Online sake brewery study abroad report (Kamikatsu Kaidan Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery)
Online sake brewery study abroad isA sake experience service where you can connect directly with local sake breweries and toast together while staying at home.It is.
You can also taste the thoughts and personality of the creator, and through sake you can learn about life, make new connections, and"Oshizou"It becomes a place where things are born.
In this article, we will introduce the sake breweries that have participated in the online sake brewery study abroad program!
Please take a look at the sake brewery's thoughts and commitment through this article.♪
This time, we would like to introduce "Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery", a sake brewery operated by Kamikatsu Kaitakudan in Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture.♪
About Kamikatsu Kaitakudan
Creating the most fun village in Japan――
Deep in the mountains of Tokushima Prefecture, there is a place rich in nature with spectacularly beautiful rice terraces and clear air.
There,Kamikatsu Town in Tokushima Prefecture has been selected as one of the top 100 rice terraces.
This area is also a town that is highly environmentally conscious and is known for its "zero waste" policy and efforts to preserve the environment.
In July 2022, a small sake brewery opened in this quiet mountain village.
Its name is ``Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery'' operated by Kamikatsu Kaitakudan.
The sake brewery is located in a small village called Annotani, located in the mountains about 400 meters above sea level.
The sake brewery, housed in a 300-year-old traditional house, brews doburoku and liqueurs using rice grown in the rice terraces of Kamikatsu Town and natural mountain water.
Officially, it's not called sake, but the most unique thing about it is that the sake it brews is "doburoku."
Furthermore, what they are advocating and actually working on is:A new type of rice wine that easily goes beyond the common sense of Doburoku.
This sake is an evolution of Doburoku.
On the other hand, what is even more interesting is the person who established a business in this area, revitalized the local area, and started sake brewing.
He is not an heir, he was not born here, and he has no connection to sake brewing.
I was in a world that could be said to be the complete opposite.A person who was active at the forefront of the television industry in the big city.
“Kamikatsu Kaitakudan Representative Director” Co., Ltd.This is Mr. Keisuke Niki.
When Representative Niki looks at the history that has led to this connection with Kamikatsu Town, he says, ``It's really strange to have connections between people and the land.''
It makes me feel that maybe there are no coincidences in life.
However, the population of Kamikatsu Town is declining and aging, and there are many vacant houses and abandoned farmland. However, Representative Niki felt the power of the people of Kamikatsu Town.
``Let's immigrants acquire power and skills and transform empty houses and abandoned farmland into what they dream of!''With this in mind, he founded Kamikatsu Kaitakudan Co., Ltd., and first rented an old folk house in the village and started a bar.
Mr. Niki, the representative director of Kamikatsu Kaitakudan, who fell in love with Kamikatsu Town, and sake brewed in a place where Japan's beautiful scenery remains.We will unravel the representative's strong love for the region one by one!
How a former TV man fell in love with Kamikatsu Town
``I wasn't good at doing the same thing every day,'' she said.
Representative Keisuke Niki says:
I used to spend my days running around as a TV director in Tokyo.
Why does he make sake deep in the mountains?
The trigger wasThe night I visited the town in 2009 to produce a program with the theme of ``Zero Trash Town, Kamikatsu Town''.
For this interview, I could hear the sounds of a lively party coming from the first floor of the inn where I was staying.
Before long, I was invited by a local who said, ``Let's come down and have a drink,'' and before I knew it, we were having a huge party.
As he looks back, ``Wow, it was the most fun I've ever had in my life.''
Representative Niki is completely in love with this town.I'm fascinated by people。
Afterwards, we will conduct close interviews with two powerful local grandmothers. Starting at 5 a.m., the two grandmothers pound rice cakes with pestles and mortars, then transport them to the direct sales store to sell them.
After that, they work in the fields and cut down trees with chainsaws, which is extremely hard work.
Then, in the evening, enjoy the night with an exciting drinking style, like drinking a sho bottle with a trumpet.
Gradually, he was attracted to the raw energy that Kamikatsu's ``people'' emitted, and before he knew it, Representative NikiI decided to emigrate。
Of course, there are many inconveniences compared to the city.
