“Dewazakura” & “Matsunokotobuki” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Dewazakura, DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD from Yamagata prefecture, and Matsunokotobuki, Matsui Breweries Co Ltd. from Tochigi prefecture.

Dewazakura (DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD)

Dewazakura Sake Brewery was founded in 1892. It is is located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Tendo city is in the middle of Yamagata Prefecture. Situated in between mountains, it’s the perfect place for a quick getaway from a big city like Tokyo. If you’re planning to visit the Tohoku region, this is a perfect place to start. If you like soba, beef, delicious fruits and Shogi (Japanese chess- Tendo is the main producer in the whole country), Tendo is your perfect getaway destination.

Situated in the Yamagata Basin and surrounded by high mountains, Tendo City is hot in summer, often exceeding 35 degrees Celsius, and in the winter can receive considerable snowfall, often exceeding one meter in depth. These natural features, including the climate, have made the region a major production center of rice, fruits and other products. Using this great rice, they have been making sake by hand. For example, they use small tanks enough to handle manually. It makes precision temperature control possible, which in turn allows us to brew high-quality sake in small quantities.

Since the Edo era, Tendo has played an important role in the production and manufacture of Japanese “Shogi” chess pieces. Many events and games are organized through the year to celebrate the traditional game. The most famous is in spring when people dress up as human chess pieces for “Ningen Shogi” and play the game out on a human scale. Sit amongst the blooming trees and watch the human pieces play out games of Shogi.

Why don’t you watching “Ningen Shogi” while tasting Sake?

Tasting at home by amazon

Dewazakura Oka Ginjo 出羽桜酒造 出羽桜(でわざくら) 桜花 吟醸酒 720ml

DEWAZAKURA SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD Home page

Matsunokotobuki (Matsui Breweries Co Ltd.)

Shioya is a town located in near Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, in the northern Kanto region of Japan. Matsui Breweries is founded in 1865.

There is Shoujinzawa in Shioya district. It is famous for the beautiful stream and beautiful water spring. Shoujinzawa spring water is selected as one of the 100 exquisite and well conserved waters of Japan and the spring water representing Tochigi Prefecture. The temperature of the water is constant, around 11℃ even in summer. It is good spot to take a mystical photo in Shoujinzawa. Bring your tripod and camera with you and you can capture the sun light-beams through the trees in summer early morning.

On the hill behind the brewery also springs out natural water. It is super soft water. They use the water for brewing sake which makes their sake soft texture and fresh aroma.

Matsuno kotobuki Junmai ginjo Omachi is warded a Platinum medal in the Junmai Daiginjo & Junmai Ginjo category at the Kura Master 2018.

Tasting at home by amazon

Matsunokotobuki Junmai 松の寿 純米酒 720ml 1本

 

Matsui Breweries Co Ltd. Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/09/06 (Thu)~2018/09/12 (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

“Ginrei Gassan” & “Hatsuhinode” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Ginrei Gassan, GASSAN SAKE BREWERYCO.,LTD from Yamagata prefecture, and Hatsuhinode, Haneda Shuzo from Kyoto prefecture.

Ginrei Gassan (GASSAN SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD)

Gassan sake brewery is located in Sagae, Yamagata.

Yamagata Prefecture is situated on the Sea of Japan side of Japan’s Tohoku region. Located approximately 300 km north of Tokyo, it can be reached in about three hours via the Yamagata Shinkansen.

Sagae is a small town situated in the middle of Yamagata Prefecture, and is most famous for its delicious, homegrown cherries. It is accounting for 70% of Japan’s national production.

Meltwater from Mount Gassan, the highest peak of the Three Mountains of Dewa, filters down in a process that takes 300 to 400 years, emerging at the foot where the brewery is located.

It is not unusual to hear people say, “Yamagata sake are delicious.” So what makes them so good? There are many reasons. The first is Yamagata’s climate. The prefecture is known for its pure waters flowing from the surrounding mountains, high-quality rice, and severely cold winters, all of which are necessary for the brewing of delicious sake.

Moreover, Yamagata has an abundant supply of renowned mineral waters flowing from Mt. Chokai, Mt. Asahi, Mt. Chokai, and other nearby mountains. Each mountain range produces water with its own qualities, and this allows Yamagata to produce a rich variety of highly unique sake.

And lastly, there is the role that Yamagata’s brewers play in producing delicious sake. Almost all who are involved in Yamagata’s sake brewing were born in the prefecture, a characteristic that is quite rare nationally. The devotion and passion of these artisans have made Yamagata sake among the very best in Japan.

Tasting at home by amazon

銀嶺月山 月山の雪 純米吟醸 Ginrei Gassan Junmai ginjo Gassan No Yuki1.8L【山形県/月山酒造】

Awarded a Platinum Medal in the Junmai Daiginjo & Junmai Ginjo category at the Kura Master 2018.

