Sake Lovers Find the Drinking Vessel of Their Dreams at Katakuchi-ya!

［Last updated: August 2, 2022］
Ask any sake lover, and they’ll tell you that your favorite brew tastes even better when served in an authentic drinking vessel. It’s no surprise, then, that Katakuchi-ya—a select shop that, true to its name, specializes in the sake serving bowls known as katakuchi—is booming in popularity among sake fans and foodies looking to add a touch of elegance to their dinner table. We spoke with the shop owner, Ms. Mie Oya, who runs the entire operation herself, from cultivating relationships with the artisans whose work she sells, to site design, operations, shipping and more!

▲Works by Kiyooka Kodo（清岡幸道）

All About Katakuchi
Katakuchi refers to a variety of serving vessel with a single spout. Traditionally and typically used for serving sake, in recent years you may see them used for measuring other liquids, or as creative serving bowls for a wide variety of culinary dishes. Historians believe that the people of Japan have been using katakuchi since the Jomon (ca. 14000-300 BCE) and Yayoi (600 BCE–300 BCE) periods. A similar vessel with two spouts on opposite edges is known as a morokuchi.

A Vessel for All Occasions: Turn Your Dinner Table into an Art Museum

While earthenware and glassware shops can be found all over, Katakuchi-ya is—to our knowledge—the only one in the world that specializing in katakuchi. Though Ms. Oya deals in other sake serving cups and mugs as well, at Katakuchi-ya the spotlight is clearly on these unique vessels. She shared with us her motivation for starting up her unique business.

“I had the idea to start a dinnerware store focused on one particular variety of item, and katakuchi just came to mind. The spout is charming and simply picture-perfect, and thinking of all the different ways they can be used is just so much fun.”

Recently, fans have been sharing with her creative new uses for katakuchi through social networks. “They’re perfect for serving many different dishes, and for holding not just sake, but salad dressing and soba sauce as well,” Ms. Oya explained. “You can even use them for flower arrangement and as a stylish interior accessory. The other day, one customer showed me how she used one in a tea ceremony.”

A One-Woman Operation

Running a popular internet shop isn’t as simple as having something people want to buy: photography skills, eye-catching web design, frequent updates and communication with your customers are all elements that can mean the difference between success and failure. Admiring the clean, stylish look of the Katakuchi-ya site, we assumed it was the product of a professional web design firm, and were surprised to hear that Ms. Oya handles all these duties on her own, along with all correspondence with the artisans whose work she sells.

“I’m always looking for young new creators whose work I can feature, always taking care to show them the respect they deserve. After making the initial contact, I make a point of attending their exhibitions and speaking with them in person, and after that visiting them at their workshops.” she continued. “I believe it’s not just about the works, but about the person behind them as well.”
All the works available at Katakuchi-ya have been hand-picked and selected by Ms. Oya herself. “From the start, I didn’t want to be just another collector and dealer,” she explains with passion. “I wanted to share pieces that truly moved me with the world.”

Taking the Show on The Road

In recent years, there has been a growing trend of online shops running limited-time-only booths at major shopping center across Japan. In a sense, not being tied to a single physical location makes it that much easier to take their operation to wherever they’re called.
Needless to say, the uniquely stylish Katakuchi-ya is no exception. With the popularity of her store growing by the day, in June 2015 Ms. Oya held special events at the renowned department stores Isetan and Takashimaya.

“Isetan was the first to reach out to me. I’ve only begun holding these events recently, but I’ve been amazed at how many customers have come after reading about them on my site or social networks,” she says with a smile. “When they tell me how happy they are with the katakuchi they bought, or say how they couldn’t decide just from pictures on the internet so they wanted to see and hold them in person—these are the moments that make it all worthwhile.”

▲From an event at the Isetan department store in Shinjuku

▲From an event at the Takashimaya department store in JR Nagoya Station

As its visibility grows, Katakuchi-ya has been receiving an influx of orders from around the world. Ms. Oya is proficient in English as well, and is more than happy to accept orders in English via Facebook message or FAX. Even more recently, Katakuchi-ya has opened a showroom in Nagoya. While it can’t beat the internet for convenience, there’s nothing quite like seeing and holding these creations for yourself—and Ms. Oya would be happy to tell you all about katakuchi in English or Japanese. So if you’re interested in adding an artistic touch to your daily dining and drinking, why not visit Katakuchi-ya in person or on the internet? You’re sure to find a charming, elegant vessel to suit your fancy!