For example, it takes 30 minutes by car to reach the nearest convenience store.
It takes an hour to go shopping at a supermarket in Tokushima city, so I go there about once a week.
However,Here in Kamikatsu Town, we hardly spend any money.When I was in Tokyo, I was always spending money. He says it was a lifestyle he couldn't live without.
``Anyway, the big thing is that we can make ends meet here. We don't use cash at all, and we store the food we buy in bulk in a large refrigerator, so it's not a big problem.''
Also, unlike the so-called closed countryside of the past,
“For me,I like the interpersonal relationships.I think in the past, many people left the countryside because they hated the closeness of human relationships, but in today's world, people think it's more fun to be closer to others.''
He says that this sense of closeness is refreshing because in today's world where human relationships are becoming weaker.
In addition, it seems that Kamikatsu Town is seeing an increase in inbound tourists, and in fact, some groups and individuals come to learn about Kamikatsu Town's ``efforts on garbage'', so it is by no means a closed environment, but rather an open environment to the outside world.
Representative Niki's typical day is like this: He wakes up early in the morning, checks his email, and then looks around the rice fields, then comes to work around 8 a.m. and works on bottling amazake until the afternoon, when he finally has lunch. It's a pretty tough life, having to close the bar around 11pm after preparing the bar.
"Well, it's fun. On the other hand, it would be more troublesome if I died doing what I was doing," he said calmly.
「I want to devote the rest of my life to alcohol.” he laughs.
Protecting rice terraces and making Doburoku.
After immigrating, Niki representative worked together with several staff members to liven up the town by producing videos, operating the old folk house bar "BAR IRORI", BBQ and glamping facilities, etc., but a sad accident marked another turning point.
It all started when I saw the beautiful rice terraces I always saw on my way to work.
One day, during the autumn harvest, a farmer there said,
``He died when he fell while descending into the rice terraces with a combine harvester...''
All that was left behind was his wife. There is no successor.
``The beautiful scenery that we always take for granted may be lost...'', President Niki felt, and he couldn't help but tell his wife.
“Please let me do it.”And.
In 2021, rice cultivation started by mostly amateurs, including Mr. Niki and his staff.
ThisActivities to preserve the beautiful rice terraces of Kamikatsu for future generationswill be a new beginning.
However, with the guidance of local farmers, we have gradually started growing rice on terraced rice fields, but readers who are aware of the current agricultural situation are aware that rice cultivation is not profitable at all despite the effort involved.
Moreover, as the population ages, the area of rice fields used to grow rice is decreasing.
What we came up with was not just to grow rice.``Make sake with rice you've grown yourself''。
Adding value to the rice, letting people know about the beautiful rice terraces and the town.
As a result, we aimed to be approachable to everyone.Doburoku as “rice wine”It was.
Doburoku goes to “Komeshu”
Niki representative"I can make good sake and drink it with a lot of people. That alone makes me happy."When I hear these words, I can't help but feel once again that the most enjoyable night of my life at the inn I visited during the interview was the origin of sake brewing.
Since ancient times, Japanese farmers have had a culture of making koji, amazake, and doburoku from the rice they grow. However, in the Meiji era, home brewing of Nodoburoku was prohibited, and as cheap, mass-produced sake became available, the tradition of making Doburoku disappeared from rural villages.
Like that,"Doburoku", which was a familiar alcoholic beverage for Japanese people, has been reconsidered from a modern perspective and method, and has been changed from "Doburoku" to "Komeshu".Sake is not the only sake made from rice, and sake made from sake rice is not the only sake that is Japanese sake.This makes us think once again about the origin of ``What is Japanese sake?''
And, instead of getting caught up in the name "Doburoku",Kamikatsu Kaitakudan is reconsidering sake brewed from rice in the large genre of ``Komeshu'' and is engaged in ``free sake brewing''.
``Doburoku'' is an alcoholic beverage that is rooted in the region, and has the sweetness and umami inherent to rice, and its taste changes depending on the climate and the person who makes it.When modern methods are added to this, its potential goes far beyond the scope of simply making it at home.
Therefore, reviving Doburoku, which is made from rice grown in the rice terraces of Kamikatsu-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, and water from mountain springs, is not just a matter of continuing tradition, but also a major challenge of developing original sake unique to the region.
