Online sake brewery study abroad report
Online sake brewery study abroad isA sake mail order service that allows you to connect directly with local alcohol makers 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 will be featuring the 32nd Online Sake Brewery Study Abroad event.Narutaki Sake Brewery (Saga Prefecture)We would like to introduce♪
About Narutaki Sake Brewery
Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture is home to the Nabata Ruins, Japan's oldest paddy rice cultivation ruins.
Mild climate, fertile land, richThe area is blessed with seafood and has prospered as a rice producer and castle town since ancient times.
Also, in November, there are festivals that represent Kyushu."Karatsu Kunchi"It is also famous for being held and attracts many tourists.
Narutaki Sake Brewery was established in 1974 as a merger of three sake brewing companies, led by Taiko Sake Brewery, which had been brewing sake in this area since 1705.
When we established the company, we focused on"Preparation water"。
Before the merger, they had warehouses in the city, so they couldn't get good quality water.
When making a fresh start as Narutaki Sake Brewery, we researched the water quality in various parts of Karatsu City with the desire to improve the quality of our sake, and arrived at the following."Kanda/Ochanomizu"It was the land of
The water from ``Ochanomizu,'' which is the common name for the area of famous water, is extremely soft and refreshing.
Narutaki Sake Brewery, which relocated its entire brewery to this area and obtained excellent water, took advantage of the advantages of this rice-producing area."First, rice, second, water, and technique."With the philosophy of"Juraku Taiko"was born.
Focusing on Yamada Nishiki from Karatsu, we thoroughly mill our rice in-house and produce traditional rice while brewing it with our employees.Bizen chief brewerThe sake made using this technique has a soft texture and a smooth and plump flavor that goes down the throat.
It makes people feel relieved and gentle when they taste it...
This wish is contained in the sake of Narutaki Sake Brewery.
Thanks to its proven technology and new improvements in alcohol quality, ``Juraku Taiko'' has become famous as a local sake in Karatsu, and has been loved by the locals for a long time, so much so that it is enjoyed by drinkers at the ``Taiko-kai regular meeting'' held once a month for 50 years.
Currently, we are focusing on ``Juraku Taiko,'' as well as continuing the brands of ``Kimion'' and ``Fukuhana,'' created by two companies that have been merged, as well as producing umeshu that is tailored to Japanese sake."Taiko plum"and Kitakyushu traditional"Shocho Kasutori Shochu"Our main products are authentic shochu such as shochu, and as a sake brewery in Saga, we offer the best of the local area.
Juraku Taiko, a local sake from Karatsu with a 300-year history
Representative brands of Narutaki Sake Brewery"Juraku Taiko"。
Karatsu's local sake has been loved by local people for 300 years, counting from its predecessor, Taiko Sake Brewery.
It has a gentle texture and smooth feel, making it a perfect accompaniment to local cuisine.
Karatsu is where Toyotomi Hideyoshi built Bizen Nagoya Castle as a base for dispatching troops to Korea.
At that time, Hideyoshi was said to be the one who divided Karatsu into a city, and because of its history of attracting so many people that it was counted as one of the top three cities in the country, the locals felt so close to Hideyoshi that they even called him ``Taiko-san.''
Due to this historical background, Juraku Taiko was named ``Taiko'' to be loved as a drink that was rooted in the region.
``Juraku Taiko Daiginjo'' won the Gold Award at the National New Sake Appraisal Association 14 times.
Among the many Juraku Taiko products, this is a representative product."Juraku Taiko Daiginjo"。
It is the pinnacle of Juraku Taiko, with its luxurious ginjo aroma and light sharpness, and since its first exhibition in 1990, it has been recognized at the National New Sake Appraisal Association.Winner of Gold Award 14 times, including 6 years in a row。
They are also talented and have repeatedly won first place at the Liquor Competition held by the Fukuoka Regional Taxation Bureau, where famous sake from the three prefectures of Fukuoka, Saga, and Nagasaki come together to compete for the highest quality.