GASSAN SAKE BREWERY CO.,LTD Home page

 

Hatsuhinode (Haneda Shuzo)

Haneda Shuzo was established in 1893 as a brewer of junmai and honjozo sake. This brewery is located about an hour’s drive north-west of the centre of Kyoto, within the Kitayama mountains.

The rural atmosphere of the mountainous area of north has its unique characteristics. It is said that the clear, crisp flavors of Haneda’s sake reflect the dense forests and pure waters of the brewery’s surrounding landscape.

The rivers flowing in the east side of brewery are Kami Katsura (upstream of Katsura River) and Yuge River and Hosono River which flow out of Kami Katsura River. In early summer you can see fireflies which means the river is clean and not polluted by agricultural pesticides or synthetic detergent. It is also a great spot for Ayu Fishing in summer time.

Water is the most important ingredient for the production of sake. One of famous brewing water in Kyoto, Fushimi’s underground water contains the perfect amount of minerals, making it a medium hard water (80mg/L – 90mg/L), which gives sake a smooth, soft and mellow texture. On the other hand, Kami Katsura River’s underground water contains higher mineral (130mg/L). This hard water makes Haneda’s sake rich flavor and crisp finish.

Tasting at home by amazon

初日の出 純米吟醸原酒 六友(リクユウ)Hatsuhinode Junmai ginjo genshu Rikuyuu720ml

DATE AND TIME

2018/08/23 (Thu)~2018/08/29 (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

“Eikofuji” & “Gangi” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Eikofuji, Fuji Shuzo from Yamagata prefecture, and Gangi, Yaoshin Shuzo from Yamaguchi prefecture.

Eikofuji (Fuji Shuzo)

Yamagata is one of the most prized sake-making regions in Japan, known for its fruity, aromatic, light and clean ginjo and daiginjo sake. An impressive 60% of the sake made in Yamagata is Ginjo level and above, the highest percentage of any prefecture in Japan. There are about 50 breweries in Yamagata, all of which are small and artisanal.

Fuji Shuzo is located in Tsuruoka, Yamagata. Tsuruoka City is one of the major cities in Yamagata Prefecture’s Shonai area along the coast of the Sea of Japan. In addition to bordering the Sea of Japan, the Shonai plains produce one of the best rice crops in Japan, and the Shonai area is home to the three mountains of the Dewa Sanzan, Mt. Haguro, Mt. Gassan, and Mt. Yudono. The rich natural blessings of the sea, mountains, and plains make Shonai a wonderful place for Sake.

The rice cultivated in Shonai region has been proven to contain more umami taste than any other kind of rice by Keio University in 2014. Hence, the sake brewed from this rice is taste-rich and has a particular aftertaste that will delight any sake enthusiast.

Eikofuji, which means “Glorious Mount Fuji” in honor of Japan’s most beloved symbol. Striving to attain the same height in perfection, every sake is brewed with pure-hearted skill and collaborative effort.

Tasting at home by amazon

山形のお酒、栄光冨士 純米 庄内平野 Eikofuji Junmai Shonai heiya 720ml(四合)瓶 化粧箱入

Used typical Yamagata table rice “Haenuki”.
Gorgeous ginjo aroma. Soft texture Umami particular table rice.
As the name indicates, a refreshing feeling and freshness fluty taste and a pleasant finish.

Fuji Shuzo Home page

 

Gangi (Yaoshin Shuzo)

Yaoshin Shuzo is located beside the river mouse of Nishiki River in Yamaguchi prefecture. Gangi means the special pier to land sake brewery rice comes from the upstream of river.

In ancient time, it was common to transport brewery rice through the river. Yaoshin Shuzo has experience one huge hard time caused from the change of natural environment. Through this experience, they have understood the greatness of nature, and decided to produce only produce Junmai type sake.

“Don’t put any additional ingredients and too much hands of human” is Yaoshin Shuzo policy. They know the nature is greater than human being and sake is the gift from nature. What only human needs to do is organizing the environment to let nature bring their potential out and selecting the rice and water suit with the brewing environment of Gangi.

Especially, water is the key factor of Gangi style. Yaoshin Shuzo have experienced a serious problem caused from water, so that they know the importance of water more than other breweries.

Tasting at home by amazon

These two Gangi awarded Platinum Medals in the Junmai Daiginjo & Junmai Ginjo category at the Kura Master 2018.

雁木 純米大吟醸 鶺鴒(がんぎせきれい)Gangi Junmai Daiginjo Sekirei 720ml 化粧箱入

DATE AND TIME

2018/08/15 (Wed)~2018/08/21 (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