“Mansaku no hana” & “Shimeharitsuru” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

 

You can taste Mansaku no hana, Hinomaru Jozo Co., Ltd. from Akita prefecture, and Shimeharitsuru, Miyao Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd. from Niigata prefecture.

Mansaku no hana (Hinomaru Jozo Co., Ltd.)

Hinomaru Jozo is located in Masudamachi, in Yokote city in the picturesque snow country of Akita, Japan. Akita has long, harsh, snowy winters. In the height of the winter season, Hinomaru Jozo’s touji (sake master) Ryoji Takahashi can be found with his hands buried deep in cold, mashed rice, preparing it for fermentation.

Like many older breweries and distilleries, Hinomaru Jozo follows traditions that date back to when it was first founded almost 330 years ago, in 1689. Something the Hinomaru Brewery is proud of is the usage of the “rising sun” imagery, 200 years prior to its official association with the Japanese flag and government. The logo and name were created by the feudal leader of the region at the time: Lord Satake.

But there is more to a distillery than a name and a logo. Their motto, coupling “quality first” with “challenging spirit,” reflects the rigorous process involved in concocting the perfect sake mix. Still to this day, everything is done by hand: the rice growing, harvesting, mashing, steaming, transferring, and bottling. One of the key elements that helps Hinomaru’s sake stand out is the usage of small, 1.8-liter bottles to store and age the sake, as opposed to more common practice of storing and aging sake in massive, 500 to 1000–liter barrels at other breweries. There is no better example of Hinomaru’s quality nihonshu than the Mansakuno Hana brand: named for the mansakuno flower and created to commemorate a popular NHK TV drama that was set in Akita, it can be found at restaurants around the world. An even more refined variety of this sake is the Mansakuno Hana Daiginjo, whose beautiful pale gold color matches its fruity aroma—like that of apples or pears.

The Akita snow is a crucial indirect ingredient: keeping the building cold and frosty creates a specific flavor and texture known only to Hinomaru’s brand-name sake. A crisp, sweet, fruity winter taste dominates their flavor profiles, and complements the famous sour pickled vegetables of the north. Winter in Akita is suddenly much less cold when it’s paired with a bottle of sake from Hinomaru Jozo.

The Yokote Kamakura Festival (横手の雪まつり, Yokote no Yuki Matsuri) has a history of about 450 years. It is held every year in mid-February. The festival features many igloo-like snow houses, called kamakura, which are built at various locations across the city. Along Yokote River, hundreds of small kamakura the size of lanterns are made. These mini kamakura are illuminated by candles from dusk until around 21:00 and create a lovely sea of lights.

During the Festival, you can enjoy walking around while enjoying Akita’s local delicacies and sake.

Hinomaru Jozo Co., Ltd. Home page



Booking.com

 

Tasting at home by amazon

Mansaku no hana Bekkaku Daiginjo 金賞受賞蔵!秋田のお酒、まんさくの花 別格大吟醸 720ml(四合)瓶 桐箱入

 

Shimeharitsuru (Miyao Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd.)

The flavor of Shimeharitsuru is crafted with the brewers’ dedication to making supreme sake, and is best defined as rich yet light. Established in 1819, Miyao Sake Brewing is situated in Murakami, one of the finest rice producing areas of Niigata that cultivates a variety of quality sake rice such as Gohyakumangoku. The brewery’s well taps into the pristine underground water that flows from the Asahi mountain range via the Miomote River which is famous for its salmon run. This delicate and almost sweet soft water is used in brewing, and shapes the flavor of our sake. Genuine devotion to sake brewing is another important aspect that has been passed down in our brewery. Using outstanding rice and crystal clear water, we dedicate ourselves to brewing delicious sake to the satisfaction of our customers.

The Murakami city is located in the north of Niigata Prefecture, Japan, which is a castle town still having signs of its former days. In the center of the city, there are spots you can feel city’s the history such as rows of “merchant houses” of those days and “Maizuru Castle Ruins” famous for cherry blossoms blooming there.

Murakami specialty: Murakami Beef

Murakami beef is praised for its vivid red meat with beautiful marbling along with a soft juicy texture, which makes for an unmistakable taste. Carefully selected high quality breeding cattle are raised from a plenty of Koshihikari rice straw and hay for additional two years and brought up to maturity as Wagyu, with the farmer’s generous love, unstinting labor and time in the majestic nature in Murakami, Niigata, Japan, where the traditional culture is still alive.

