A sign informing me I’m in a wi-fi hotspot is one of the few nods to modernity. One is attached to the wall, high above rows of enormous vats. I spot two Kamidanas (Shinto altars), each with tiny saucers of sake left as offerings. Today, the brand’s headquarters are tucked inside a wooden building dating back to 1919. His family has produced sake for ten generations. His message reminds the region’s brewers that it’s their duty to continue to produce good sake.Īnd as much as Yozo loves his job, he certainly sees it as his duty, rather than a choice. It bears the words of Toyotomi Hideyoshi, a fearsome 16th-century warrior. Yozo points to a scroll on the wall of his office. The monk produced his sake with even greater fervour, knowing his temple would be spared if it was seen as a centre of sake production. I spot two Kamidanas, Shinto altars, each with tiny saucers of sake left as offerings It was a tumultuous time, with warring clans battling for power, and many temples burned to the ground. According to historical documents, the region’s connection with sake dates back to the 13th century, when a monk started producing the spirit at a nearby temple. ![]() “I’d like to see them hanging from every house!” says Yozo.Īmanosake is named after nearby Mount Amano. ![]() Yozo’s neighbours are proud that their town, on the outskirts of Osaka, is associated with such an historic institution, and similar balls can be spotted all along the street. These giant pom-poms are used by producers to represent sake season, which lasts from November until March. This month, when rice is harvested, he’ll string up fresh, green balls of cedar.
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