“Totsuru Sake Brewery” x Hands-on local SAKE
The history of Tokatsu Sake Brewery, which brews Japanese sake in Taku City, Saga Prefecture, has a spectacular story.
In fact, the company was temporarily closed and on the verge of going out of business in 1989, during the time of its predecessor, but the current president, Yasunari Nonaka, re-launched it in 2009, and it continues to operate today.
It takes no ordinary effort to restart a brewery that has been forced to close or go out of business.
President Nonaka said that he used to hate sake, but after a certain encounter he fell in love with sake, and now he is producing a variety of sake that overturns conventional wisdom.
In this article, we will introduce a little bit of President Nonaka's heroic life story.♪
Listen to the rest in person at the online toast event on August 6th!
Totsuru Sake Brewery, Representative Director
Mr. Yasunari Nonaka
Table of contents
Please tell me about the storehouse.
Since our establishment in 1830, we have been producing sake for generations.
The brewery closed down in 1989, but since 2009, the brewery has become the brewer himself and is run by his family.
Please tell us about the characteristics of the area.
Taku City is an area rich in nature surrounded by mountains.
Especially in the morning, the temperature is low and perfect for sake brewing.
The water we use for preparation is high-quality soft water pumped from 100 meters underground on our premises.
We use this high-quality soft water in all of our products, and the gentle taste that is characteristic of soft water is reflected in our drinks.
How did you start getting involved in sake brewing?
Originally, I didn't like Japanese sake lol. So I was reluctant to take over the family business, so I worked at a restaurant.
The reason I fell in love with it was when I met Mr. Komatsu, the president of Karatsu's Banrei restaurant. I was captivated by President Komatsu's enthusiasm for sake and the taste of Banrei, and decided to try it myself.
I would love to talk about this at an online event.
Please tell me the best sake you've ever made.
"Higashitsurusemi Shigure Sparkling Raw"
This sake was developed with the desire to have people casually drinking sake.
The effervescent feeling is created by the carbon dioxide gas produced by the live yeast in the bottle.
This sake took three years to prepare, including strict alcohol control and temperature control in order to adjust the fermentation power, and adjusting the taste to simulate the taste when carbon dioxide gas is involved.
The umami and acidity are harmoniously spread out, and the slightly strong carbonation at the end creates a refreshing finish.
We also have it available for online events, so please enjoy it.
Please tell us about your thoughts on sake brewing.
The only sake I make is pure rice sake.
Junmaishu is made with only rice (including rice malt to be exact) and water as the main ingredients.
I think the beauty of Japanese sake is that even under such limited conditions, by adjusting various factors such as the method of making koji, controlling the temperature of the moromi, steaming pressure, and time, you can create a flavor that can only be produced in that particular brewery.
I also want people to experience the joy of sake by making sake with a variety of flavors, so every year I work hard to create sake that has never been seen before as part of a challenge series.
future vision
I would like to contribute to the local community and society through my company.
Specifically, we would like to alleviate the lack of successors for farmers by revitalizing the region through brewery events and cultivating sake rice in neighboring regions.
Thank you, President Nonaka!
As I listened to their stories, I was able to clearly sense the love and enthusiasm that goes into the sake of Tokatsu Sake Brewery.
Furthermore, at its peak there were more than 4,000 sake breweries, but now only about 1,500 remain, and one theory says that only about 1,000 are actually in operation.
I believe that President Nonaka's sake brewery revival, as well as his know-how and passion, are necessary for the sake industry.
At this collaboration event between Tokatsu Sake Brewery and Hands-on Local SAKE, we will be serving three types of sake brewed as part of the challenge series, with President Nonaka's life story as the perfect snack.♪
Let's have fun and toast together at home!
■Click here for Totsuru Sake Brewery online sake brewery tour