Murakami is easily accessible from Tokyo via Shinkansen. Enjoy Yakiniku (Japanese BBQ), Sukiyaki and Shabushabu with exceptional Japanese Black Wagyu Beef while tasting Niigata sake.

Edosho: http://www.edoshow.com/index.html
Open: 11:00~14:00
Reservation required 81-254-50-1181

Google map

You can taste Murakami Beef on a Budget at Yamashin. Outside the restaurant, they sell deep-fried croquets and Menchi Katsu (minced meat cutlet) with Murakami Beef. You can buy some and eat them while strolling the city.

Yamashin: http://www.bishokuya.com

Shop Open: 9:00-18:00
Meal order: 10:00-17:00
Close: Wednesday
e-mail: info@bishokuya.com

Google map

Miyao Sake Brewing Co.,Ltd. Home page

Tasting at home by amazon

Shimeharitsuru Tasting 720ml x 3 bottles set Yuki -Snow Tsuki -Moon Hana -Flower【人気地酒蔵】新潟 〆張鶴飲み比べ 720 ml×3本セット 〆張鶴月 〆張鶴雪 〆張鶴花 11

DATE AND TIME

2018/11/29 (Thu)~2018/12/05 (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

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


You can taste Daishichi, DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. from Fukushima prefecture, and Tentaka, Tentaka Shuzo Co., Ltd. from Tochigi prefecture.

Daishichi (DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD.)

Established in 1752, Daishichi is located in Nihonmatsu, Fukushima. Fukushima sake will never let you down. 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.

KIMOTO is the older “traditional” brewing method, where nature is left to take its course. Brewers wait patiently as naturally occurring Lactobacillus (lactic acid bacteria) grows within the shubo to fight off unwanted bacteria.

The rice and koji for the shubo are mixed and crushed into a puree in order for them to work properly together and saccharify (convert rice starches to sugars). This involves the labor-intensive “yamaroshi”, a manual mashing and stirring of the puree with oar-like paddles in order to speed up rice saccharification. Requires a longer time for the yeast to begin fermentation.

No lactic acid or yeast added, but forms naturally in the brew. All Natural, Hand Crafted.

Because Kimoto allows more wild yeasts and bacteria to become a part of the brew, the flavor tends to have higher sweetness and acidity, with richer, deeper, significantly more pronounced flavors.

Daishichi seeks 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.

The annual night time lantern festival of Nihonmatsu is from the 4th to 6th of October and is one of the most spectacular events to see in Japan. The festival has a long history of over 300 years and is one of the 3 largest lantern festivals in Japan. Pick from countless delicious festival food stalls and kanpai with sake in the high-energy festival.

DAISHICHI SAKE BREWERY CO., LTD. Home page

Tasting at home by amazon

Daishichi Minowamon Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo 大七酒造 大七箕輪門 生酛 純米大吟醸酒 720ml (箱入り)

Tentaka (Tentaka Shuzo Co., Ltd.)

Tentaka is located in a nature-rich city, Otawara, Tochigi Prefecture. Through the year, the area is blessed with sunny weather, and the warm summer and the ideal coldness in the winter are suitable for sake brewing. As the city is on the delta between the Naka River and the Hoki River, rice has been actively grown since a long time ago. The abundant subsoil water from Mount Nasu in the most northern part of the prefecture enables us to secure clean water which is necessary for sake production. Rice, water, and climate – all conditions are met and that is why the city is perfect for sake brewing. Because of that, there are 6 sake breweries in Otawara, the largest number in Tochigi.

In Otawara, there is Unganji Temple. It is a beautiful place, with peaceful and stunning gardens all year round. In the Edo period, haiku poet Basho also visited here during his long journey to north. He is one of the most famous travelogues ever, “Oku no Hosomichi”, or “The Narrow Road to the Deep North” inspires Japanese art and visitors to Tohoku.

Basho composed following poem in Unganji.

啄木鳥も庵は破らず夏木立
kitsutsuki mo io wa yaburazu natsu kodachi

Even the woodpeckers
Have left it untouched,
This tiny cottage
In a summer grove.

Unganji Google map

In the same city, Daoji is a Soto Zen temple that is more than 600 years old; it was established in 1404. The thatched buildings are amazing and the statues and gardens are really interesting. At Daioji Temple, you can practice Zen meditation under the guidance of a Zen priest.