It is probably due to 300 years of history, technology, and love for the local area of Karatsu that we were able to achieve such high results at Japan's most prestigious Sake Appraisal Association.
Please enjoy the famous sake that represents Saga and Karatsu.
We recommend that you chill it slightly and enjoy it with delicate dishes that make the most of the ingredients.
“Juraku Taiko Chosen” is a huge seller at Karatsu Kunchi
Narutaki Sake Brewery's standard sake"Juraku Taiko Selected"。
Karatsu Kunchi is a festival that represents Karatsu.15% per yearFor the local people who are said to increase sales of goods, it is exactlyKaratsu's soul drinkIt is an existence.
In order to meet a variety of demands, we offer a wide range of sizes from 1 sho bottles to 900 ml and small bottles of 180 ml, and the outer carton has a picture scroll of ``Karatsu Kunchi'' printed on it, so you can feel the love for the local area.
Unlike sake with a specific name such as Junmaishu, Josen is classified as regular sake that has brewed alcohol added to it.
Unlike triple brewed sake, which is made for mass production, it is made with a stable taste and quality, and is comparable to special name sake.
``Juraku Taiko Josen'' is an excellent product that can be enjoyed at any temperature, but especially if you drink it lukewarm during the cold winter months, you can fully enjoy the softness of the water and gentle taste that is the essence of Narutaki Sake Brewery.
``Kanda/Ochanomizu'', the place we arrived at in search of the best water
The biggest feature of Narutaki Sake Brewery is"Ultimate commitment to water"。
For Narutaki Sake Brewery, which was established through a corporate merger, improving the quality of its sake is the most important issue as it attempts to make a comeback, and what it seeks is the best brewing water.
As a result of test drilling and analysis of about 15 wells in Karatsu City, we arrived at a famous water spot halfway up the mountain."Kanda/Ochanomizu"It was.
``Ochanomizu'' is a common name for a place of famous water, and the quality of the water is extremely soft and smooth.
Narutaki Sake Brewery fell in love with the quality of the water, so they completely relocated their brewery and changed their company name to Narutaki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., in honor of the nearby clear stream.
Also, this place used to haveToyotomi Hideyoshi had Sen no Rikyu make tea using spring water.There is a legend that says.
Furthermore, there is a record that the successive feudal lords of Karatsu had spring water brought to them when they held tea parties in their castles, so for Taiko Sake Brewery and Narutaki Sake Brewery, whose brand name is ``Taiko'', it could be said that it was a coincidence or necessity that they moved to this location.
Taki, a new brand born from famous water
In 2015 (Heisei 27), Narutaki Sake Brewery, which had obtained famous water associated with Hideyoshi, teamed up with a liquor store to launch a new brand, ``Taki.''
In contrast to ``Juraku Taiko,'' which is rooted in the region, ``Taki'' is a limited edition product that is distributed only at authorized stores, with the aim of expanding nationwide.
Karatsu's local sake, such as ``Juraku Taiko'', is often rich and umami-tasting, but this ``Taki'' is a dry type with acidity, and is characterized by a concentrated and firm type.
``Taki'' is a product that expresses gratitude for the best brewing water and a firm determination to use that water to make the best sake, and it is a product that shows a new side of Narutaki Sake Brewery, such as bag-squeezing and autumn release of unprocessed sake, which have never been done before.
A community-based sake brewery that loves Karatsu Kunchi
The representative director of Narutaki Sake Brewery is“Furutachi Masanori”Mr.
Born in 1966 as the second son of four brothers in the Furudate family, he entered the University of Tsukuba's First School of Humanities (currently the University of Tsukuba's School of Humanities and Cultural Studies) with the aim of becoming a teacher.
After graduating, I worked at the Musashino Higashi Gakuen Educational Corporation and Musashino Higashi Junior High School in Tokyo, and had a successful teaching career.
