The site Pouch reports on more labels and more crowdfunding – this time for two sake with labels showing icons from the Shibuya district of Tokyo.
Writer Tabata Anji comments that although Shibuya is usually in the top two when it comes to places to see in Tokyo, it doesn’t have much in the way of Shibuya-specific omiyage (souvenirs/gifts). So along comes a crowdfunding campaign on the Makuake site called “Shibuya de kanpai!! Shibuya ni kanpai!!” (渋谷で乾杯!! シブヤにカンパイ!!, Cheers in Shibuya!! Cheers to Shibuya!!)
The campaign is was started by the Shibuya City Official Tourism Association in an attempt to create an “official” souvenir for the district. The labels show the two most famous sights in Shibuya, the “Shibuya scramble” crossing (that you’ve seen in endless stock photographs) and the statue of the dog Hachiko that is one of the meeting points outside the station (or was, it’s now so crowded that there’s no point trying to find someone there).
The label designs are meant to be sophisticated but still endearing, stylish yet simple. The endearing element may be particularly important for a souvenir meant to represent a tourist area. The bottles themselves are light blue, which the labels white with dark blue and grey
The different labels are also for two different sake, both junmai ginjō.
- “Passing by on the Shibuya Scramble” contains sake from Kazuma Shuzo in Ishikawa Prefecture, described as having a melon-like fruity aroma and a refreshing mouthfeel that still carries the umami of the rice
- “Meeting at the Shibuya Hachiko Park” has sake from the Takarayama brewery in Niigata Prefecture, described as having a fresh, muscat-like aroma and dry character.
Levels for backing the crowdfunding start at JPY 3,200 (including tax), and the article warns that if the goal is not reached then there is no contract of sale.
I know that the last brewery in Tokyo’s central 23 wards is closing, but I’m a bit surprised that a project for the Tokyo district of Shibuya wouldn’t look to breweries in the greater Tokyo area instead of going as far out as Niigata and Ishikawa.
Links
- Original article (Japanese, Pouch, 7 January 2018) See here for images of the bottles and labels.
- Shibuya City Official Tourism Association (Japanese)
- Kazuma brewery (Japanese)
- Kazuma brewery (English)
- Takarayama brewery (Japanese)