“Chiyonokame” & “Kawanakajima Gembu” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro


You can taste Chiyonokame, CHIYONOKAME-SHUZO INC. from Ehime prefecture, and Kawanakajima Gembu, SHUSEN KURANO INC. from Nagano prefecture.

Chiyonokame (CHIYONOKAME-SHUZO INC.)

CHIYONOKAME SHUZO is located in Uchiko, Ehime, was founded in 1716. Uchiko is a charming historic town and easily accessible via a 25-min train ride from Matsuyama. Matsuyama is the capital city of Ehime Prefecture on Japan’s Shikoku Island.

From the Edo period (1603-1867) to the Meiji period (1868-1912) the Yokaichi & Gokoku Historic District Preservation Zone prospered as a manufacturing centre of vegetable wax. From the district’s acquired fortune came the construction of many solid, elegant houses. The ground breaking preservation movement of the historic district in Uchiko began in 1972. In 1982, Uchiko became the first town in Shikoku to have one of Japan’s designated Important Preservation Districts for Groups of Traditional Buildings.

Although they have 300 years history, they do not get stuck in the past, keep trying new challenge. Recently Chiyonokame has begun to cultivate sake rice with contracted local farmer and try not to use excessive pesticide. In order to deepen understanding of rice, they also participates from rice planting. To make delicious sake, strict hygiene management and precise temperature control are essential. They store sake under the air-conditioning system in modern clean storage.

Rifu is a robust, dry sake with a mellow aroma reminiscent of fresh pear. Rifu was served at the 2008 Cannes International Film Festival reception party and received high praise from guests.

CHIYONOKAME-SHUZO INC. Home page

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Chiyo no Kame junmai ginjo Green label 千代の亀 純米吟醸 (緑ラベル) 1800ml

 

 

Kawanakajima Gembu (SHUSEN KURANO INC.)

Sake Brewery, SHUSEN KURANO was founded in Kawanakajima, Nagano, in 1540. Kawanakajima is blessed with beautiful nature and clear spring water. Shusen-kurano is one of the oldest Sake breweries in Japan with a long history of more than 460 years. One of the major wars, the Battle of Kawanakajima, was fought in here during the civil war period, the Sengoku of Japan in the 16th century. Most likely, famous samurai generals such as TAKEDA Shingen and UESUGI Kenshin tasted their sake.

The Sengoku was a century-long period of political upheaval and warlordism in Japan, lasting from the Onin War of 1467–77 through the reunification of the country around 1598. It was a lawless era of civil war, in which the feudal lords of Japan fought one another in endless plays for land and power. Although the political entities that were fighting were actually just domains, the Sengoku is sometimes referred to as Japan’s “Warring States” Period.

Kenshin is sometimes referred to as “The Dragon of Echigo” because of his fearsome skills in the martial arts displayed on the battlefield. His rival Takeda Shingen was called “The Tiger of Kai”.

Takeda Shingen was an ideas man, an exceptional general famous for his tactical genius, and his innovations. He was an asset to his father from an early age, playing a major role in the Battle of Un no Kuchi in 1536, at the age of just 15. When his father, for some unknown reason, announced his second son as heir, Shingen led a bloodless coup, sending his father into custodial retirement. As undisputed leader of the Takeda clan, he commenced his expansionist policies, seeing action in the Battle of Sezawa, the sieges of Uehara, Kuwabara and Fukuyo, Battles of Ankokuji, Odaihara, Shiojiritoge etcetera, and the famed series of Battles of Kawanakajima against Uesugi Kenshin.

Kenshin was one of the most powerful daimyos of the Sengoku period. While chiefly remembered for his prowess on the battlefield, Kenshin is also regarded as an extremely skillful administrator who fostered the growth of local industries and trade; his rule saw a marked rise in the standard of living of Echigo. He was also known as a heavy drinker.

Kenshin’s death poem was: 四十九年一睡夢 一期栄華一盃酒

Even a life-long prosperity is but one cup of sake; A life of forty-nine years is passed in a dream; I know not what life is, nor death. Year in year out-all but a dream. Both Heaven and Hell are left behind; I stand in the moonlit dawn, Free from clouds of attachment.

The Battle of Kawanakajima became one of the most cherished tales in Japanese military history, the epitome of Japanese chivalry and romance, mentioned in epic literature, woodblock printing and movies.

Once the location of the headquarters of the army of Shingen Takeda during the Battle of Kawanakajima, Hachimanpara today is opened to the public as a historic park filled with greenery. 12,000 ㎡ of artificially made hills covered with grass, the murmur of the brook with arranged natural rocks, and an arbor with a classical thatched roof are some of the qualities that bring relaxation to the locals. Adjoining to the City Museum, the old battlefield of Kawanakajima and Hachimansha, it is the best spot to enjoy the historic walk.

