a little less than three hours from Tokyo Station on the Chuo Line Express Train called Azusa to get there. The city is famous for its castle, which is one of the few original … Continue reading A Sake Brewery Like No Other: Yoikana Shuzo (善哉酒造) in Matsumoto City, Nagano →

Hakodate Wine’s So-Called “Wine that can only be Purchased at a Winery” (ワイナリーでしか買えないワイン) Campbell Early: That Time of Year Again

Well, here we are again—we’re at the end of another year. Time to freefall onto the sofa, rewatch that unforgettable Christmas classic Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964), and contemplate the perils of space exploration. Oh, but what to drink? Campbell Early is a North American hybrid—Vitis labrusca x Vitis vinifera—that was created back in … Continue reading Hakodate Wine’s So-Called “Wine that can only be Purchased at a Winery” (ワイナリーでしか買えないワイン) Campbell Early: That Time of Year Again →

Hamada Syuzou’s “Daiyame”: A Floral Dance

Daiyame Japan is not a country that one normally associates with lichi. Or is it leechee? Perhaps litchi? Possibly lichee? Oh, what the hell, let’s go with “lychee.” These fleshy orbs encased in pericarps originated in southern China. Over the past 100 years they have found their way into a number of countries, including Jamaica, … Continue reading Hamada Syuzou’s “Daiyame”: A Floral Dance →

Rice, Tea, Beer, and Sweet Potatoes: Ogikubo Beer Kobo

Many of us are making efforts these days to support our favorite local businesses, be they restaurants, groceries, breweries, whatever. The economic devastation brought on by the policies of some governments have left the little fish gasping for air, while the big fish do swimmingly. We recently paid a visit to Ogikubo Beer Kobo, a … Continue reading Rice, Tea, Beer, and Sweet Potatoes: Ogikubo Beer Kobo →