Sake Today

Doi Shuzo’s Sword of the Sun and Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here for a relaxing evening… what music do you listen to while sipping?

Of interesting note, they have an extensive selection of one-cup sake. The shop is a relatively easy walk from Higashi-Nakano Station (northwest of Shinjuku). If you’re looking for a bite nearby, check out Tama Sushi, Heihachi (yakitori), or just a few doors down, Spice Bay SUZU (excellent curry).

Ajinomachidaya is a bottle shop in western Tokyo that should be on your sake map. Founded in 1952, they offer a range of alcohol products, including shochu, whisky, craft beer, and wine, but excel when it comes to sake, especially local/craft sake. They’re not just retailers, but curators of taste.

If you’re in Japan, though, seek out Kaiun, too.

Now, back to that first question… what was the sake that turned on your love light?

The sake was clean and refreshing, but also had intriguing depth and complexity. I later discovered that it’s wonderful when heated, too. In our previous post, we featured the brewery’s other brand line, Takatenjin, which you can easily find in export markets like the U.S.

Having been a long-time Shizuoka resident, he recommended Kaiun. My local stand bar/liquor store at the time, Motomachi Aichiya in Yokohama (worth visiting if you’re ever in the area!), had a bottle of their junmai ginjo.

The story goes like this: over 15 years ago, before starting Sake Today, I bought my first guinomi (ceramic sake cup) from Robert Yellin’s Yakimono Gallery in Kyoto, and I asked him for a sake recommendation to enjoy with my new piece of art.

What was the sake that turned on your love light?

This is a question we often ask sake professionals in our interviews. For me (this is Sake Today publisher Ry writing), it was Kaiun by Doi Shuzōjō (@kaiun.doishuzojo, featured in ST33).

How was the idea for baba ghanoush and sake born? It comes up in our interview with sake doyenne Monica Samuels in our recent issue, Sake Today 44, and we provide a simple recipe in the issue as well. Enjoy your sipping and dipping! www.saketoday.com/get-the-maga...

Baba ghanoush and sake? Oh yes, it works quite well. We like pairing ours with Sword of the Sun by Takatenjin, a versatile honjozo we find ourselves drinking quite often (one of those we ask our local bottle shop to keep stocked). We featured the Shizuoka-based brewery (Doi Shuzōjō) in ST33.

We featured it in Sake Today 43 and the article is on our website: www.saketoday.com/izumibashiro...

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Izumibashi opened a beautiful new tasting room housed in a refurbished storehouse on their property that retains elements of the traditional architecture with chic modern design. There’s a tour and tasting session, too.

There are only a few thousand bottles in the wild in America, France, and England. A real treat if you have the opportunity to try some.

A few weeks ago, at the JFC San Francisco Sake Expo & Food Show, we got to try Daishichi’s The Gate, a collaboration with French sommelier and Kura Master founder Xavier Thuizat (featured in ST40). It’s a wonderfully complex but silky sake that owes its character to assemblage (blending).

Sekiya Jôzô (see previous posts, too) offers authentic Japanese dining experiences in its two restaurants in downtown Nagoya. One is in a beautifully refurbished storehouse from the 19th century, the other in Hisaya-odori Park.

We featured Sekiya in Sake Today 20: www.saketoday.com/sekiya-jozo/

If you visit the Houraisen Sake Lab in Aichi (see previous post), grab a casual lunch in the Michi no Eki Shitara facilities, in which the lab is located. The cafeteria serves delicious curry made with sake lees from the brewery, and you can buy an exclusive bottle of Shitara sake made in the lab.

It takes 3~4 weeks, but they can ship it to your lodgings or residence in Japan, or arrange to have it shipped overseas. We’ve posted the feature (originally in ST32) on our website if you scroll down to “Breweries, Places to Drink & More”: www.saketoday.com

It’s remote, yes, but the area has stunning vistas, castle ruins, craft stores, and other attractions through the seasons. Sake Lab staff give meticulous instruction as you brew and you’re able to receive your sake later.

Genuine sake brewing experiences are still rare in Japan, but Sekiya Jozo in Aichi Prefecture has been offering one–a really good one–for several years with Houraisen Sake Lab. It’s located in the mountain town of Shitara, to the northeast of Nagoya city, in the Shitara Michi no Eki facility. 🧵

The old architecture provides a lovely environment for enjoying their seasonal meals. And yes, there’s English support, online reservations, takeaway bottle options… everything you need for a memorable sake experience.

www.mukune.com

Speaking of Daimon (see previous post), we showcased the brewery’s cafe-restaurant Mukune in our recent issue’s main feature on Osaka. This is definitely the destination in Osaka if you’re hoping for some hearty food and great sake inside a traditional brewery building. (1/2)

Where’d you pick that up?

Another regular in our ‘at home’ rotation is Daimon’s Road to Osaka, a light, lyrical nigori with subtle fruitiness. Pairs well with dried fruits, yoga, and Netflix. We don’t say this about many nigori, but this one is ‘must try’. Yes, must try not to drink it all so quickly…

And yes, we always drink from ceramics (these are by one of favorites, Inayoshi Osamu).

We featured the brewery, Doi Shuzo, in Sake Today 33. And there’s another reason we like them… stay tuned (for the next post tomorrow).

While we’ve got you here… what do YOU drink at home?

“So what do you drink at home?”

It’s a question we get often when talking with people. Takatenjin’s Sword of the Sun is a regular in our rotation of liquid bliss. Good, clean flavor for a good price, versatile with food, or delicious to drink as is.

It’s a pleasant walk from Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion) and the Philosopher’s Path, where you’ll also find the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery, mentioned earlier in this series on strolling through Kyoto.

Our walking routes around Kyoto are often about sake, but not always! Sometimes it’s important to find an old neighborhood or scenic spot where you can enjoy the quiet. When we need to recharge, the Shisendo Temple is one we’ll usually visit.

Another good stop during your Kyoto stroll, especially if you’ve worked up an appetite, is Sake Hall Masuya (also detailed in Sake Today 42). It offers casual, izakaya-style food with a good sake menu (including flights) and nicely designed interior.

Located on Yanagikoji Street in the Kawaramachi area, the place offers plenty of small, izakaya-style dishes that you can pair with an array of affordable sake flights. Drop in alone or with friends! (2/2)

Returning to our sake stroll in Kyoto (as featured in ST42), a fun, intimate joint with a community table (except for a couple of tables in the scenic alley outside) is Syuten Nishikawa. (1/2)