Kakishibu 柿渋 (persimmon juice) is just one of the great things I didn't know about until I started working in a kura. Using chemicals around sake is best avoided; this provides a natural solution for varnishing woods. It's also insecticidal, antiseptic and has a great finish.

Reading the latest SIN, which I have no doubt is accurate, I can't help wondering: who on earth is paying over the odds for Dassai?? It's in virtually every outlet that sells sake across Japan. How aren't these people noticing it before paying silly money?

Think I recognize the foreigners drinking gin on the TV right now... Any excuse for a drink, eh! Sasuga Stephen Lyman

Attending a lecture today in Saijo and the guy who gets in my lift asks me if I'm in the sake industry. He quickly tells me he works for a foreign toji. Must be Tamagawa, I reply. Within minutes I'm handed a business card AND a Tamacup. Now that is how you represent your Kura!

The clear-out of an old outhouse at the kura has uncovered a wealth of sake brewing treasures. I'm sure everyone knows of the wooden "futa". However, if anyone out there can guess what the instrument fashioned out of bamboo is for I will be very impressed! Hint: its done daily.

To date, I've worked in two breweries. The first produced 400koku, and the second 650. Today I visited a brewery that produces 10,000 koku, most of which belongs in the premium category. Kamotsuru 賀茂鶴, where I was today, even have a giant warehouse just for storing sakekasu!

Just sat down in a bar, alone, and I forgot to immediately take out my phone and look at stupid depressing shit on social media. Instead, I just gazed out at the world watching all the busy people pass-by, like a psychopath.

Yup. That's pretty much it 😅

Great article regarding low-polished rice from Jim Rion of Yamaguchi sake fame. I personally welcome this style of sake with open arms, and look forward to seeing them proliferate in the near future.

Very interesting thread about how the media is using Shinto to frame Japanese culture and notions of "uniqueness".

I wrote a short blog about this fabulous Gakki Masamune 楽器正宗 from Fukushima and the Aiyama 愛山 rice it was made from. You will find it at the link below. PS: If anyone is wondering, the pewter sake cup is from Seikado Works in Kyoto. originsake.com/post/gakki-mas…

JP ~ EN translators: Your days are numbered! Behold the stunning accuracy: "Good morning. It seems that Minga will be picked up at Himeji Station! ! He said he was waiting at the roundabout where Himeji Castle is located. I contacted you instead because the sowing was driving".

Visiting the rice paddies containing Hattan-so 八反草 up in Northern Hiroshima. Come early Autumn, we will use this precious heirloom rice to brew numerous styles of Fukucho sake. For now, time to just soak in the stunning natural beauty surrounding the fields. #fukucho #sake

Never a truer word written, although this definitely applies to sake as well. #nosakenolife