Now running in Hitoyoshi City, Kumamoto Prefecture, is a multi-bar event showcasing cocktails that have been made with Kuma Jochu (rice). The Hitoyoshi Onsen Cocktail event will run through September 30th, 2016. Drink tickets can be purchased at six different locations in downtown Hitoyoshi, the heartland of the Kuma Jochu appellation. Those tickets can then be used at … [Read more...]
Shochu and Awamori Bar Reviews
NEW! Submit your own review of a shochu bar! Or you can peruse our growing list of restaurant, bar, izakaya, and bottle shop reviews from around the world. The best places to enjoy shochu outside of your home. Select a region: Japan Kagoshima Prefecture Kagoshima City Ishizue (Coming soon!) Oh-ju (Coming soon!) Shizuoka Prefecture Atami Ajikura (Coming … [Read more...]
2015 Japanese Household Shochu Consumption
It was announced last month that Yamagata City led all Japanese municipalities in household alcohol consumption in 2015. While not topping any of the seven individual alcohol categories measured, Yamagata City did finish in the top five on three of those lists. By comparison, Tokyo's downtown 23 wards only appeared on two lists, finishing third in household wine consumption … [Read more...]
Yamagata City Tops 2015 Household Alcohol Consumption
As happens every year, the numbers on annual household consumption were released for public perusal. As is so often the case, the municipalities that led the nation in terms of total alcohol consumption were mostly located in northern prefectures. The winner in 2015, with an average household expenditure of ￥51,640 for the year, was Yamagata City. Yamagata City wasn't … [Read more...]
Awamori Tasting Sheet
Here is a simple five bottle awamori tasting sheet (MS Word doc) that was used at a tasting in 2015 at On Japan Cafe. Alternatively, here's a PDF version of the tasting sheet if you want to just use it as is. Please feel free to adapt it as you wish, and don't hesitate to send your version back in to be shared here! The five labels included are: Zanpa … [Read more...]