Sumō (相撲) is a unique form of wrestling with a 2,000-year-old history that easily qualifies as Japan's national sport. Sumō became a professional sport almost 300 years ago in the early part of the Edo Period (1600-1868). Although it is practised today by clubs in high schools, colleges, and...
Itō Jakuchū (伊藤若冲, 1716-1800) was a painter known for his almost surrealist, detailed depictions of exotic birds and fowl. He painted traditional Japanese motifs, experimenting with perspectives and other modern stylistic elements. He was the eldest of the three Edo-era "eccentrics" and...
Karakawa Castle (唐川城) was a mountain castle built about three kilometres north as a branch castle of Fukushima Castle on the north shore of Lake Jūsan (十三湖). It is thought that it served as a lookout tower as it overlooks both the lake and the Sea of Japan.
While visiting Fukushima Castle, I...
Hinamatsuri (雛祭り) is a festival for girls held on March 3. Tiered platforms for hina ningyō (雛人形, hina dolls) are set up at home. Families celebrate with a meal, eating hishimochi (菱餅), sweet diamond-shaped rice cakes in pink, white, and green layers, hina-arare (雛あられ), small crisps flavoured...
Romaji (ローマ字 rōmaji) means "Roman letters" in Japanese and refers to the romanisation of the Japanese language, the application of Roman letters to write Japanese. Romaji is commonly employed in Japanese texts aimed at non-Japanese speakers who cannot read kanji or kana (in road and train...
Tokugawa Ienobu (徳川 家宣, 1662-1712) was the sixth shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate and ruled for just three years, from 1709 to 1712.
Ienobu was the eldest son of Tokugawa Tsunashige (徳川綱重, 1644-1678), the daimyō of the Kōfu domain (present-day Yamanashi Prefecture). Tsunashige was the brother...
Tokugawa Tsunayoshi (1646-1709) was the fifth shōgun of the Tokugawa shogunate (ruled 1680-1709), the fourth son of Tokugawa Iemitsu, and known by the moniker "dog shogun".
Born to Iemitsu, the third shōgun, Tsunayoshi (徳川綱吉, 1646-1709) spent most of his childhood under the supervision of his...
Fukushima Castle (福島城 Fukushima-jō) is a medieval castle built on a hill at an altitude of 20 to 30 meters facing the north shore of Lake Jūsan (十三湖 Jūsanko) in the western part of the Tsugaru Peninsula, Aomori Prefecture.
The castle consisted of an inner wall (内郭 naikaku) and an outer wall...
The Japanese language uses a broad array of honorific suffixes for addressing or referring to people, for example, -san, as in Davey-san. These honorifics are gender-neutral (can be used for males and females). However, some are more used for men or women (-kun is primarily used for men, while...
Akechi Mitsuhide (明智光秀, 1528-1582), also known under the title Koretō Hyūga no Kami (惟任日向守), was one of the principal captains of hegemon Oda Nobunaga and his assassin.
A man of obscure origins, Mitsuhide was said to have been born into the Toki-Akechi family of the Toki clan (土岐氏) and sided...
As you might know, kabukicho can be a little different compared to the rest of Tokyo and most of Japan. In a way, I decided to use that to my advantage and spent quite some time there (not buying any special services there though 🤨).
Because of my frequency around the area, I can recall various...
Once upon a time I was recording some talented folk. Street performers in Nanba, creating an amazing performance. To do this, I always make sure to record audio with my phone, which I put on a surface aimed at the street performers, in this case, on the edge of the bench close to them. The...
Another mystery item. I got this piece, it's relatively large about 14 inches tall and weighs about 3 kilos. I have been on several discussion groups on porcelains, Chinese and Japanese, and the item seems to be a conundrum. That said the first image is on the base of the piece and the crack is...
Todd's Farm has celebrated it's 51st year of operations (except during the USA's pandemic when it was shut down). I had always been a buyer. Showing up with a flashlight, a pocket full of cash and an empty SUV (a small one now). I was mostly buying furniture and in New England, the surprises are...
Normally when I visit Japan, I don't spend much on accommodations, because with my extensive network of friends I'm usually imposing myself on them for a few days at a time (and sometimes longer, as the case may be). This is one of the reasons why I like to say that it's cheaper for me to travel...
♪♫♩
Hello, is it me you're looking for?
I can see it in your eyes
I can see it in your smile
You're all I've ever wanted
And my arms are open wide
'Cause you know just what to say
And you know just what to do
And I want to tell you so much
... ♪♫♪
Hey, where'd my passport go?
...
record...
My nostrils awoke first, already walking down to the beach to take in the sea air. I dropped down to the first story to have breakfast and chat with the owners to collect suggestions for the coming day. Had I left a little earlier the day before I could have made it back to Naha on day 5 of my...
The Written Japanese Script:
While there are courses that I can take in learning how to write in Japanese, reading Japanese script on an artwork is somewhat more challenging that simply learning the language. The writer is often using not only their artistic flair in writing the script, but...
I had a fairly restless night as the events of the previous day ran through my head. When did I last have my passport for sure? When else did I pull out my passport pouch, is it possible that it fell out of the pouch... or if I dropped it... or did I just forget to get it back after checking in...
I awoke with a growing frog in my throat; the nights with only air conditioners to keep my cool had taken its toll on my airways, worsening a mild but persistent cough that I'm especially self-conscious about considering the recent uptick in covid cases. I've actually seen a remarkable number of...
Tamagawa Shiboritate Namagenshu is a freshly squeezed, unprocessed sake Honjōzō made of Gohyakumangoku, Koshihikari and others. The brewers put their skills to the test by shipping the very first batch of the season as shiboritate.
Tōkō Kisetsu Gentei Junmai Hanamishu is made of rice grown in Yamagata Prefecture, milled to 60%. It has a rich and delicious taste, carrying the fruitiness and gorgeousness that colour the cherry blossom viewing season.
Katōkichibei Shōten Born Ginsen Special Junmai Daiginjō is made with Yamadanishiki rice from Hyōgo Prefecture's special "A" region milled to 50%. It has been aged for two years in the unpasteurised state in subzero temperatures.
Kinoshita Tamagawa Shizenshikomi Kimoto Junmai Stork Label 3U is part of Tamagawa's "Untouched" Series" and a "3U" (undiluted, unpasteurized, unfiltered) junmai. The untouched series are limited editions bottled to order during brewing (December to April)
Gujō no Doburoku Taake is a doburoku produced by the owners of a guest house in Gujō, Gifu Prefecture. Doburoku is the classic home-brew style of sake, created by adding kōji mould to steamed rice and water and letting the mixture ferment.
Dewazakura Tokubetsu Junmai Tezukuri is made of 55% milled rice grown in Yamagata Prefecture. It has a deep, refreshing aroma and a strong flavour, with a light and crisp character.
Mitobe Yamagata Masamune Junmai Ginjō Sake Mirai Namazake (山形正宗 純米吟醸 酒未来) is made with "Sake Mirai'' rice, a variety proprietary to Takagi Shuzō, the brewer of "Juyondai", with its characteristic juicy taste.
Prefecture
Yamagata (山形)
Rice type
Sake Mirai (酒未来)
Polishing rate (semaibuai)
55%
Alcohol content
16%
Brewery
Mitobe Shuzō
Name in Japanese
水戸部酒造
Address
7 Otsu, Haramachi, Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, 〒994-0055
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