Premonition of Love Destiny - Destiny - [Spice & Citrus Doburoku]
![Premonition of Love Destiny - Destiny - [Spice & Citrus Doburoku]](https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0380/2038/2853/files/db09f83ec024fe5fbaca8557c897d9b5_480x480.jpg?v=1781616839)
Not only the name but also the taste is unique.A liqueur called "Premonition of Love Destiny".
The raw rice used is the edible rice known as ``Koi no Yokan.''
This variety, which was born in Hiroshima, is grown with great care in the beautiful rice terraces of Kamikatsu-cho, Tokushima Prefecture.
With this alcohol, we aimed for a tonic flavor that adults could enjoy.
A refreshing citrus scent rises from the glass.
We use Yuko, a rare aromatic citrus fruit produced in Tokushima Prefecture, which is a natural hybrid of Yuzu and Daidai.
Nearly 100% of the domestic production of this "Yuko" is done in mountainous areas such as Kamikatsu Town in Tokushima Prefecture, and the production volume is extremely small and it hardly ever goes to the general market, so it is considered a "phantom fruit".It is also called.
This ``Yuko'', as well as Sudachi and Yuzu are used luxuriously, and carefully selected spices are added in an exquisite balance.
When you put it in your mouth, the gentle sweetness unique to doburoku and the flavor of the rice spread softly.
You can feel the refreshing sourness of three types of citrus fruits, and the pleasant stimulation of spices tightens the whole thing.
Smooth texture with just the right amount of grain and a refreshing aftertaste♪
"Sweet and bittersweet like the moment you fall in love"You can enjoy the impressive flavor created by this.
This is not just any ordinary doburoku, but a special cup born from the combination of the local people and Mr. Niki's desire to connect the rice terraces of Kamikatsu Town to the future.
In addition to the romantic name, it is modern by adding a citrus flavor.
This is truly a fateful encounter that will vividly repaint the image of Doburoku so far.
Tea block
“Tea block” that captures the charm of Awa bancha.
In fact, it is rare nationwide.Doburoku made with fermented tea called “Awa Bancha”It is.
Kamikatsu-cho, Tokushima Prefecture is the production area for this fermented tea, ``Awa Bancha.''
The popular product ``Chaburoku'' incorporates the unique culture of this region into sake brewing.
“What is Awa Bancha?Only 4 fermented teas left in JapanThat’s it,” said Representative Niki.
Awa bancha isUnique sour taste and gentle aroma due to lactic acid fermentationIt is characterized by
This uniqueness overlaps with the flavor derived from the fermentation of Doburoku, creating a flavor that is both refreshing and deep.
Also, according to Representative Niki,
“We add Awa bancha during fermentation and use tea for brewing water.”
so to speak“Craft Doburoku”That's it.
By replacing some, but not all, of the preparation water with tea, the gentle flavor typical of Awa Bancha naturally blends into the overall sake, and while you can feel the sweetness and fermentation of rice unique to Doburoku, the aftertaste is refreshing and lingering from the tea.
The label design also has Kamikatsu's particular attention to detail.
The design is done by a designer based in Kamikatsu-cho.
It expresses the charm of the area with sophisticated visuals, and Niki representative also
``He has been designing for me since the company was founded, and he is also a friend of mine,'' he says, and he has a lot of trust in him.
The stylish and somewhat cute bottle design is also a big attraction.
Coupled with the fact that it is a rare sake,Leaves a lasting impression as a gift or souvenirIt has a strong presence.
``Chaburoku'' is a must-try not only for sake lovers but also for those interested in tea culture.
Born from the encounter between the Awa Bancha culture inherited by Kamikatsu Town and the free thinking of the Kamikatsu Kaitakudan.This is craft doburoku that can only be tasted here.
Doburokuanjin Sansho
The sansho pepper used in this sake is harvested in Kamikatsu Town.
Sansho is mainly used as a condiment in Japanese cuisine, but at Kamikatsu Kaitakudan,"Pickled in fermenting doburoku"This brings out that individuality in the sake.
