Maison Ikkoku Sake Interview
Translation by: Dylan Acres
Sake has long been involved with we Japanese and has been deeply rooted in our daily lives. Sake is a part of the Japanese culture brewed from rice and water.
At the Sake Brewery Ikkoku-kan, we want everyone to rediscover the deliciousness of sake, including Daiginjo, using a masterpiece by Rumiko Takahashi (Maison Ikkoku), with the theme of delicious and fun sake. [1] By delivering it, we will propose a rich food culture.
We hope that as many people as possible will know the appeal of sake.
We would like to express our deep gratitude to Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and Shogakukan Productions for their cooperation.
Daiginjo Maison Ikkoku
In order for the younger generation to rediscover the deliciousness of sake, I would like to make sake that will trigger a new era of sake drinking.Not only is it delicious, but we also made a sake that is fun to look at and delicious to drink, and we hope that you will be happy. When I searched for a woman who fits the image of sake, Maison Ikkoku, or rather the manager of Maison Ikkoku, Kyoko Otonashi came to my mind.
Kyoko is our most longed-for woman and eternal heroine. I asked Rumiko Takahashi-sensei to express Kyoko's light, gentle and inclusive nature on the sake label, and she was able to draw it. Rumiko Takahashi will create a drawing for each sake, so we decided it had to be excellent sake as well.
Of course, it is a high quality sake, made for a variety of people to enjoy, I hope you enjoy the sake and in getting an award from Kan Review Board for Daiginjo (Kanhyokai Winning Wine) I have everything I could possibly want.
2006: Fujinoi's Daiginjo "Maison Ikkoku" is a sake that was created be a representational work of Japanese sake that is made by polishing the best rice suitable for sake brewing, "Yamada Nishiki from Hyogo Prefecture", to 40% and then slowly fermenting it at low temperatures for a long time.
1. The first sake "Early Summer", was to commemorate the opening of the online shop "Sake Brewery Ikkoku-kan". Among them, Daiginjo, which won the 74th Kanto Shinetsu National Taxation Bureau Liquor Appraisal Award, was aged at low temperature for another three years. We will deliver with Daiginjo.
Please enjoy the fully aged umami and fragrance to your heart's content.
Fujinoi Sake Brewery President Kobayashi: With the kindness of Shogakukan, this time we decided to have Maison Ikkoku's heroine Kyoko Otonashi on the sake label. Even so, Kyoko's atmosphere really fits the image of sake.
Rumiko Takahashi: Thank you. Well, everyone in the series is drinking all year round (laughs)
Kobayashi: The residents have a little problem with the way they drink ...
Takahashi: However, it may be a manga that cannot be talked about without alcohol (laughs).
Kobayashi: Only the manager is not drunk ...
Takahashi: I'm not drunk either (laughs).
Kobayashi: Basically, this label art seems to be centered around smiles, but sometimes an angry face is also good, isn't it?
Takahashi: You wouldn't want to put an angry face on the label. I wanted to make sure that I did not cause any discomfort to your customers.
Kobayashi: Even if she got angry, I would personally feel good.
Takahashi: No, no, no.
Kobayashi: Understood. Then, please basically say "smile". However, this time, instead of drawing it as a "liquor label", Kyoko was there first, and I would like to create the feeling that Kyoko will match the liquor label.
Takahashi: Is it okay if it doesn't look like sake in a sense?
Kobayashi: That's fine (laughs). First of all, when I think of alcohol, I think of something astringent like a seal in sumi-e, but I would dare to color it.
Takahashi: Is that so...
Kobayashi: Sake also has a healing effect, and Kyoko is also a healing character, so if something like that synergistic effect of "healing" is born...
Takahashi: ...I see.
Kobayashi: In that sense as well, this time I would like to go with our proud "Daiginjo" so that the contents will not lose out to the label artwork.
Takahashi: Understood. Then I would like to do my best in painting so as not to lose to the alcohol.
Kobayashi: Thank you.
In this "early summer", Kyoko's is dressed in her most symbolic apron with her bamboo broom, and the "soap bubble" is shining around in the image of early summer. Please enjoy the "early summer" season like spring and summer with this "Daiginjo".
2. We will serialize a dialogue between Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and the President Fujinoi Sake Brewery.The 2nd Rumiko Takahashi × Sake
Fujinoi Sake Brewery President Kobayashi: What is the impression of sake from your perspective, Takahashi-sensei?
Rumiko Takahashi: Well, first of all, when I was a kid, I used to go to sake breweries. At the festival after Obon, we all got together and it was a lot of fun. [2] The inside of the sake brewery is very interesting for children, isn't it?
Kobayashi: That's right.
Takahashi: There are a lot of big barrels in the brewery, and a ladder is hung on the barrels, and people who make sake get to go up there and brew... it's a very mysterious space. Anyway, the sake brewery is also large, so I tried to play "hide and seek" (laughs).
Kobayashi: You must have hidden well. So when an adult finds you, they get angry ...
Takahashi: Also, it smells good, doesn't it? In that sense as well, I think that sake was "a familiar thing" to me.
Kobayashi: I'm glad that sake is "a familiar thing".
Takahashi: Even before, my relative's uncle really squeezed it to the very beginning on New Year's Day ...
Kobayashi: "Freshly squeezed"?
Takahashi: Oh yeah, it's a very fresh sake for you to bring home. The first is crispy sake, which is also delicious. We drank it together.
Kobayashi: That was good. Then, let's think about a "freshly squeezed" project someday.
Takahashi: Sounds good.
