Blog

Making Koji at Matsuse Shuzo (Shiga)
July 31, 2025
Matsuse Shuzo Toji Keizo Ishika dusting koji spores onto freshly steamed Yamada Nishiki rice.We had...
Kanosuke Distillery (Kagoshima)
June 5, 2025
After my visit to Komasa Jyozo in February, we got into a car and went...
Komasa Jyozo (Kagoshima)
March 1, 2025
During our last Japan visit, I made a quick detour down to Kagoshima to visit...
Seifuku Awamori Distillery (Ishigaki)
December 6, 2024
Just down the road from Ikehara Shuzo on Ishigaki Island is Seifuku, renowned awamori and liqueur maker....
Ikehara Shuzo (Ishigaki)
May 30, 2024
When we pulled up to Ikehara Shuzo this past February, I would have never guessed...
Yucho Shuzo (Nara)
January 4, 2024
Visiting President Chobei Yamamoto at Yucho Shuzo in Gose City was one of the most...
Ikekame Shuzo (Fukuoka)
December 19, 2023
After my visit to Nishiyoshida Shuzo in Chikugo, Fukuoka back in January, I had the...
Nishiyoshida Shuzo (Fukuoka)
June 23, 2023
I'm not sure if it was the pandemic, or having a child, but everything I...
Matsuse Brewery in Shiga
May 5, 2023
Walking into a sake brewery is like walking into someone's home. In the old days,...
A Visit to Kawatsuru Brewery
April 18, 2023
Yuichiro Kawahito, president of Kawatsuru Brewery in Kagawa, is the epitome of the word genki...
Shochu Maker Highlight - Yamatozakura Shuzo
March 1, 2023
At the beginning of September of 2022, I had the opportunity to visit a number...
Shochu Maker Highlight - Shiraishi Shuzo
February 24, 2023
  In September 2022, I had the pleasure of visiting a number of shochu distilleries...