Sake News from Japan

Passing the torch – bringing on the next generation

Passing the torch – bringing on the next generation

The Softbank Business & IT site reports on the Manufacturing Japan Summit 2018, where companies like Hakutsuru, Kikkoman and Sanoh talked about how they train new employees and pass on expertise. The panel was tackling the question of how to maintain core...

Sake outside Osaka Station

Sake outside Osaka Station

The NewsWalker site reports on a brewery-run sake bar/cafe just outside Osaka Station. Miyagegō Fukuju in the Osaka Ekimae Daiichi Building is run by the Fukuju brewery, based in the famous Nada area. Fukuju also operate another direct sales outlet not far away, the...

Sake in the air: JAL First Class sake for March

Sake in the air: JAL First Class sake for March

The Mainichi newspaper reports on more sake taking to the air - this time the Izumo-Fuji brewery's Ama no Murakumo (Clouds Obscuring the Heavens) being served on internal JAL flights. The junmai daiginjō is the selected sake for March in first class. It's made with...

Niigata University founds Sakeology Centre

Niigata University founds Sakeology Centre

The Niigata Nippo More news site reports on the founding of the Sakeology Centre, Niigata University (SCNU). The university held a press conference in the Chuo (central) ward of Niigata City on 9 March to announce that the new centre will open in April 2018, and serve...

Tasting: Nigori and chocolate 2

Tasting: Nigori and chocolate 2

We're back for more nigori and chocolate! We enjoyed the first attempt to ask "does nigori go with chocolate?" so much (mainly by countering with "which form of chocolate?") that we wrote up a short list of what other forms we'd like to try and after a brief trip to...

Brewery visit: Tonoike/Sanran, Mashiko (Part 2)

Brewery visit: Tonoike/Sanran, Mashiko (Part 2)

If you missed Part 1 of the Tonoike/Sanran brewery visit, click here to read it. The Tonoike brewery - known for its Sanran sake and Mashiko no Honō shōchū - isn’t a tiny brewery, but they deliberately keep things small-scale. Our first stop was the rice washing...

Brewery Visit: Tonoike/Sanran, Mashiko 17 November 2017

Brewery Visit: Tonoike/Sanran, Mashiko 17 November 2017

NOTE: As John Gauntner has pointed out (Sakagura tourism? Not so fast!) breweries are food producers observing stringent hygiene requirements. Don’t assume you can drop in unless they have a shop, bar, museum or other public space. Always ask in advance if you can...

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