Sugidama Sake Podcast

Soboshu, the sake brewed by monks played a very important role in the development of sake brewing techniques in medieval Japan. The monasteries possessed many key components necessary for successful sake-making: economic power, skilled labour force, scientific knowledge and strong political clout. However, it all was ended by Oda Nobunaga, who saw temples as a threat to his rule.

One of the very significant inventions was bodaimoto, a brewing technique developed by the monks of the Shoryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Bodai in Nara, which opened the way to brewing sake in commercial qualities. I was also talking about bodaimoto in Episode 2 of the podcast.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• Sake innovations by monks
• How bodaimoto is made
• Kamakura period and Sake Prohibition
• Muromachi periods: the start of the commercialisation of sake brewing
• Sengoku Jidai: the end of soboshu
• End of the era and pre-Edo sake
• Sake of the episode: Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori Namazake Misty Stream

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori Namazake Misty Stream
Tsuji Honten
Tengu Sake

Sake Deep Drive Episode 2: Bodaimoto - Brewing at the Buddha's Foot

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana 

The new interview with Naoki Toyota and Tracey Delaney from The Sparkling Sake Brewery based in Cambridgeshire. Inspired by nature, Naoki went to study sake brewing in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake. After returning to the UK, he went on the mission to create the sake, which would express the beauty of UK nature. 

His collaboration with Tracey, who is a certified sake specialist has led to the creation of AWA, a beautiful sparkling sake made by a traditional fermentation in the bottle method in small batches, each being unique. You can read more about my impression of AWA in the post about sparkling sake.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• Naoki's and Tracey's sake stories
• What is sparkling sake
• Why make sparkling sake in the UK?
• Naoki's journey and challenges of setting up a sake brewery in the UK
• Sake of the episode: AWA Sparkling Sake
• Food pairing and where to buy
• Future plans

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:

AWA Sparkling Sake
The Sparkling Sake Brewery
Sorakami Online Store
Sakaya (Pantechnicon Ground Floor Arcade)

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

I continue the mini-series about the emergence of sake with an episode about probably the major technological breakthrough in sake making: the use of koji, this amazing friendly microorganism, I was talking with Akemi Yokoyama about in Episode 16.  But what is the link between sake and the Imperial Court? And what is "soboshu", monk sake?

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• The appearance of koji in Japan
• Koji revolt in Kyoto
• Sake and the Imperial Court 
• Soboshu: sake brewed by monks
• Sake of the episode: Yoemon Tokubetsu Junmai Miyama Nishiki

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Yoemon Tokubetsu Junmai Miyama Nishiki
List of Natural Natural stores (in-store only)

NOMIKAI: The Sake Experience at HIS Japan Premium
212 Shaftesbury Ave London WC2H 8EB
TEL : 020-7484-3311

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlanr 

The first interview of Season 3: a conversation about a new Japanese sake and grocery store, HIS Japan Premium, with John Opondo, who is Managing Director of HIS Europe and Masahiro Tsuji, HIS Business Development Manager.

John and Masahiro are telling a story of how a travel company decided to open a sake and grocery store in Central London during the COVID-19 pandemic. HIS Japan Premium has an excellent sake selection curated by Natsuki Kikuya, who was a guest of Sugidama Podcast in Episode 11.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• Creation of HIS Japan Premium Store
• What are the store's major revenue sources
• HIS Japan Premium's grocery and sake range
• The store's philosophy
• Interconnection & World Peace
• Tsuji's and John's backgrounds
• HIS Japan Premium customers
• Opportunities and challenges
• Sake of the episode: Shiramayumi Junmai Ginjo Hidahomare

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:

Shiramayumi Junmai Ginjo Hidahomare
Kaba Shuzo
HIS Japan Premium Food & Travel (in-store only)

NOMIKAI: The Sake Experience at HIS Japan Premium
212 Shaftesbury Ave London WC2H 8EB
TEL : 020-7484-3311

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

After a break Sugidama Podcast is back with a short series talking about the emergence of sake brewing methods from ancient times to our days. In this episode, we are talking about the roots of sake from how people discovered alcohol in the first place to ancient sake brewing technics used up to 800 CE using the archaeological evidence and Japanese myths and legends.