He thought he would finish his career as a teacher, but due to circumstances at the brewery, he decided to take over the family business and returned to Karatsu.
From April to October 1993, he worked at Ozeki Co., Ltd., a major sake brewery, before joining Narutaki Sake Brewery.
After attending sake brewing training at the Alcoholic Beverage Research Institute, he joined the Saga Prefecture Sake Brewers Association's youth wing, the Sajo-kai.
In December 1997, he served as a director of Narutaki Sake Brewery, and later became representative director, a position he holds to the present.
President Furudate is gentle, has a good sense of humor, and is so good at talking that you can't help but listen when he starts talking.
When he first returned to Karatsu, he was said to be so weak against alcohol that he almost got drunk just doing the bottling work, but due to his accomplishments in continuing to spread the word about the charm of local products such as ``Juraku Taiko,'' plum wine, and genuine shochu, he has now become the vice chairman of the Saga Prefecture Sake Brewers Association, and is making a major contribution to the development of sake in Saga.
Karatsu's main event held in early November every year"Karatsu Kunchi"。
This is Karatsu Shrine's regular autumn festival, and it is a gorgeous event in which 14 Hikiyama floats, one of the world's largest dry lacquer crafts, are paraded around, dedicated by each neighborhood association.
The Karatsu Kunchi Hikiyama event is so traditional and historic that it has been designated as a National Important Intangible Folk Cultural Property and a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, and the feelings that the people of Karatsu have for Kunchi are nothing short of extraordinary.
President Furudate, who has a gentle personality, is no exception to this, and whenever the topic of Karatsu Kunchi comes up, he gets excited.
That should be it.
The Furudate family has been connected to Karatsu Kunchi for generations, and his grandfather, Shoemon Furudate, was so fascinated by Karatsu Kunchi that he devoted himself to it, so much so that he even wrote a book called ``Hikiyama Story.''
In addition, Yoneyamachi is where the predecessor, Taiko Sake Brewery, produced sake for 270 years.
The Hikiyama float dedicated by Yoneyamachi was created in 1869 and is shown in the image above."Sake-doji and Minamoto no Yorimitsu's helmet"。
There are various theories that the motif of ``Sakadoji'' was chosen because Taiko Sake Brewery was brewing sake in Yoneyamachi at the time, and it is a float that has a very close connection to the Furudate family.
For this reason, President Furudate still participates in the Hikiyama festival in Yoneyamachi.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Karatsu Kunchi had to be canceled or scaled back, but when it was decided that it would be held normally for the first time in three years in 2022 (Reiwa 4), Narutaki Sake Brewery would like to express its blessings and gratitude.“Karatsu Kunchi Celebration Sake”Released.
Based on the concept of "the most delicious dry sake at room temperature," we have created a quality liquor that everyone can enjoy together with the sound of musical accompaniment.
This celebratory sake was continued to be released last year, and is likely to become a specialty of Karatsu Kunchi in the future, along with the aforementioned Juraku Taiko Josen.
Narutaki Sake Brewery is a one-of-a-kind sake brewery that loves Karatsu Kunchi, and where you can feel the passion and love for the local area.
“Shocho Kasutori Shochu”, a traditional taste of Kitakyushu that has been passed down from generation to generation.
Traditional shochu from northern Kyushu, which is now distilled in very few breweries."Shocho Kasutori Shochu"。
It is a rare shochu made by mixing rice husks with sake lees, but its origin was not the purpose of making shochu.
In the early Edo period, when sake brewing techniques were established and sake brewing became popular all over the country, sake lees was produced in abundance, and in rural areas it was used as fertilizer for fields.
However, if sake lees is used as it is, the roots of the crops will rot due to the alcohol content.
Therefore, Japanese farmers, who are said to have already introduced distillation technology from mainland China in the 16th century, took advantage of this technology by mixing rice husks with sake lees and passing steam through the bottom to drive off the alcohol content, converting it into the best fertilizer.
