“Kinpou” & “Hijiri” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Kinpou, Niida honke, from Fukushima prefecture and Hijiri, Hijiri Sake Co., Ltd. from Gunma prefecture.

Kinpou (Niida honke)

Niida-Honke Brewery is over 300 years old, and has seen its share of change. Originally founded in 1711, it has seen eighteen generations of dedicated head brewers work to create their ideal sake, one that is healthy, sustainable and organic. Located only twenty minutes by car from Koriyama Station in Fukushima Prefecture the brewery is renowned for its delicious sake, having won several awards. But what makes Niida-Honke Brewery truly unique is their mission to create sustainable organic sake, “Shizenshu,” using only natural ingredients and a traditional brewing process.

In 2011 the brewery decided to take a step in a more sustainable direction by using only organically grown rice in the sake making process. In 2013 they decided to take their ideals a step further and stopped adding lactic acid during the brewing process, at the same time they began to use an entirely natural yeast starter. In 2014 they made another big leap and stopped using sediment removers, making them the first brewery to create a brand of sake from entirely organic ingredients.

These days the brewery grows and harvests its own rice, completely pesticide and chemical fertilizer free, using methods such as hand weeding and tadpole shrimp to maintain the rice paddies. All of the water used in their sake is natural spring or well water, which is collected from land owned by the brewery. This water is used in every step of the sake making process, from washing the rice to cleaning the tanks. The company also strives to reduce its environmental impact by cutting down on packaging, and reusing returnable bottles.

Niida honke Home page

Hijiri (Hijiri Sake Co., Ltd.)

Located in the middle of Gunma, Hijiri is the sake brewery with a long history, which goes back to Edo era. Since 1841, we started to brew sake within the rich naturally blessed green environment. We use the underflow water runs through Josh Mount Akagi in southwest for brewing sake. For 7 generations, we have succeeded to pass our special skill and tradition contentiously for 170 years. 7th wearhouse man and a chief brewer, kensuke imai, had rewarded with 1st prize in national sake competition in 2014, 4 years after he promoted to a new chief brewer.

Hijiri Yamadanishiki Junmai ginjo is easy to drink with elegant aroma and sweetness. You can drink before or after meal, because of high aroma and sweetness. It’s also recommended to drink with food with strong taste such as cheese or lever pate.

Hijiri Sake Co., Ltd. Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/6/27 (Wed) – 7/3(Tue)

-You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Seibu Ikebukuro B1F

〒171-0022 Tokyo, Toshima, Minamiikebukuro, 1 Chome−28−1

Google map

Access

Directly connect
Ikebukuro Station South Exit, Exit 38, Exit 36

Web site

For more information visit, 今週の酒と肴

Kura Master 2018 Top 12 tasting

Kura Master is the only one Sake competition by top sommelier in France. They have selected top 12 sake from 650 many makers entry. You can try them with a small group at a comfortable venue.
The chairperson of the executive committee, Mr. Kei Miyakawa is visiting Japan from Paris and reports on this year’s contest.

Kura Master 2018

DATE AND TIME

2018/7/27 (Fri)
Part1: 18:30 – 19:20
Part2: 19:40 – 20:30

-You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center

1-6-15 Nishi shinbashi Minato-ku

Google map

Access

Tokyo metro Ginza-line Toranomon Station, Exit 9 on foot 3min.
Tokyo metro Chiyoda-line Kasumigaseki Station, Exit C3 on foot 4min.
Toei Mita-line Uchisaiwaicho Station, Exit A4 on foot 3min.
JR Shinbashi Station, Exit Hibiya on foot 8min.

Fee

¥2000(Cash on the day)
*Non foods but you can carry something to eat without strong smell.

Application Link

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1Pzcvq4GTCZ-sq8O8ZHvVPk-hrXp25J0ZGZI1AH9bZgk/viewform?edit_requested=true

Inquiryyamada@sakebunka.co.jp

 

“Daishichi” & “Kariho” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Daishichi, DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. from Fukushima prefecture, and Kariho, AKITA SEISHU CO.,LTD. from Akita prefecture.

Daishichi (DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD.)

Established in 1752, Daishichi is based in Tohoku, northeast Japan. Daishichi makes rich, mellow sakes whose outstanding reputation comes from an insistence on a strictly orthodox brewing tradition: the kimoto method. All Daishichi products are superb examples of kimoto sake.

Above all else, they seek depth of flavour: sake that grows and matures over time, flowering into exceptional quality. They continue to cherish hand-crafted brewing techniques that combine the best of nature’s bounty with their own expertise and experience.

DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. Home page

Kariho (AKITA SEISHU CO.,LTD.)

Akita Seishu Co. Ltd. makes and bottles nihonshu using Akita rice under the Dewatsuru, Kariho and Yamato Shizuku brands. The Akita Seishu Kariho brewery was founded in 1913 in Akita Prefecture. This area is located at the extreme northwest of Honshu island, a mountainous area with very cold winters, and heavy snowfall. Many beautiful rices exist here, and very pure water; making it the ideal environment for quality sake production.

The Kariho brand has a more mineral-heavy water source, creating a drink characterized by a drier, sharper taste, while elsewhere in the region water is rather soft. The top seller, the Kariho Daiginjo, has a lighter, clearer taste that’s reminiscent of the cold snap of Akita’s winter air.

AKITA SEISHU CO.,LTD. Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/6/28 (Thu) – 7/4(Wed) 10:00~20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店 池袋店 日本酒催事スケジュール