Daoji Google map

Daioji: http://www.daiouji.or.jp
Zen meditation contact form http://www.daiouji.or.jp/inquiry.html
Tel: 81-287-54-0332

Tentaka Shuzo Co., Ltd. Home page

Tasting at home by amazon

Tentmaker Organic Junmai Daiginjo Gohyakumangoku 天鷹 有機 純米大吟醸  天鷹五百万石 720ml

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/11/22 (Thu)~2018/11/28 (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

“Kozaemon” & “Kikusakari” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Kozaemon, NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING CO., LTD. from Gifu prefecture, and Kikusakari, Kiuchi Brewery from Ibaraki prefecture.

Kozaemon (NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING CO., LTD.)

NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING is located in Mizunami city, Gifu. Gifu is a perfect place for sake production with its pristine mountains & water flowing from the Japanese Alps. Southern Gifu is large flat plain that is ideal for growing rice. It makes stunning Gifu Sake! There are over 50 breweries in Gifu itself. With tranquil mountainous landscapes and streets lined with traditional Japanese-style houses, Gifu makes you feel as if you’ve stepped into the Old Japan.

Throughout the prefecture, there are countless natural fountains pouring out mineral-rich, bubbling-hot water, making it a veritable hot spring paradise. And traditional crafts have historically been a central and thriving part of Gifu’s culture.

 

Kozaemon is made by small brewery in mountainous Mizunami city, Gifu. NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING is a local sake brewery with over 300 years of history since 1702. The “Kozaemon” brand was launched in 2001, which has become popular at home and abroad. The use of the subsoil water flowing from Mt. Byobu as its source brings out the full flavor of the rice. You can taste the nature of the Mino region, southern Gifu and the brewers’ reflections when savoring the “Kozaemon” products. Based on the idea of making a good match with any dish, NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING is dedicated to producing “umakuchi” sweet-smelling flavors with body and depth rather than crispy and dry “tanrei” flavors. The product line-up varies from pure rice sake to liquors.

Mizunami is a town set in a rich natural environment, with 70% of its land area covered by forests. Mizunami has also been famous since ancient times as one of the localities where Mino-yaki ceramics are made. Although production has diminished in recent years, the tradition of Mizunami as a source of Mino-yaki remains strong. Because Mizunami is a ceramics town, it’s a place where visitors can find exactly the local wares they’re looking for, from sake cups and decanters to serving dishes for snacks.

Mizunami Buono Pork

Mizunami Buono Pork has twice as much marbling as other domestically produced pork, with a juicy flavor and the strong, sweetness of fat, giving you the joyful taste of meat. Local restaurants use their own ingenuity to serve Mizunami BuonoPork dishes.

You can enjoy a taste of delicious sake and Mizunami Buono Pork served in a Mino-yaki.

NAKASHIMA SAKE BREWING CO., LTD. Home page

Tasting at home by amazon

Mino-yaki Sake set Japanese Sake Ceramic Set Featuring 1 Tokkuri Bottle and 2 Ochoko cups 黒水晶 徳利 & グイ呑 2個セット 陶器 美濃焼

Kikusakari (Kiuchi Brewery)

Kiuchi Sake brewery was established in 1823 by Gihei Kiuchi who was the village headman of Kounosu village, Naka County.

The water that gives life to KIKUSAKARI, is natural spring water from the well in our sake brewery. This water is soft water (close to medium hardness) which does not contain iron, organic matter etc. – the inhibitors of fermentation. There is a place named SAKAIDE about 1 kilometre east from our sake brewery, where there is an old legend that sake gushed out of a well there.

The plateau of Naka where Kiuchi Brewery is located is land rich in water and greenery between Kuji River – famous for its sweetfish – in the east and Naka River – famous for its salmon – in the west. Delicious sake was almost certainly brewed with this good quality water from long ago.

In recent years, their sake has been brewed with the young sensibility and original techniques of our master brewer while also continuing to use their inherited traditional techniques of Nanbu-Toji. By fusing the spirit of tradition and enterprise, they also challenge the new and the unconventional. They work every day by trial and error to brew a Japanese Sake that will be loved worldwide. The sake brewers of Kiuchi Brewery are also following their dreams.

Kiuchi Brewery Home page

Tasting at home by amazon

Kikusakari Junmai Ginjo【菊盛】 純米吟醸 720ml

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/11/21 (Wed)~2018/11/27 (Tue) 10:00~20:00

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