By Ryuji TakahashiAt the time this article was being written, over half of the Japanese population had received the second COVID-19 shot. As the number of cases started to decline, the state of emergency declaration was soon to be lifted in various areas. Restaurants and liquor shops were looking fo...

By Ryuji TakahashiRecently, the Japanese sake contest “Kura Master” held annually in France for French competitors announced the 2021 winners of the “5th Kura Master.” The sake contest held annually in France since 2017 is judged by judges based in Europe consisting of members holding the prestigiou...

By Ryuji TakahashiA state of emergency was declared in Tokyo from July 12 to August 22, the fourth declared in Tokyo stopped the provision of alcohol and drove restaurants and liquor stores into yet another difficult situation. Izakaya restaurants of major restaurant chains closed one after another,...

By Ryuji Takahashi Ichinomiya Sake Brewery is located at the entrance of the Iwami Ginzan Silver Mine (Oda city, Shimane prefecture), registered as a World Heritage Site in 2007. Fastidious about their sake rice, Ichinomiya Sake Brewery uses underground water flowing from Mt. Sanbe to produce their ...

By Ryuji TakahashiAs the coronavirus vaccination started in Japan, the light at the end of the tunnel signals an end to the coronavirus pandemic despite more people getting infected. Japan declared the third state of emergency for Tokyo, requested large facilities to suspend operations, and restaura...

By Ryuji TakahashiSasaiwai Sake Brewery is a locally cherished sake brewery in Niigata prefecture always taking on new challenges, boasting over 100 years of history since its foundation in 1899. This brewery is known for its “challenge brew” involving farmers, sake retail shops, and consumers to ex...

By Ryuji TakahashiAny Japanese national is familiar with the beef bowl chain, Yoshinoya Co., Ltd. Founded in Tokyo’s Nihonbashi district in 1899, Yoshinoya since relocated to the Tsukiji Market (currently closed since the market relocated to the Toyosu area). The restaurant chain was named after its...

By Ryuji TakahashiWhen Japanese sake is introduced overseas, sake is often explained in terms of wine. When I’m requested to organize a sake seminar o...

When you quarantine in Tokyo, Tokyo Metropolitan Government send you care packages to where you are quarantined. I did not know about it until I saw t...

By Ryuji TakahashiCelebrating the New Year, Tokyo is still in the middle of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic. I finished my work for 2020 on January 1, and started my New Years holiday on January 2. However, drinking at home is nothing different from the ordinary, so I attended a live jazz performa...