Katakuchi-ya　HOTORI かたくち屋ほとり
Kodama Building B1F, 1-1-8 Marunouchi, Naka Ward, Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture
TEL/FAX: 052-204-4520
Open 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Closed: Tuesdays and Saturdays

Web Site: http://www.katakuchi.jp
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/katakuchiya?fref=ts

*This article was originally posted on July 31, 2015.

Translation: Jon Machida

2017-05-222022-08-04

Miso Sommeliers: Mastering the Art of Miso

［Last updated: August 4, 2022］
With traditional Japanese food, or washoku, being recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage by UNESCO in December 2013, the distinctive ingredients used in Japan’s cuisine are in the spotlight more than ever. Today, we’ll take a closer look at one of the most unique of these—miso—through the eyes of the professionals who have made it their mission to study and share with the world the wonders of miso.

Gotta Have My Miso

An indispensable seasoning for countless aficionados who have fallen in love with Japanese cuisine, miso is made by fermenting ingredients such as soybeans, rice, or barley together with salt and koji (a fermentation starter). While miso first appears in written histories during the Nara period (710-794), there is evidence that people were making a primitive form of it more than two millennia ago. Clearly, miso in one form or another has a long history of delighting the Japanese palate.

Miso soup is a staple of Japanese home cooking, and all families keep a healthy supply of miso close at hand. Those who take pride in their cooking often eschew the mass-produced varieties found in supermarkets and seek out their own personal favorites. But with so many types of miso available, which to choose? What if I want to make my own miso? If you’re looking for answers to questions like these, why not consult a miso sommelier? These professionals will be more than happy to guide you to a miso match made in heaven.

Sommeliers: Not Just for Wine Anymore?

Japan is known for its love of credentials and certifications. In addition to the government certifications required to become—for example—a doctor, a lawyer, or an accountant, you’ll find private organizations offering credentials targeted at professionals or ordinary people seeking to tangibly demonstrate their knowledge in various fields and industries. Needless to say, food is no exception. From “mushroom meisters” to “seafood specialists” to “curry coordinators”—if you have the time, money, and motivation, you too can study and earn one of these titles, along with the trust and respect of those around you.

Miso sommeliers are men and women whose knowledge of—and passion for—this uniquely Japanese condiment knows no bounds, and who have taken it upon themselves to spread a love of miso across Japan and the world, while passing down the secrets of miso production and miso cuisine to future generations. Only individuals who gone through an intensive course and passed an exam administered by the Miso Sommelier Nintei Kyokai (Miso Sommelier Accrediting Association) can claim this prestigious distinction.

Without further ado, let’s meet a real miso sommelier. For Yusuke Natsukawa, earning this title wasn’t simply for show, but an essential part of his livelihood. We visited him at his workplace, a miso shop in Tokyo’s shitamachi, or old town, where he shared with us a wealth of information on the marvels of miso. (The interview was conducted in Japanese, as Mr. Natsukawa speaks limited English, but his eloquence in discussing miso cannot be denied!)

Meet a Miso Sommelier: Yusuke Natsukawa of Gunji Miso

The Torigoe neighborhood of Tokyo’s Taito City has long been home to artisans and craftsmen. One of the rare parts of the city to survive the World War II air raids, its streets are lined with traditional row houses (known as nagaya). It is here, tucked away in a corner of a shopping arcade known as Okazu-yokochō, that you will find Gunji Miso Tsukemono-ten, a family-run miso purveyor founded in 1957. Mr. Natsukawa, who now serves as head of sales, joined the company at the age of twenty-three and has been working here for fifteen years. You can find him spreading the joy of miso not only at his shop, but at culinary events held in department stores across Tokyo. Let’s hear from him in his own words.

“Our chairman and founder spent four years as a prisoner of war in Siberia. Faced with endless days of unbearable cold, hunger, and hard labor, the only thing that kept his spirits high was talking about food with his friends, and dreaming of the day when he could taste his mother’s homemade miso soup again. Hearing about his deep passion for miso inspired me, and I want to keep that flame burning.”
Haruo Gunji is now ninety-eight years young(As of May 25,2017) and a father figure to everyone at Gunji Miso. Back in Siberia, he resolved that if he ever made it back alive, he would open his own miso shop, and sell his mother’s miso, which had warmed his heart and the hearts of his friends. Today, Mr. Natsukawa is carrying on that dream.

