An unofficial guide to Yamaguchi Prefecture and its nihonshu
This is a blast from the past for me, as it's one of the first sakes I tried when I was just getting into the drink 10 or so years ago. It was the premier label of Yamagata Honten back then, before Moriko and Bochozuru, and when I visited the kura I had some straight... Continue Reading →
SO to finish up what I started in my last post, I'll talk this time about the third and final sakagura featured on this tour: Hatsumomiji (self-styled Hatsumimidi). This is a very interesting case, since Hatsumomidi is the only kura in Shunan to brew year-round in the Shikijozo style. The others all brew only in... 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 →
This sake presents an odd situation. I bought it when I noticed the "sub heading" Sugihime. That's the main label for Yamaguchi city brewery Yamashiroya, and indeed Yamashiroya is listed on the label...but, on closer inspection, as the "sales point." Huh? Indeed, the maker is listed as Yamagata Honten of Shunan, the first brewery I... 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 →
This article was first published October 12, 2012 for the gentlemen's grooming site Sharpologist. The text remains as-is, but I have updated with some notes where appropriate.
This article was originally published March 6, 2011, on my blog "A Loss For Words" (now defunct.) The picture quality is...not the best, but it was a different time, then. Links and a few terms have been updated to reflect changes in website and education. Last weekend we had the good luck to get a... Continue Reading →
Yamaguchi Sake 