Waltz into the bar
pick up a glass of shochu
find love in each sip
Haiku 001
On a crooked branch
The nightjar waits in darkness
Churring Autumn’s song
Mio Sparkling Sake Review: Light, Airy And Pleasantly Sweet
Flavour variation is one of the most exciting aspects of the sake industry. From the fruity flavours of junmai ginjo, to the savoury textures of a well-made honjozo, sake has plenty to offer in the taste department.
In recent years, sparkling sake has emerged as a popular beverage for a younger generation of nihonshu drinkers. With a lower ABV percentage and lighter quality than other grades, sparkling sake is worth trying. Recently, I tasted a bottle of Mio sparkling sake and found it to be an extremely pleasant drink. Continue reading “Mio Sparkling Sake Review: Light, Airy And Pleasantly Sweet”
Discover The Beauty Of Nihonshu With Peter Street Kitchen’s Sake Masterclass
The Japanese sake industry has been built on centuries of tradition, yet outside of Japan, nihonshu is a niche drink that many westerners are unfamiliar with. I’ve found learning about sake to be a fascinating experience, and it was that curiosity that inspired me to take part in the sake masterclass evening at Peter Street Kitchen in Manchester. With the opportunity to try several different blends of nihonshu, it’s safe to say I felt like a kid in a candy store. Continue reading “Discover The Beauty Of Nihonshu With Peter Street Kitchen’s Sake Masterclass”
Japonisme Review: An Inspiring Book That Is Dedicated Towards Promoting Positive Mental Health
Looking after your mental health is important, especially in a fast-paced world that is driven by digital experiences. While everyone has their own mental health coping techniques, it’s good to examine different cultures and gain an appreciation for their practices. Japan has a rich tradition of self-improvement concepts, such as ikigai, which is all about finding a purpose.
Erin Niimi Longhurst’s Japonisme provides insight into the rationale behind ikigai and other Japanese self-improvement techniques. By detailing her own experiences through the lens of her heritage, Longhurst has written a fascinating book that is inspiring from a mental health perspective. Continue reading “Japonisme Review: An Inspiring Book That Is Dedicated Towards Promoting Positive Mental Health”
The Shochu Handbook Review: Enter The World Of Shochu And Awamori With This Epic Drinking Guide
What I love about Japanese alcohol is the range of versatile drinks, which run the gamut from sweet tasting nihonshu, to fiery whiskeys that have been made with Japanese brewing techniques. It turns out there’s this pretty awesome drink called shochu as well.
When learning about this flexible beverage, it’s a good idea to go to an expert, which is why I picked up Christopher Pellegrini’s The Shochu Handbook: An Introduction To Japan’s Indigenous Distilled Drink. In the book, Pellegrini tells you everything you need to know about shochu and why it needs to be on the radar of casual drinkers, sake nerds and alcohol experts alike. Continue reading “The Shochu Handbook Review: Enter The World Of Shochu And Awamori With This Epic Drinking Guide”
Etsu Gin Review: Handcrafted To Perfection
Over the past few years, gin and tonic has become my go-to drink. And with the gin boom getting bigger and bigger, I’ve been able to try a wide variety of flavours and see how they compare to each other. Etsu gin has left a lasting impression on me because of its floral characteristics and clean finish. Read on to hear my thoughts on this multifaceted drink and why it is one of my favourite types of gin. Continue reading “Etsu Gin Review: Handcrafted To Perfection”
Hanakotoba
At the end of the day
Humanity can be summed up in the language of flowers
You are shy as an amaryllis
Sincere as a white anemone
Pious like ambrosia
Remembrance is the colour of aster tataricus
Always be patient like azaleas
Grateful like a bluebell
Lust is formed in cactus
Love as deeply as the red camellia
But never regret longing for something like a yellow camellia
Or waiting for the right person to come along like a white camellia
Cursed love comes in bouquets of fritillaria camschatcensis
While fascination grows in carnations
Kindness lives in cherry blossoms
Imperialness is the aroma of yellow chrysanthemum
Yet always look for the truth in white chrysanthemum
Appreciate luck when it comes to you like a four-leaf clover
Be respectful as the daffodil
Have good taste like dahlia
Don’t be afraid to show faith like a daisy
Or be as courageous as edelweiss
Search for solitude in erica
And hope for true love in forget-me-nots
Refrain from being childish like freesia
Develop a secret love with gardenia
Pick habernaria radiata and dream beautifully
Never forget to be gentle like hibiscus
As generous as honeysuckle
Pride blooms on the leaves of hydrangea
Await good tidings on the petals of iris
Live as gracefully as jasmine
Stay faithful as lavender
Be pure as white lilies
Don’t succumb to the hatred of orange lilies
There’s nothing wrong with being as sweet as the lily of the valley
Or as wealthy as the tiger lily
Red spider lilies tend to be forgetful
While sunflowers shine with radiance
Remember the ones you love with lotus
Be natural as magnolias
As adventurous as mistletoe
Make willful promises like morning glory
Take lessons in self-esteem from narcissus
Be caring as pansies
Brave like peony
Fun-loving as red poppies
Rejoice in your accomplishments under white poppies
Celebrate success in the presence of yellow poppies
And never show desperation in a patch of primroses
Announce your love with a red rose
Protect innocence with a white rose
Avoid the jealousy of yellow roses
Show your confidence with pink roses instead
Say a meaningful goodbye with sweet pea
Seek fame and charity with a red tulip in hand
Guard against the one-sided love of yellow tulips
Strive to be as cooperative as verbena
As honest as violets
As loyal as zinnia
Such is the language of hanakotoba
Ninki-Ichi Gold Junmai Daiginjo Review: A Clash Of Sweet And Savoury
Within the sake industry, there’s an ongoing debate between the merits of junmai and non-junmai sake. Junmai sake contains no added alcohol, while non-junmai contains a small batch of brewer’s alcohol.
Depending on preferences, some might argue that junmai daiginjo is the holy grail of sake because of its connotations of being premium and pure. Curious to find out about whether junmai daiginjo is a drink worth dying for, I recently tasted Ninki-Ichi Gold junmai daiginjo. Continue reading “Ninki-Ichi Gold Junmai Daiginjo Review: A Clash Of Sweet And Savoury”
What The Hell Is Koji? (Sake On Air Review)
When it comes to unique drinking cultures, Japan is a country with plenty to talk about. Drinks like nihonshu and awamori are complex and contradictory, adding to the intrigue of the Japanese alcohol industry. For anyone who is interested in learning more about sake, there are podcasts like Sake On Air, which go into detail about the industry and why Japanese beverages have become so popular in the west.
Understanding the sake brewing process is an integral part of learning how to drink it and koji is an essential ingredient. In case you’re scratching your head and wondering what koji is, the creators of Sake On Air have released an episode that gives a helpful introduction into Japan’s national mold. Continue reading “What The Hell Is Koji? (Sake On Air Review)”
yamatomagazine.home.blog 