In this "Summer", Kyoko's cool yukata and surroundings are labeled with the image of Niigata fireworks. In this recommended rock liquor, ice is the first to be added. If you put in the sake first followed by the ice, it will separate and become watery, so just follow in the order of "ice then sake". Do not pour a large amount, pour an amount that you can drink with a bite or two, and spend the summer night watching the fireworks.
3. We will serialize a dialogue between Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and the President of Fujinoi Sake Brewery.
The 3rd Rumiko Takahashi x Sake
Fujinoi Sake Brewery President Kobayashi: By the way, do you usually drink alcohol, Takahashi-sensei?
Rumiko Takahashi: In winter, I'll want to have a drink of sake. However, I hear that "kanzake" is not a great thing do to with really good sake. [3]
Kobayashi: In the past, it was said that such sake was always cold, but now I think that "body temperature" is also good way to serve it. When it comes to the Daiginjo class like this one, the scent may be too strong with hot sake.
Takahashi: However, the deliciousness of "hot sake" when it really freezes outside is already the best. I was invited by a friend to a concert at an event before, but it was raining, it was very cold, and it was freezing (laughs) ... and it was very delicious when I drank hot sake on my way home. [4]
Kobayashi: I would think so.
Takahashi: I don't get drunk off it. It just warms me up and feels good, but I'm not a heavy drinker at all, but it feels good to have some. So at that time of year, it's hot sake. But I felt like I couldn't use other sake.
Kobayashi: That is the good point of sake. What type do you like?
Takahashi: I don't drink many specific kinds ... but I'll drink anything (laughs). But not a lot. Mostly while eating rice.
Kobayashi: Do you drink with dinner?
Takahashi: I usually work at night, so I don't drink at night. Sometimes when I go out and eat with people, it's said that drinking alcohol makes the rice delicious.
Kobayashi: It's sake while eating, such as sake during meals. By all means, I would like everyone to enjoy this sake with food as well.
Takahashi: I hope that happens.
In this "Autumn", Kyoko's dress made her look more mature, and the surroundings became chic with the image of stained glass. The recommendation of "Autumn" is to enjoy the rich aroma unique to Daiginjo. Pour it into a brandy glass and warm it with the warmth of your hands to add aroma. Please enjoy the "autumn" season when the food is delicious with this Daiginjo.
4. We will serialize a dialogue between Rumiko Takahashi-sensei and the President of Fujinoi Sake Brewery.The 4th Rumiko Takahashi x Sake
Fujinoi Sake Brewery President Kobayashi: Takahashi-sensei often drinks while eating. By the way, what kind of combinations do you pair it with?
Rumiko Takahashi: Hmm. Basically, I mainly just eat, but I do think it would be nice to have some alcohol with my meals. I've been to a sushi restaurant where I try all the liquor with different dishes, but I thought it was amazing that I could enjoy each of them and enjoy a little bit of liquor.
Kobayashi: Really a cup of Ochoco and sushi?
Takahashi: Yes, that's right. Then, when the dish changes, you can find a suitable drink for the next dish.
Kobayashi: That's amazing. So what liquor do you drink when you're hungry?
Takahashi: If I'm hungry and wanting liquor ... both would be ruined...
Kobayashi: When it comes to eating, is sake still Japanese?
Takahashi: Well, it goes well with Japanese food. However, if you eat Okinawan food like Awamori, cooking is very closely related to sake, isn't it? So, it's like, there is food that goes well with wine.
Kobayashi: I also like wine.
Takahashi: I was being intervied, but I went out to eat Italian food at night, and at first I said that I didn't need alcohol because I work at night, but when I ate food, I wanted to drink wine.
Kobayashi: Is it white wine?
Takahashi: Yes. Then it makes the food become very delicious all over again. That's why I thought that wine is really delicious when you drink it while eating rice.
Kobayashi: Just as sake brings out the deliciousness of food, I hope that Kyoko's "healing" atmosphere will bring out the "healing" effect of sake itself.
Takahashi: I agree. I really hope it will happen.
Kobayashi: Thank you very much for making such fun labels.
Takahashi: I'm the one who should be thanking you.
In "Winter", Kyoko's kimono gives a "Japanese" atmosphere, but behind her there is an elegant label with the image of winter trees. Please enjoy the "winter" season when Daiginjo sake pairs well.
On the north latitude 38 degree line, on the Fujikahama beach surrounded by the angry waves of the Sea of Japan, endless sand dunes, and beautiful pine forests, there is the long-established "Fujinoi Brewery", and from it comes a delicious, famous sake that has been fermented since ancient times. It is here where "Fujinoi" was born.
The results are reflected in the many gold awards, including the first prize of the president at the 63rd Kanto Shinetsu National Taxation Bureau Liquor Appraisal.
Fujinoi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
1335 Fujitsukahama, Shibata City, Niigata Prefecture
Phone: 0254-41-3165
FAX: 0254-41-4344
Footnotes
- [1] Daiginjo (大吟醸) is the most prized bottle of a brewery and represents the height of a brewmaster's ability.
- [2] Obon (お盆) a Buddhist festival honoring one's ancestors. Typically the festivals take place around August 15th, but it varies depending on the locality.
- [3] Kanzake (燗酒) is drinking sake that has been warmed up.
- [4] This is very likely to refer to the Aerosmith concert that Rumiko Takahashi went to see with Keisuke Itagaki (the mangaka of Grappler Baki) in 2002. Takahashi recounts this trip in an interview with Itagaki from 2021.
鮭ふじの井
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