Not Your Ordinary Miso

Currently, there are three miso sommeliers employed at Gunji Miso—Mr. Natsukawa, company president Takeshi Gunji, and sales manager Yasuhiro Ikemoto—all possessing a remarkable depth and breadth of miso knowledge.
“I always had a good working knowledge of miso, but since becoming a miso sommelier, my words carry a lot more weight,” Mr. Natsukawa says with a grin. “It’s also been invaluable when talking to customers at events across the city.” Mr. Natsukawa explained how he is now able to provide detailed answers to questions about choosing the right miso to go with particular ingredients or seasonal dishes.

All miso made at Gunji Miso is produced naturally—prepared in the heart of winter (generally from around January 20 to February 3), fermented over the summer, then brought to completion the following year. “It’s a long process, but the taste is worth it,” Mr. Natsukawa says with pride.
He also has some advice for chefs looking to spice up their creations. “Next time, try adding miso as a secret ingredient—a little scoop of miso will bring out a richness in curries and stews. It’s also great on cheese—fermented foods really pair well together.”

On its own or as an accent to various dishes, miso affords limitless possibilities—not to mention proven health benefits for both the body and mind. Interested in learning more? Why not take a trip to old town Tokyo and visit Mr. Natsukawa yourself? The wide and wonderful world of miso awaits you!

Gunji Miso Tsukemono-ten 郡司味噌漬物店
1-14-2 Torigoe, Taito, Tokyo, Japan
Open Monday to Saturday from 9:00 am to 7:00 p.m.
Closed Sundays, holidays, and the second and fourth Mondays of each month
E-mail: info@gunjimiso.com
Homepage: http://www.gunjimiso.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gunjimiso/

*This article was originally posted on August 10, 2015.

Translation: Jon Machida

2017-05-112022-08-04

Tokyo Sake Collection 2015: An Event for Sake Lovers Everywhere

［Last updated: August 4, 2022］
Each year, the Meishu Center—a renowned sake tasting bar in Tokyo’s Hamamatsucho district—hosts the Tokyo Sake Collection, a celebration of all things sake. Featuring talks aimed at young sake fans, as well as English information sessions for sake aficionados from around the world, this event truly has something to offer sake lovers of all stripes. Today, we’ll share our impressions from the 2015 edition of the event.

Tokyo Sake Collection 2015
Held Sunday, April 19, 2015 at Zojoji Temple in Tokyo’s Shiba Park
Hosted by Meishu Center 名酒センター
Operations by the Womens’ Nihonshukai (“Womens’ Sake Association”)
Assisted by the Shuto Meijinkai (“Association of Sake Masters”)

Stage #1—Taste and Enjoy: Opening the Door to the Wide World of Sake

The four-stage event began with a lecture on “cool sake” targeted at sake fans in their early twenties. The instructor was Euka Isawa, president of the Students’ Sake Association. Ms. Isawa is a student at the University of Tokyo who is also involved with her family’s business—Katsuyama Shuzo, a famous sake brewery. In her lecture, she taught those of the younger generation—who may not drink often—how to enjoy sake. From drinking etiquette to tips on appreciating good sake, she used familiar examples to convey knowledge on a wide variety of topics to her peers.

Smiles abounded as the young audience split into groups for discussions and tasting exercises, and the excitement in the air was unlike anything seen at your typical sake event.

Stage #2—Enjoying Sake in English, As Taught by a Sake Samurai

The next lecturer was Etsuko Nakamura, an interpreter and tour guide, and one of the few sake specialists to earn the title of Sake Samurai for her accomplishments in promoting sake culture overseas. The audience was filled with sake fans of all nationalities, including tourists and longtime residents of Japan alike.

Seeing their enraptured faces, it was clear that sake has become an increasingly worldwide phenomenon.

Stages #3 and #4—A Sake Tasting Fashion Show!?

The final two stages of the event featured a doubleheader tasting party. Kicking off with a runway show that wouldn’t be out of place in Paris, visitors were treated to sake brewers taking center stage one by one to display their latest creations—a sight true to the Sake Collection name. Perhaps unaccustomed to the bright lights, more than a few brewers appeared nervous the first time, but the smiles flowed freely by their second go-around.

After the performance, the floor was opened, and sake fans eagerly made the rounds with their o-choko (sake cups) in hand, sampling delicious sake from the twenty-three breweries in attendance. This opportunity to speak directly with the brewers while tasting their sake is perhaps the greatest allure of this event. You could see eyes light up and smiles beam as attendees listened to the brewers’ answers to all their sake-related questions.

