By Ryuji TakahashiJapanese sake sells most in the month of December. To say cheap sake, high-end sake, and sake products containing gold flakes all se...

The Onin War (1467) prompted a civil war in Japan, a period of unrest when warriors fought for power nationwide.Products started to circulate actively in castle towns of warring lords and around temples and shrines. Local sake excluding “Soubousyu” (sake produced in Buddhist temples by monks) expand...

By Ryuji TakahashiBetween Shinjuku district and Hatsudai district is an area traditionally called the Jyunisou district on the west side of Shinjuku C...

By Ryuji TakahashiKanemasu Brewery (Shibata city, Niigata prefecture), producer of Junmai Daiginjo “Hatsuhana” and “Kinmasu,” celebrated 200 years sin...

By Kosuke KujiHokkaido prefecture is fast garnering attention as home to one of several new locations of Kamikawa Taisetsu Sake Brewery, featured in the last report. Another reason Hokkaido is garnering attention is a sake brewery in Gifu prefecture relocated their entire sake brand to produce sake ...

By Ryuji TakahashiChinese restaurant Machi-chuka is a secret fad in Tokyo. Machi-chuka was featured on TV and also in an entire magazine issue. Recently, one food producer is selling pre-packaged food products and condiments named the “Machi-chuka series,” currently in demand and difficult to obtain...

By Ryuji TakahashiThis summer was too hot in Japan. The temperature seems to be rising every year. These days, exceeding 104 degF is more common. This...

By Ryuji TakahashiThe previous report featured the “Fujisaki Sobei Shoten.” I’m sure some readers may think traveling to Nagatoro-machi (town) just to visit the Nagatoro-gura brewery is a long way to go. I recommend traveling by car to visit the Nagatoro-gura brewery. Readers may not recommend drivi...

By Ryuji TakahashiThis report is a continuation of the previous report on my trip to Niigata prefecture. Ten minutes driving distance from Nagaoka Station, the main destination of this trip, I headed to a long-established yakiniku (Japanese-style Korean BBQ) restaurant, “Sutamina-En.” This yakiniku ...

By Ryuji TakahashiLast year, many could not travel to their hometown due to the impact from the coronavirus, thus celebrated the year-end/New Year at home. For this reason, Japanese sake sold in high volumes compared to the end of the previous year. High-end sake over 10,000 JPY also sold in high qu...