Living the Sake Life in Yamaguchi, Japan
In a recent wander around the shopping streets surrounding Tokuyama Station, I found what you might actually call my holy land: a new bar dedicated (almost) solely to sake. Kokushu (͡國酒) opened in March of this year and offers pretty much one thing: All you can drink nihonshu (they do have a little machine dispensing... Continue Reading →
I'm beginning to feel I have some kind of karmic connection to Nakajimaya. Every sake event I go to I run into the same young staff member, and he always talks me into trying something new. When people ask me for recommendations, I always find that their specific event needs seem to call for one... Continue Reading →
Saturday, October 27th was Shunan city's 2nd annual Jizake Yokocho local sake Fair. 16 sakagura from all over Yamagata were there offering their wares, including some rarities I've never seen anywhere locally. A group of friends and I went to give our lovers a workout, and it was pure fun. None of the kura were... Continue Reading →
This is a mysterious sake! What fun! In my quest to find all the sakagura in Yamaguchi, I was surprised to find a couple in Shunan (very near to my house) that I'd never heard of, including one that I'd literally walked past before without realizing: Tominaga Shuzo. I decided to drop by, because research... Continue Reading →
If anyone out there is in the eastern Yamaguchi area, I'm having a sake event! I'm hosting a very simple sake label-reading class and tasting at Tokuyama Station Library, and afterward we're going on a short tour of Hatsumomidi kura. You can sign up and get more info here: Facebook link Meetup Link It's free,... Continue Reading →
Shunan city, which is just a short drive or train ride from me here, is home to a surprising number of sakagura. The local tourist association has decided to capitalize on that by setting up what they call Takushu: a taxi tour of the three kura closest to Tokuyama station. (The name is a pun... Continue Reading →
The other evening, at the Toyobijin no Kai, an employee of Nakashima Sake shop mentioned that I should try to put together a sake group for foreign residents. I wasn't so sure about it myself, since there just aren't that many around these parts, I have no idea how popular sake is with the local... Continue Reading →
In my recent pursuit to learn as much as possible about the local sake world, I've tried to join as many events as I can. It's not only a good chance to drink some sake, but also to experience the cultural and social aspects of the drink, as well as meet some great people. This... Continue Reading →
In the cup this time is a limited Junmai Daiginjo from Shunan city's own Yamagata Honten. This bottle is named after and dedicated to Yoshida Shoin, a historical figure from Hagi, Yamaguchi, who was somewhat influential in the Meiji Restoration as a teacher of many of the more famous figures. The man himself died young... Continue Reading →