``We have locally grown sansho pepper, which we also pickle during fermentation to bring out the sansho flavor,'' says Niki.
Rather than adding flavor afterwards, we let the flavor of Japanese pepper blend in with the fermentation process, resulting in a flavor that naturally harmonizes with the original flavor of doburoku.
When many people hear the word ``sansho'', they imagine a pungent spiciness, but the appeal of this alcohol is surprisingly the ``freshness'' that comes with the first drink.
According to Niki representative,
“Japanese pepper is a citrus fruit belonging to the mandarin family.At first, it has a relatively refreshing citrus flavor, and at the end it has a light but spicy taste.It is.”
As the name suggests, the first thing you notice when you put it in your mouth is a refreshing scent reminiscent of citrus.
The gentle sweetness of Doburoku and the sourness derived from fermentation combine to give you a light and refreshing taste, and after you swallow it, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the subtle spiciness of Japanese pepper.
Pairs well with Japanese food, as well as yakitori, fried chicken, and grilled fish dishes.♪
It brings out the flavor of the food and enriches your meal time.
Kamikatsu Kaitakudan pursues new possibilities for Doburoku while always making use of the local bounty.
“Doburokuanjin Sansho” isA truly craft sake created by the encounter of Kamikatsu Town's sansho and fermentation culture.It is!
Experience Komeshu. Plans for restaurants have started!
"I'd like you to have a drink first."
With that in mind, in 2026, Kamikatsu Kaitakudan"Plan for restaurants"has started.
The impetus was ``the difficulty of getting people to try it for the first time.''
``Even if our alcohol is available at a liquor store, it's hard for people to drink it,'' CEO Niki says frankly.
On the other hand, the situation seems to be very different at events such as Marche.
``At Marche, we always ask people to sample the product.If you taste it and like it, you buy it, and most of the time people buy it.''
Having experienced first-hand how the appeal of Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's sake can be clearly conveyed by actually tasting it, I feel that restaurants have great potential as a place to deliver that "first drink."
Therefore, Kamikatsu Kaitakudan has created a dedicated landing page for restaurants. With pricing that is easier to use than general retail prices at online shops,Wholesale plan where you can order from a set of 6 piecesWe have prepared.
“We want people to try it at a restaurant first, and then gradually spread awareness.”
A chance encounter at a bar or restaurant becomes the gateway between customers and Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's alcoholic beverages. This is an initiative aimed at spreading the word.
Additionally, this planFree samples also available for restaurantsI'm doing it.
The system is for people to try it out first, and if they like it, they can consider purchasing it.
Mr. Niki's words, ``If you register for the first time, we will send you a free sample. If you like it, you can buy it.'' Mr. Niki's words convey his desire for many restaurants to feel free to try it.
If you would like to support Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's alcoholic beverages, please visit your favorite store.
“We have this interesting alcohol, why don’t we just get a sample?”
These words have the potential to be a big step in spreading not only the sake of the same brewery, but also the beautiful nature and traditions of Kamikatsu Town throughout the country.
[Kamikatsu Development Group]
〒771-4501
27, Annotani, Fukuhara, Kamikatsu-machi, Katsuura-gun, Tokushima Prefecture
TEL:090-2789-8577
MAIL:info@kaitakudan.net
HP:https://kaitakudan.net/
Online shop:https://kaitakudan.base.shop/
Introducing Doburoku from Kamikatsu Kaitakudan♪
Doburokuanjin
People gather in the ``An-no-tani'' valley where the storehouse is located. Also, the representative's own name, ``Jin,'' and his feelings toward ``jin.'' This book is filled with such wishes.
We use 100% carefully selected rice grown in the rice terraces of Kamikatsu Town and local spring water.The product is made with a strict focus on using local ingredients.
The beautiful topography and climate of Kamikatsu Town is also reflected in the label design, with an illustration of the moon seen from a village in the valley.
It makes you imagine the ``tranquil scenery of Kamikatsu Town under moonlight with no street lights.''
Now, when you think of Doburoku, the image that comes to mind is a thick, cloudy liquor, but "Doburoku Anjin" is different.
When you first pour it into a glass, the cloudy mash dances beneath the clear supernatant.