Don't forget about our sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• The emergence of alcohol
• Origin of Sake: theories and legends
• Kuchikamizake: an ancient sake brewing method
• Storm God Susanoo and Yamata no Orochi
• How ancient sake looked and tasted
• Sake of episode: Jidai Yamahai Junmai Ginjo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Jidai Yamahai Junmai Ginjo
Hayashi Honten
Tengu Sake

Sugidama Blog: Kanzake Time! The joys of warm sake
Sugidama Blog: 5 great sake to drink warm

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

In the final episode of Season 2, I am talking to Andy Travers, the founder of London Sake, an online sake shop, and Sugidama Podcast's sponsor. We covered quite a lot of topics from the London Sake story, to the Olympics, bottle labels and managed to taste and discussed three excellent sake during our conversation.

London Sake is an excellent online sake store and has one of the widest premium and craft sake selections available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• Andy's sake journey
• London Sake story
• Dassai 45
• Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai
• Sake bottle labels
• Will the Tokyo Olympics boost sake sales outside Japan?
• London Sake customers
• Shirakabegura Junmai Daiginjo
• The art of selecting sake
• Looking ahead
• Sake of the episode: Shichiken Junmai Daiginjo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:

Dassai 45 Junmai Daiginjo
Asahi Shuzo
London Sake

Nanbu Bijin Tokubetsu Junmai
Nanbu Bijin Brewery
London Sake

Shirakabegura Junmai Daiginjo
Shirakabegura Brewery
London Sake

Shichiken Junmai Daiginjo
Shichiken  Sake Brewery
London Sake

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

The fourth episode in the short Sake Focus series is about ginjo, premium and super-premium sake made from highly polished rice. The name comes from two Chinese characters and could be translated as "crafted or carefully brewing".  But there's much more in ginjo than just a high milling ratio.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• What is ginjo and its history
• How ginjo sake brewing is different from less polished sake
• Skills, process, and ingredients
• Grades and types of ginjo sake
• When ginjo is not ginjo but tokubetsu
• How to drink ginjo: temperature, food etc.
• Sake of the episode: Kanpai London Kaze Junmai Ginjo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Kanpai London Kaze Junmai Ginjo
Kanpai London Sake Brewery

Super-flat Rice Polishing

Sugidama Blog: 5 Sake to drink in Summer 2021

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

The third episode in the short Sake Focus series is about namazake, unpasteurised sake which is known for its unruly wild and lively character. Nama can be translated from Japanese as live, raw, fresh, or even natural. And it's all true about namazake. Listen to the episode to find out about different types of namazake including famous autumn sake called hiyaoroshi.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• What is namazake
• Types of namazake: namazake, namachozo, namazume
• Autumn sake: Hiyaoroshi and Aki-Agari
• Other types of nama and not: Shiboritate, Kassei Seishu, Shinshu
• Nama Genshu and Nama Genshu Muroka
• Namazake Character: aroma, taste, food pairing
• Namazake storage, how to buy
• Sake of the episode: Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu Honjozo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Kikusui Funaguchi Nama Genshu Honjozo
Kikusui Sake Brewery
London Sake

Sugidama Blog: One cup to rule them all: 5 single-serving sake to try

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

The second episode in the short Sake Focus series is about nigori, which takes its origin from the ancient sacred drink called doburoku. Doburoku is the oldest method of sake brewing which survived more than a thousand years of history and is still around nowadays. Nigori is cloudy sake, where rice and yeast particles from fermentation left in the final product. Sometimes it’s called unfiltered sake, but it’s not correct. Listen to the episode to find out why.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• What is nigori
• Doburoku: the origin of nigorizake
• The emergence of seishu
• Return of nigori
• Types of nigori
• Nigori: taste and food pairing
• Sake of the episode: Kamoizumi Summer Snow Ginjo

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Kamoizumi Summer Snow Ginjo
Kamoizumi Sake Brewery (no product information available)
Sorakami

Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana

Recently, I have spoken to one of my listeners, who praised this podcast for its wonderful content. “But you know”, he said. “Sake is a completely new thing for me and I feel a bit overwhelmed with the amount of information you put in each episode. Why don’t you make them a bit easier to digest?” And he’s absolutely right. So I decided to do a series of episodes focusing on one particular topic, I have mentioned before. And this time it's junmai/honjozo.

Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.

Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.

Episode's Content:

• What is junmai
• History of adding alcohol to sake
• Junmai is back
• How to drink junmai (aroma, taste & food pairing)
• How to drink honjozo (aroma, taste & food pairing)
• Is junmai better than non-junmai?
• Sake of the episode Double bill: Urakasumi Honjozo and Urakasumi Junmai

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Urakasumi Honjikomi Honjozo
Urakasumi Sake Brewery
London Sake

Urakasumi Misty Bay Junmai
Urakasumi Sake Brewery
London Sake

Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/

Vocal: Svetlana