SHUSEN KURANO INC. Home page

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Kawanakajima Tasting set 720ml 3bottles【日本酒】株式会社酒千蔵野川中島純米にごり酒&特別純米酒720ml【日本酒】株式会社 酒千蔵野 川中島 純米にごり酒&特別純米酒 720ml 【3本化粧箱付】

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/11/07 (Wed)~2018/11/13 (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

“Yamatan-masamune” & “Sawanoi” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Yamatan-masamune, Yagi Shuzobu from Ehime prefecture, and Sawanoi, OZAWA SHUZO CO.,LTD. from Tokyo prefecture.

Yamatan-masamune (Yagi Shuzobu)

The Yagi Shuzobu founded in 1831. It is located in Imabari city, Ehime. Imabari city is the second largest city in Ehime. In the center of the city lies Imabari Castle. It was built by Todo Takatora in 1604. The castle is unusual in that seawater is used in its moat. The coast around Imabari is very attractive, and the beaches along the Seto Inland Sea are good for swimming. They’re characterized by orangey-yellow sand, backed with picturesque pines that give off a pleasant scent in the heat of summer. Imabari city is the starting point of “Shimanami Kaido”. It is an extremely popular destination for cyclists from around the world. The series of bridges makes an approx. 70 kilometer-ride, links Onomichi, Hiroshima Prefecture. The cycling on the bridges over Seto Inland Sea under the blue sky will make your journey memorable.

In the Yagi Shuzobu, they challenge to brew the fermentation process takes place in a Kame (large crock). Nowadays stainless steel tank is mainstream but Kame has got microscopic holes that allow them to breathe, which makes them great for fermentation.

The thick ceramic wall creates a more stable fermentation temperature, resulting in sake with a greater depth of flavor. On the other hand it is difficult to adjust temperature in the fermentation process and need to be handled very carefully.

Yagi Shuzobu is aiming to brew more delicious sake to revive traditional method.

Yagi Shuzobu Home page

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Yamatan-masamune Shizuku hime Junmai ginjo 山丹正宗 しずく媛 純米吟醸 720ml

Fruity fragrance and a gentle, mild flavor.

 

Sawanoi (OZAWA SHUZO CO.,LTD.)

Ozawa Shuzo is located in Ome City, in the western part of Tokyo (3 minute walk from Sawai station on the JR Ome line). There are spectacular views of mountains and the Mitake valley in Okutama as well as sake breweries, restaurants, shops, art museums, allowing visitors to enjoy a full day here.

There are guided tours of the factory followed by a free tasting of the final product at 11am, 1pm, 2pm and 3pm each day. It’s free to take the tour, but participation is by reservation only, so you’ll need to call (or get a Japanese friend to call for you) to assure your place. At the start of the tour, you’ll be given an English pamphlet explaining the process of making sake. The tour itself though, is conducted entirely in Japanese. Even if you can’t follow everything, the tour should still be interesting. The oldest of the buildings dates back to at least 1702. You can also view the original spring from which Sawanoi’s product is produced. There are also the special tours (held a few times a month) which are whole conducted in English.

OZAWA SHUZO CO.,LTD. Home page

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Sawanoi Tasting set 720ml×3bottles 澤乃井 飲みくらべセット KS-370 (720ml×3本) [東京都]

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/10/03 (Wed)~2018/10/09 (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

“Hakuba Nishiki” & “Kagiya” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Hakuba Nishiki, Usui Shoten Inc. from Nagano prefecture, and Kagiya, Seiryo Shuzo from Ehime prefecture.

Hakuba Nishiki (Usui Shoten Inc.)

Founded in 1906.
At the “London Sake Challenge 2013” held in Harrods, London’s renowned department store, this sake brewery won both the Gold and Silver awards, considered the highest honor, for three of their ginjoshu sake varieties for two consecutive years.
The rice used in this brewery is grown by contract farmers who have received the license as a local “eco-friendly farmer.”

白馬錦 大吟醸 麗酒 うららしゅ Hakubanishiki Daiginjo Urarasyu 720ml 薄井商店 【 信州長野の地酒 】

Awarded a Platinum medal in the London Sake Challenge 2018.

Usui Shoten Inc. Home page

 

Kagiya (Seiryo Shuzo)

Founded in 1877, Seiryo Shuzo is located in Saijo City, known as the Capital of Water, in Ehime Prefecture. Primarily utilizing locally sourced Ehime Prefecture cultivated sake rice, Seriyo Shuzo brews sake in the mild winter months with a team of five, including the brewmaster. The brewery motto is “sake is crafted using dreams and heart.” From the rice fields to the bottle, the brewery strives to produce better sake year over year. They seek to put smiles on the faces of everyone who drinks their sake.

伊予賀儀屋 熟成 純米 無濾過 生詰 Iyo Kagiya Junmai Red-label 1800ml

Awarded a Gold medal in the Junmai Daiginjo & Junmai Ginjo category at the Kura Master 2018.

Unfiltered Sake. Muroka Sakes skip the Activated Carbon Filtration process after brewing. Kagiya sakes are all unfiltered, so as to ensure retention of the natural Umami of traditional Sake. Light Junmai Ginjo sake clearly retaining rice umami flavors.

Seiryo Shuzo Home page

 

DATE AND TIME

2018/8/9 (Thu) – 8/15(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