When you put it in your mouth,Surprisingly clear and milky sweetness.A refreshing sour taste runs down your throat, and the rice grains, which are neither too coarse nor too fine, gently unravel on your tongue, giving you a delicate pleasure. It is truly a sake that can make rice taste better.
According to Niki representative,
``This flavor was also aimed at creating a ``Doburoku'' that women could also enjoy.''
``Doburoku'' is also called ``drinkable serum.'' Among them, ``Doburoku Anjin'' is a perfect choice because it has a refreshing sweetness and just the right amount of acidity, making it easy to drink!
Of course, it is a sake packed with the essence of Kamikatsu Town that is a must-try for sake fans who want to savor the taste of rice that is different from sake.
■Doburoku Anjin Specs■
| raw materials | Rice (domestic)/Rice malt (domestic) |
|---|---|
| Rice used | 100% rice from Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture |
| Alcohol level | 8 degrees |
Yukou Tsukimi
The phantom citrus "Yuko" has a gentle fragrance.
``Tsukimi Yukou'' is a ``flavored doburoku'' made by combining doburoku made with rice from rice terraces in Kamikatsu Town and the local specialty citrus fruit ``Yuko'' mentioned above.
Its taste and aroma are not as strong as those of ``Yuzu'' and ``Sudachi.''In its hometown of Tokushima, it has long been called ``fragrant yuzu, sour sudachi, and taste yuko.''It is characterized by its soft acidity, subtle sweetness, and elegant aroma.
When I studied abroad at a sake brewery this time, the first thing a female staff member said after drinking a sip was, “Wow!♪」。
I can't help but let out my heart's voice (lol)
At first, a refreshing citrus aroma spreads, and then slowly emerges with the delicious flavor of rice and gentle sweetness that is unique to Doburoku.
Rather than a fruit drink,“Yukou gently brings out the deliciousness of Doburoku (alcohol).”It's a taste that fits the description.
Representative Niki also talked about this alcohol.
``We also offer ``Yuzu'' and ``Sudachi,'' which are both citrus fruits, but those have an alcohol content of 7%, and our ``Tsukimi Yukou'' is lower at 6%, but ``Yuko'' actually has a more alcoholic taste.''
In other words, the reason it gives you the satisfying feeling of alcohol is because the aroma of yukou is mild.
The personality of the citrus fruit is not too prominent,You can really feel the original flavor of Doburoku.It's for the sake of it.
"Yuko Tsukimi" isWhile it is fruity, it is also a drink that you can enjoy with its Doburoku-like flavor.
If you drink it well chilled, the refreshing aroma of yukou and the flavor of rice will be even more appealing.
Kamikatsu Town's rice terraces and the mysterious citrus fruit ``Yuko'' that has taken root in the region.
If you want to discover the new appeal of ``Komeshu'' promoted by Kamikatsu Kaitakudan, please give it a try.
■Tsukimi Yuko Specs■
| raw materials | Rice (domestic)/Rice malt (domestic) |
|---|---|
| Rice used | 100% rice from Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture |
| Alcohol level | 6 degrees |
Kamikatsu Development Team Q&A
- What kind of alcohol is “Komeshu” produced by Kamikatsu Kaitakudan?
- Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's ``Komeshu'' is a new kind of rice wine that easily goes beyond the conventional wisdom of Doburoku. Doburoku, which has been prohibited to be brewed at home since the Meiji era, has been reconsidered from a modern perspective and method, and we are aiming for ``free sake brewing'' based on the fact that sake made from rice is not limited to refined sake, and sake made from sake rice is not the only type of sake. By taking advantage of the inherent sweetness and flavor of rice, the climate, and the individuality of the producers that are rooted in the region, we are greatly expanding its possibilities by adding a modern approach.
- Where does Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's sake brewery "Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery" produce sake?
- Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery is located in a small village called Annotani in the mountains of Kamikatsu-cho, Tokushima Prefecture, at an altitude of about 400 meters. Housed in a 300-year-old traditional house, we use rice grown in the rice terraces of Kamikatsu Town and natural water from the mountains. This area is rich in nature and has been selected as one of the top 100 rice terraces, and is also known as a town with a high level of environmental awareness and a commitment to "zero waste."