This method spread in the territory of Dazaifu Tenmangu Shrine, and later spread throughout the country, mainly in Kitakyushu.
Shochu is produced by distilling it, and it was first used as a disinfectant for sword wounds, but eventually it became popular as a drink, and became popular among people in rural areas as a banquet for celebratory occasions, such as to beat the heat. This is how Seisho Kasutori Shochu came to be.
At Narutaki Sake Brewery, sake is distilled using a traditional method that uses rice husks and a bamboo steamer still, and it is characterized by a unique, full-bodied aroma reminiscent of grappa and marl.
This refined kasutori shochu is extremely labor-intensive, and only about 48 liters can be produced in one and a half hours of distillation.
As a result, there are currently only a few breweries in Japan that can distill sake, and Narutaki Sake Brewery is one of those few that continues to meet the needs of the local people and preserve the traditional taste of Kitakyushu.
[Narutaki Sake Brewery]
〒847-0824
3272-1 Kanda, Karatsu City, Saga Prefecture
TEL:0955-74-3125
FAX:0955-74-3126
HP:https://narutaki.com/
Introducing Narutaki Sake Brewery's sake and pairings♪
Juraku Taiko Honjozo Low-temperature bottle enclosure
In this online sake brewery study abroad program, we had planned to offer two types of sake: ``Junmaishu Sparkling'' and ``Taikoume,'' but this bottle was prepared in a hurry out of President Furudate's kindness and our desire for you to enjoy the standard of ``Juraku Taiko.''
The standard ``Juraku Taiko Honjozo'' is pasteurized twice, but this one isHonjozo's raw sake is pasteurized only once before bottling and stored at a low temperature.
Although it is a little dry and light, you can feel the softness of the water as soon as you put it in your mouth.
The scent is mild and overall modest, but it has a smooth, fresh, and juicy taste.
If you drink Karatsu ware, which is a type of pottery from Karatsu, with a sake cup or a choko, the taste will be even more mellow and give you a sense of the local area.
It goes great with greasy dishes and fresh seafood, but President Furudate recommends pairing it with ingredients that can be easily prepared during the process, such as tofu dishes, wasabi, and edamame.
■Juraku Taiko Honjozo Low Temperature Bottle Enclosure Specifications■
| raw materials | Rice (domestic), rice malt (domestic rice), brewed alcohol |
|---|---|
| Rice polishing ratio | 60% |
| Alcohol level | 15 degrees |
| Japanese sake level | +1.5 |
| acidity | 1.4 |
| Amino acid content | 1.1 |
Juraku Taiko Junmai Sparkling
A very popular sparkling sake that allows you to enjoy fine, natural foam through secondary fermentation in the bottle.
You can feel the sweet and sour flavor unique to Junmaishu and the refreshing carbonation that comes at the end, making it easy to drink and popular among women.
Secondary fermentation in the bottle is a method in which the fermenting mash is roughly squeezed, bottled in its raw state without pasteurization, and further fermented in the bottle (secondary fermentation) to generate carbon dioxide gas.
To ferment in the bottle, the yeast must be packed in a healthy state. After that, thorough temperature control is a key point at Narutaki Sake Brewery.
If bottled yeast is kept at low temperatures, fermentation will stop and carbonic acid will no longer be produced.
On the other hand, if the temperature is too high, it will ferment all at once and the taste will become harsh.
At Narutaki Sake Brewery, they do not store the beer in the refrigerator, but store it outdoors, and open the bottle every day for 5 to 10 days to check the degree of foaming, and when the time is right, they cool it all at once in the refrigerator to stop the foaming.
Regarding this secondary fermentation in the bottle, the situation is different every year, so the key is to judge the brewer, and the result is a sparkling sake that is filled with that technique and commitment.
Please try it for toast sake!
