For those wondering about the "out with the old" part, I guess I'd point you toward the latest issue of my newsletter, the Ochoko Times, in which I talk about my Sake of the Year 2022 (Spoiler alert: Ibi Barrel). Here, I want to look forward to 2023. Whether the pandemic has subsided or not,... Continue Reading →
Background domain changes/housekeeping
For longtime followers, some of your links or RSS feeds might go through an old domain: EasternSmooth.com or easternsmoothcom.wordpress.com. I'm going to let that expire and focus on the Yamaguchisake.com domain, so now might be a good time to update any of those old links. The internal address is yamaguchisake.wordpress.com as well, for any that... Continue Reading →
Futsushu Trail – Part Three
Two more quality josen from Yamaguchi's local sake breweries.
The Futsushu Trail Continues
Astonishing. It's been eight months since my last post here! Thank M*sk for waking me up to how much time I've been wasting on Twitter and reminding me that I have other places to put my thoughts down. So, here we are back on the Yamaguchi sake futsushu trail, looking for all the single-serving sized... Continue Reading →
On The Futsushu Trail – Eastern Yamaguchi
Why, yes! I do, still have a blog! I am a documented fan of futsushu, the humble king of Japan's sake industry. This reasonably priced, mass-market sake might not get a lot of headlines, but it still accounts for over 60% of all the sake made and sold in Japan. Many--most--sake breweries make futsushu as... Continue Reading →
Tasting – Ride? Black 2021
Gokyo brewer Sakai Shuzo's Ride? Black was my favorite sake of 2020. This super-limited release is part of the brewery's annual Nomi no Ichi event, which in past years focused on bringing together its contract shops to taste special, rare brews to bid on which shop would carry them. The last two Nomi no Ichi... Continue Reading →
Tasting – Wakamusume Usuhanazakura
Wakamusume Usuhanazakura Junmai Ginjo, Saito no Shizuku Rice, Seimaibuai 60% Local nano-brewery Shintani Shuzo has become enormously popular after winning platinum in the 2020 KuraMaster awards in France, and now is basically only available by reservation. I luckily got my name on a list for this latest namagenshu pressing. I'm a big fan of Wakamusume,... Continue Reading →
Tasting – Dassai Kimoto 45
Despite the fact that Asahi Shuzo is a mere 30 minute drive from my house, I just don't drink that much Dassai. I suppose it's just too ubiquitous, too famous, and, well, too expensive for me to pay much attention to. I genuinely feel like Yamaguchi has such an embarrassment of riches when it comes... Continue Reading →
Tasting – Tenbi Junmai Ginjo
Choshu Shuzo is now well into the middle of its first brewing season, and toji Fujioka Miki has shipped out several batches of sake so far. I missed the last Tokubetsu Junmai, so I got hold of this third Junmai Ginjo to see how it has progressed since its first batch. Tenbi Junmai Ginjo, Nama... Continue Reading →
Tasting – Harada Junmai Daiginjo
Harada Junmai Daiginjo, Rice Choshu Yamadanishiki Tokujo, Seimaibuai: 40% I rang in the New Year with a bottle of Hatsumomiji Shuzo's super premium Harada Junmai Daiginjo. This one is made with Yamadanishiki sake rice grown locally in Yamaguchi prefecture (the historical name for this area is Choshu). The rice is also ranked Tokujo, which is... Continue Reading →
Yamaguchi Sake 