An Event that Will Make a Sake Fan of Anyone

The Tokyo Sake Collection 2015 was unlike any sake event we had ever attended. In particular, the lecture directed at prospective fans in their early twenties was a refreshing and admirable approach. In a society where the younger generation is said to be drifting away from sake, it was inspiring to see young fans like those of the Students’ Sake Association working to improve the image of sake among their peers.

Of course, there’s nothing quite like being able to talk face-to-face with the people who brew this amazing sake, while sampling everything from fresh new sake to exclusive limited-edition brews. The scale of the event was also just right, allowing attendees to communicate with the brewers in a friendly, cozy environment.

The Tokyo Sake Collection is held every year. If you have even the slightest interest in sake, why not check it out for yourself? There are also plenty of other sake tasting events to appeal to sake lovers (and would-be sake lovers) of all kinds. So what are you waiting for? There’s a whole world of sake out there just waiting to be discovered!

▲During a break from the festivities, representatives from each brewery make an offering of fresh sake and a prayer at Zojoji Temple.

*This article was originally posted on May 21, 2015.

Translation: Jon Machida

2017-05-112022-08-04

A Bizarre Adventure to Hakui, Home of the JoJo Stones!

［Last updated: August 4, 2022］
The city of Hakui in Ishikawa Prefecture is not your average tourist destination. Famous for UFO sightings, it’s made the news in recent years for a new reason: its so-called “JoJo stones,” which have become the talk of the internet. Today, we’ll take you on a virtual trip to Hakui for a delightfully bizarre sightseeing adventure.

The Truth Is Out There?

Hakui has been promoting itself as “UFO city,” thanks to the numerous reported sighting of curious flying objects within its borders. The city has even gone so far as to build a space museum, Cosmo Isle Hakui, with the official cooperation of NASA. Outer space enthusiasts—including many fans of the manga Space Brothers—flock to the museum, which counts one of Japan’s foremost ufologists as its curator emeritus.
Cosmo Isle Hakui:http://www.hakui.ne.jp/ufo/

Strike Your Best Pose

Step out into the plaza at JR Hakui station and you’ll find five curious sculptures depicting the onomatopoeic sound effects found in Japanese manga. These have come to be known as the “JoJo stones,” with fans of the manga and anime JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure traveling from far and wide to take pictures of themselves striking the trademark poses from the series. It’s a truly unique destination for the most devoted and discerning of manga fans.

These JoJo stones are, in fact, the work of Hiroshi Mabuchi, a sculptor and graduate of the Kanazawa College of Art, and were placed in their current location at the direction of the Hakui Station Shopping Arcade Cooperative. Clearly, there are many people in the world today who share this unique sense of aesthetics. If you’re a JoJo fan as well, why not take a trip to Hakui and snap a picture of yourself striking your best JoJo pose for all the internet to enjoy?

Still More Wonders Await

But wait! There’s more to Hakui than just UFOs and JoJo stones. The Chirihama Beach Driveway is the only place in Japan where you can drive a car on the sand at surf’s edge. Keta Taisha is a beautiful shrine popular among female visitors for bringing them luck in love. The temples of Myojoji, Yokoji, and Buzaiin, as well as the Hakui Municipal History and Folk Museum (Hakui Rekishi Mizoku Shiryokan) house countless historical treasures.

What makes Hakui such a compelling destination for so many tourists? We asked Ms. Akemi Okada from the Hakui Tourism Association for her thoughts.

“Reports of a mysterious phenomenon called ‘sohachibon’(*1) can be found in the records at Keta Taisha dating back to the Edo Period (1603-1868). We believe that the perception of Hakui as a home for UFOs dates back to this time. We also get see many fans of literature come to Hakui to visit the grave of Shinobu Orikuchi(*2). From historical treasures to the JoJo stones, Hakui seems to have something for the most obsessive fans of just about everything,” Ms. Okada said with a laugh.

One thing is clear: the city of Hakui is simply overflowing with subculture and eccentric appeal. If this sounds up your alley, why not take a trip there and experience a bizarre adventure of your very own?

*1 The term sohachibon originally referred to a traditional musical instrument resembling a cymbal that was used in Buddhist rites. The term was then applied to strange glowing lights seen floating in the sky—the UFOs of the Edo Period.
*2 Shinobu Orikuchi (1887-1953) was a renowned Japanese folklorist, literary figure, linguist, and poet.