■Juraku Taiko Honjozo Low Temperature Bottle Enclosure Specifications■
| raw materials | Kake rice (Hinohikari)/Rice malt (Saganohana) |
|---|---|
| Rice polishing ratio | 60% |
| Alcohol level | 15 degrees |
| Japanese sake level | -10.1 |
| acidity | 2.0 |
| Amino acid content | 1.1 |
Recommended pairing for “Juraku Taiko Junmai Sparkling”
``Junmai Sparkling'' has a sweet and sour taste that goes perfectly with Western food such as meat dishes, pizza, and creamy spaghetti!
In addition, during a previous project with a bakery, President Furudate recommended pairing with bruschetta, also known as Italian garlic toast, as the pairing went very well.
Sake Tailored Plum Wine Taiko Plum
One of Narutaki Sake Brewery's signature products is ``Sake Tailored Umeshu Taikoume''.
This is a luxurious plum wine made only with specially brewed sake, locally grown ripe Nanko plums, and 100% domestically produced sugar beet rock sugar.
Unlike shochu-soaked sake, you can enjoy the gentle, mellow taste that is unique to Japanese sake, as well as its soft aftertaste.
Karatsu is also a plum producing area, and each household has been making plum wine since ancient times.
At Narutaki Sake Brewery, we wanted to create plum wine that could only be produced by a sake brewery, so we decided to be particular about the sake we make, and to use ripe plums, a local specialty.
The best plum wine from Karatsu that was created in this way became popular for its mellow aroma, taste, and soothing aftertaste.Not only in Japan, such as winning “GOLD” at KURA MASTER 2025 (France)It has received high praise all over the world.
Of course, you can enjoy Taikoume on the rocks or with soda, but President Furudate recommends drinking it with milk, which was invented by his wife. !
The yogurt-like consistency and sour taste is addictive, and once you taste it, you'll be hooked.
In addition, for those who would like their plum wine to be a little less sweet, it is said that you can drink it refreshingly by diluting it with ``Juraku Taiko Josen,'' making Taiko Ume a plum wine that can be enjoyed in a variety of ways.
■Sake Tailored Plum Wine Taikoume Specs■
| raw materials | Sake, plum, rock sugar |
|---|---|
| Rice polishing ratio | 60% |
| Alcohol level | 11 degrees |
Recommended pairings for “Sake Tailored Umeshu Taikoume”
Like Junmai Sparkling, we recommend pairing it with Western food such as fried chicken or snacks such as potato chips.♪
One of the charms of Taikoume is that you can enjoy it easily without putting too much effort into it.
Narutaki Sake Brewery Q&A
Here are some of the questions that were asked to President Furudate during this study abroad trip.
- How do you manage the amount of lees required for secondary fermentation in the bottle?
- This comes from experience.
There are many other breweries that carry out secondary fermentation in the bottle, so we were able to borrow their knowledge and successfully promote foaming from the first year.
Based on this, we adjust the amount of lees every year. - Is Karatsu's temperature suitable for sake brewing?
- Karatsu is located in the northern part of Kitakyushu, so winters are colder in the Kyushu region, but compared to the rest of the country, the climate is warmer, so the city has been making sake with thorough methods such as making sake mash since ancient times.
Today, advances in technology such as thermal tanks and air conditioning equipment have made it easier to brew sake, but it is said to be more difficult to raise the temperature than to lower it, so in that sense Kyushu's warm climate may be better suited. - Generally, sake with an alcohol content of 20% or higher is used when making plum wine, but does "Taikoume" also use sake with an alcohol content of 20% or higher?
- At our company, we also soak our sake in a special sake made at 21% alcohol.
- How is the pickled plum fruit of "Taikoume" processed?
- We take out plum fruits in February, and they are extremely delicious.
There are many people who cannot drink plum wine but can eat plum fruit, and plum fruit is sold locally in February and March.
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! !
