November 29, 2018
There is a saying in Japanese that nihonshu wa ryori o erabenai, usually translated that “sake isn’t picky about food” or “sake doesn’t get into fights with food.” While for centuries gourmands in Europe have discussed matching wines of a... UNFILTERED Archives: Japan
Happy Brew Year! October Marks the Start of the New Sake Brewing Season
October 19, 2018
Is there any better time of year to be in Japan than October? We don’t think so. The punishing dripping heat of summer subsides to brisk fall weather. Foraged mushrooms begin to appear on restaurant menus. The delicate Pacific saury... An Intro to Shochu: Japan’s Terroir-Driven Spirit
September 13, 2018
Duck into just about any local izakaya pub in Japan, wind through a tight squeeze of boisterous diners, clusters of friends and coworkers reenergizing themselves after a long work day with skewers of grilled yakitori, potato croquettes and platters of... Millennia of Innovation: How Nara Has Been Revolutionizing Sake Since 700 AD
July 19, 2018
When most people first get into sake and are trying to make sense of grades and styles, a lot of drinkers land on the sturdy and well-structured kimoto styles. Older and more labor-intensive than the current standard for making fine... Kirinzan – Top of the Class in Niigata, Japan
June 14, 2018
Although just a short two-hour train ride north of Tokyo on the bullet train, the mountainous area of Niigata is a world apart from the lights and hustle of earth’s largest urban center. Niigata faces out to the Pacific Ocean... The Kids Are Alright: Fresh, Brash, and Youthful Sake Muroka Nama Genshu
April 12, 2018
If you ever get the privilege to visit a kura, as you are led through the rows of fermenting tanks, stepping over hoses and watching your breath form in the chilled air necessary to keep the huge cauldrons of rice... Nishiyama Shuzo: Poet of the Sake World
January 11, 2018
Founded by the Nishiyama family in 1849, the sake brewery Nishiyama Shuzo is located in the heart of Hyogo Prefecture, one of the finest sake regions in the country. While sake from Hyogo is most famously associated with a cluster... Some Like it Hot: The Surprising Elegance of Warm Sake
October 26, 2017
Once most people discover great Japanese sake the first thing they do is jettison the hot stuff and dive right into the world of flowery and delicate ginjo sake. While premium ginjo grade sake is gorgeous and thrilling, ignoring the... Isojiman Shuzo: Sake from the Seashore
September 26, 2017
Few breweries in Japan have as defined a sense of purpose and as clear an identity as the revered Isojiman Shuzo from Shizuoka prefecture. Eighth-generation Yoji Teraoka, the current president of Isojiman Shuzo, began to take over the business from... Starting Points for the Sake Novice
August 22, 2017
The world of Japanese sake may seem like a lot to take on: the labels are beautiful but written with a tangle of unfamiliar characters! The very best sake has a haunting flavor that always seems just out of reach and always just...