Hakui Tourism Assocation羽咋市観光協会(Hakui Kanko Kyokai)
Hakui City Hall, 2nd Floor, Asahimachi-A 200, Hakui City, Ishikawa Pref.
住所：石川県羽咋市旭町ア200番地　羽咋市役所2F
Official Homepage: https://notohakui.jp/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hakuishi.kankoukyoukai

*This article was originally posted on April 16, 2015.

Translation: Jon Machida

2017-05-112022-08-04

Inside the AR Phenomenon: Live from the Ingress Worldwide Event!

Ingress is an augmented reality (AR) game for Android and iOS platforms developed by Niantic, a software development studio that spun out of Google. A social game designed to encourage players to physically explore their surroundings, it makes creative use of location data to tell a story of warring factions in a dystopian sci-fi world.

The Ingress team regularly holds large-scale events where “agents” (as Ingress players are known) across the globe can connect and enjoy the game together. The latest of these—XM Anomaly: Shōnin 03—was held in Kyoto on March 28, 2015. Hearing that what happened in Kyoto would have the potential to shape the future of the Ingress universe, we knew we had to answer the call!

Agents Abound!(8000 Players Estimated in Attendance)

We arrived in Kyoto at 10 a.m., just as registration opened at Maruyama Music Hall in scenic Maruyama Park, renowned for its cherry blossoms. After signing up, we posed for a group shot with our fellow agents.

▲John Hanke, a vice president of Google and founder of Niantic Labs, the team behind Ingress, also made the trip to Japan for this special event. He spoke to the crowd, explaining how a family trip to Kyoto he had taken a few years back inspired and influenced him greatly in the game’s development. He encouraged the agents in attendance to take in the rich cultural history of the city in between their heated battles.

▲Maruyama Music Hall only holds 2,500 people at full capacity, so needless to say, many agents were left outside. All told, it was a massive event, with roughly 8,000 agents descending on Tokyo to battle for the future of mankind.

▲Out-of-the-way small shrines and jizo (small Buddhist statues) were set as “portals,” the objectives of which players must vie for control, and a heated battle quickly escalated between the two opposing factions.

▲Curious structures like this one were also featured as portals. This particular monument stood at the entrance of a local business.

▲Agents do battle in narrow alleys typically unexplored by tourists and visitors. They must have appeared awfully suspicious to locals unfamiliar with the event.

▲Here’s another portal, this one located at Doshisha University’s Muromachi Campus. This hall is a venue for film festivals and concerts, and is open not only to students and faculty but the general public as well.

▲Agents in their thirties and forties made up the majority of participants. As befitting an international event, we encountered agents from across the world, many of whom were clearly enjoying taking in the sights as they waged their invisible war.

▲Signposts like these abound in Kyoto. Many of these also served as portals, allowing agents to learn history as they explored the city. This particular sign marks the former residence of Umon Fujii, an imperial supporter from the Edo Period.

At Battle’s End

When the day was done and the battle over, agents gathered for an after-party at the Kyoto International Conference Center. Results were announced, and special guests and sponsors presented gifts and awards to the participants.

▲Agents looking to kick back after a hard-fought day and enjoy the XM Anomaly to the fullest filled the halls of the ICC Kyoto.

▲A group photo from an official Ingress event held the previous March, with only twenty-six agents in attendance. What a difference a year makes!

▲The mayor of Kyoto, Daisaku Kadokawa, also made a special appearance in a green kimono matching the Ingress motif. Beside him is Masashi Kawashima of Niantic Labs, the driving force behind this event.

▲Agents who had demonstrated particularly impressive results over the past week were rewarded with special gifts from the event’s co-sponsors.

▲Niantic Labs also presented the agents in attendance with QR codes allowing access to the closed beta version of their latest app in development, Endgame. (*This game never saw an official release.)

An Agent and a Gentleman

The thousands of agents navigating through narrow alleys with smartphones in hand were surely a curious sight for unsuspecting onlookers. That said, we were impressed at their impeccable manners—keeping to the side of streets and alleys to leave a path for tourists, keeping their voices down in residential districts so as not to disturb the residents, and so forth. Various cities and organizations outside of Kyoto have also shown an interest in teaming up with the Ingress team to bring in visitors. At this rate, it might not be long until an Ingress event comes to your neighborhood! We encourage you to keep an eye out—you just might see your surroundings in a whole new way, and make some new friends in the process!

*This article was originally posted on April 6, 2015.

Translation: Jon Machida