An unofficial guide to Yamaguchi Prefecture and its nihonshu
This junmai ginjo is a special bottling offered through a local sake shop, Nakashimaya, which also uses the business logo Marumi, which is the same character used in Bijin, hence the "Maru" in the name. Toyo "Maru" Bijin 55 Junmai Ginjo This sake is particularly special, as the sake shop has contracted with Sumikawa Shuzo... Continue Reading →
It appears a month has passed since my last post! How time flies. I haven't left sake behind, have no fear, I just seem to have been too busy to blog. But I have my notes, and there are some interesting things to report on. Yamaguchi's "other" famous brand, Toyo Bijin from Sumikawa Shuzo has... Continue Reading →
Toyobijin is not exactly what I'd call an unknown quantity. Sumikawa Shuzo received a similar boost in fame as Asahi Shuzo and Dassai when Prime Minister Shinzo Abe served it at a summit meeting with Vladimir Putin in Yamaguchi prefecture. Since then, their flagship label Toyobijin is everywhere, and has spun off into an almost... Continue Reading →
New year's in Japan is a big deal, more like Christmas in the USA than anything. Most everyone gets a long holiday, families gather together to celebrate the day, and lots of sake is drunk. Lots and lots of it. This is a time when sake is not only a nice way to lubricate those... 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 →
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 →
The sake world in Yamaguchi has been abuzz lately with some new faces. I previously talked a little about Abu no Tsuru, a re-opened kura under the sponsorship of Sumikawa Shuzo of Toyo Bijin fame. Sumikawa is also supporting another renewed kura, Ohmine. Ohmine's website says it was closed for 50 years, and reopened in... Continue Reading →
Twice a year, Yamaguchi sakagura and several gourmet Japanese restaurants near Tokuyama station in Shunan host the Guruguru Yamaguchi no Sake event. For a 7000 yen ticket, you get a name tag and the right to visit 5 restaurants, each of which hosts 1 or 2 different sake brewers for a tasting and pairing experience.... Continue Reading →
Yamaguchi Sake 