New Japanese Sake Season

 

We are now planning two more new courses; one is Japanese sake and the other is tea ceremony. Here, I would like to give you a little information of Japanese sake.

 October 1^st is like New Year’s Day for Japanese sake.

Why? Please remember the growing cycle of rice that is one of the ingredients of Japanese sake. As sake rice is harvested in autumn, September to October, most of sake breweries usually start to produce in October. The sake brewing does not always start on October 1^st, however, the day is special for the breweries to celebrate the start of sake production season. They pray at a shrine for the safety and success of the sake brewing of the year, and then prepare, clean and check the tools and devices they use. This is one of the reasons for which the day was designated as “Nihonshu no Hi” or the day of Japanese Sake by the Japanese Sake and Shochu Makers Association in 1978.

Many Japanese-sake-day-related events and celebrations are held all over the country, or the world on that day. Especially “Kampai (or cheers) with Japanese sake” has been encouraged.

 New sake or fresh sake that is to be brewed this year will be on sale from around late November or December. Why don’t you have a taste one if you have a chance? Of course, it would be happy if you join our tour to find something and talk about sake!