- What led Mr. Niki to start brewing sake in Kamikatsu Town?
- Mr. Niki started brewing sake because of his desire to preserve beautiful rice terraces and revitalize the region. After moving to the area, Mr. Niki learned that a farmer had died in an accident in the rice terraces he was looking at, and there was no successor. Fearing that this landscape would be lost, Mr. Niki started growing rice himself. Due to the low profitability of rice cultivation, we came to the conclusion that we should ``make sake from the rice we grow ourselves'' in order to add value, and we aimed to make Nodoburoku as a familiar ``Komeshu.''
Summary
Kamikatsu Town, Tokushima Prefecture, is an area rich in nature that is known for its beautiful terraced rice fields that have been selected as one of Japan's top 100 rice terraces, and for being a zero-waste town.
In this small village in the mountains, there is a company that is trying to create new types of sake.Kamikatsu Development TeamIt is.
The base is Hermitage Valley Sake Brewery, which is housed in a 300-year-old traditional house.
The sake brewer here is led by Keisuke Niki, a former Tokyo TV director.
Representative Niki first encountered Kamikatsu Town through an interview on a TV program.
While interacting with the local people and nature in a sparsely populated mountain town, he decided to move, saying, ``It was the most fun experience of my life.''
After moving to Japan, while running a business, he witnessed the beautiful scenery of terraced rice fields that were disappearing.
“I want to leave this scenery to the next generation.”With this in mind, I started growing rice and making sake.
The product was born using terraced rice from Kamikatsu Town and natural mountain water."Komeshu (rice wine)"。
Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's sake is a little different from the traditional image of doburoku. It's not about the weight or the strong taste, it's about the taste that makes you want to have another drink.lightness and friendlinessis the biggest attraction.
In particular, the representative brand, ``Doburoku Anjin,'' is characterized by its milky, gentle sweetness and refreshing aftertaste.
This is an easy-to-drink drink even for people who are new to Doburoku.
Furthermore,Flavored doburoku made with ingredients unique to Kamikatsu TownYou can't miss it either.
``Tsukimi Yuko'' is made using ``Yuko'', which is also called the phantom citrus fruit.
A unique “Love Premonition Destiny” that combines spice,
"Chaburoku" is made using Awa bancha, a fermented tea that only a few remain in Japan.
and ``Doburokuan Jin Sansho'', which has a refreshing citrus taste and a hint of spice.
All of them are items that give you a sense of the rare agricultural products, climate, and culture that are rooted in Kamikatsu Town.
In addition, currently (June 2026), Representative Niki wants ``I want people to drink it once.''
Wholesale plan for restaurantsWe are also putting effort into
By providing free samples, we are creating a system where more people can easily encounter Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's alcoholic beverages.
What you can see on the other side of a bottle of alcohol from the Kamikatsu Development Team is,
Kamikatsu Town's nature, people's lives, andI want to connect the region to the futureThis is a common thought.
It's not just delicious.
Enjoy the background and stories of the landThis is the charm of Kamikatsu Kaitakudan's "Komeshu".
How to participate in the online sake brewery study abroad program?
“I want to know more about the thoughts of sake brewers!” “I’m interested in studying abroad at a sake brewery online!”That's calledPlease join us below!
This will be a valuable opportunity to talk directly with a different sake brewery every month, so you might find one you can recommend.♪
We look forward to your participation!
Online sake brewery study abroad process
① Alcohol will be delivered in advance!
・After applying for the online sake brewery study abroad program, the sake will be delivered to your home.
② Participate in online sake brewery study abroad!
・Cheers with the creator! (ZOOM or YouTube LIVE)
・Divided into the first and second halves, we will explore the key points of Oshizo while interacting with everyone.
③ You can make drinking friends all over the country!
・Exchange information online with sake fans from all over the country and make drinking friends.
You can read the report summarizing past online sake brewery study abroad experiences here, so please check it out!
↓ ↓ ↓
With the creator"Connect"
The thoughts of the creator"Peek"
our worldview"Spread"
Cheers with a hands-on pose again next time!
*Past report articleshereFrom! !
Hobbies: Standing bar, going to rock bars, gym, cooking, movies
