Rediscover the Profound Food Culture : Akita’s High Quality Fish to Complement the Great Sake Choices!

Kyukamura’s annual dinner event of Akita’s local sake and food has been taken place in January and February. January event is just ended last weekend. These beautiful and delicious dishes were specially designed to complement the rice wines presented at this event.

The meal started with a glass of your choice of Daiginjo shu, each crafted by two brewers, Hideyoshi’s Suzuki Shuzo and Ranman’s Akita Meijou.

Fukuochoko cup with a special design
of Tatsuko and her dragon

After toasting, a number of small dishes are delivered to our table in a traditional Kaisaki manner – starting from appetizers, sashimi, soup, steamed, fried, roasted, marinated, rice dish, palette freshener, and end with a desert – which makes it in total of 11 times.

The food is themed in fish caught off the coast of Akita during the kan (coldest) season. The dinner included ingredients of 7 different seafood: codfish, bonito, anglerfish, yellowtail, crab, red trout, and salmon.

It is nearly impossible to show you every detail in here; we also want to keep it secret for the February event, so here we give you just a few glimpses of the unique dishes:



One of the first 3 appetisers:
Yosedofu Shuto-ankake

The appetizer plate featured 3 different dishes. Yosedofu Shuto-Ankake (picture right) was silky and flavorful tofu hiding a few chunks of yams covered with flavorful Shutou sauce made with bonito’s stomach. Another dish was a small cake of anglerfish with some miso.

At the height of season, codfish was served as sashimi: the meat seasoned with Konbu seaweed and roe seasoned with citron. It was presented in Akita’s famous Kamakura. 

An absolutely mind-blowing dish was Soy Milk Shabushabu of Yellowtail and Vegetables. A hint of Sakekasu (sake lees) was added to give the soy milk a wonderful flavor. Parboiling the fish and veggies made the broth so tasty that we just couldn’t stop!

Yellowtail was served again later as cooked and in accompaniment with radish, creamy sauce, and some red trout roes. Codfish also returned to the table – now steamed with Japanese turnip. This dish was served on the turn of “Shiizakana,” literally means “forcing you to make you drink more.”

In another dish, salmon meat and roe as served in Ochazuke style (with rice and tea).

A scoop of dried persimmon and Tofu with a goji berry was refreshing! And so as the 11th dish, sakekasu mousse with mint jelly and strawberries.

The meal could not be more satisfying! Every single dish perfectly matched with the characteristic flavor of Akita’s sake – it did not only compliment the subtle but rich flavor of sake but also left us a strong impression of how beautiful and profound Akita’s food culture is.

The February event will feature different dishes as it reflects the most delicious ingredients of the season. For more information, please inquire Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo.

Get Inspired - Akita’s Quintessential Sake in the Best Season!

Akita’s local Sake and food has just been held on Sunday, January 29th, 2012. This popular event has been much waited-for, so that it easily reached the maximum occupancy of 25 people.

The 17th heir to Suzuki Shuzoten
was present at the party!

This year, the event was titled as “Fuyu no Shoku Asobi,” which means “playing with winter food.” Guests enjoyed a dinner with various types of Akita’s sake and fresh ingredients that best reflected the seasonal availability!



As usual, two sake breweries brought in their freshest wines: Hideyoshi’s Suzuki Shuzoten and Ranman’s Akita Meijo – both are well-known breweries of Akita Prefecture.

The food was designed and prepared by Kyukamura’s head chef. This year, A Hokkaido-born chef, Mr. Abe took up this challenge in this newly-accustomed land and impressed us with his innovative dishes! (Read more about the food.)

A Toast with Daiginjo shu, the Bestest Bottle by Akita’s Best Breweries:



Daiginjo bottles of Ranman and Hideyoshi (Left to right)



The dinner started with a toast with a cup of Daiginjo shu, which is considered as the most premium-quality sake with its polishing rate is up to 50% and feature characteristic fragrances and high clarity - it is a perfect one to start the rally on this meal.

   

Ranman presented their Daiginjo bottle, Bishu Ranman Daiginjo. The bottle surely deserves the company’s own name. The top quality, Yamadanishiki rice, is polished to a 40% rate by the traditional brewing method of Yamauchitoji. This year the bottle has won an award at the prestigious Tohoku competition!



Hideyoshi's 19-daime Matsuemon


Hideyoshi presented Matsuemon (松右衛門), whose name derives from the very title given to each brewery-master at the succession to the predecessor’s position. Needless to say, such name was given to the bottle, for it is worth the brewer’s pride in the 322 years-old tradition!

The current heir, Mr. Naoko Suzuki (picture up above) is the 19th heir to the traditional brewy. The label suggests that "19-daime Matsuemon" is made to deliver the brewer's passion that has been passed through the generations: "Hear nothing; Say nothing; Have nothing in your mind to enjoy this sake."

(Read more about Hideyoshi's traditional brewery.)

“Excellent Quality” – Very Akita-Like Sake Brewed This Year!

The brewers presented the freshest sake that has been just bottled during this high season. Each presenter delivered the bottles to each table as the meals were being delivered one after another.

A presenter from Hideyoshi, has exuded his joy in introducing this year’s sake. “This season we have been complimented as an excellent quality,” he continued, “the low temperature of this year has been enhancing the characteristic Akita Method, known for its low temperature and long period. So, this year’s overwhelming coldness is actually good for sake brewing in Akita.”

That is the very reason why the sake of this year has been undeniably excellent. The sweetness and aroma is present even after the alcohol starts to numb our palette.

Still reluctant in trying Sake? If unfamiliarity keeps you away …

“Try Sake cocktails,” suggested the presenter from Ranman. “Some sake beginners find sake surprisingly delicious when they try it in a mixed drink. At first, mixing sake with other flavors seemed to me like a taboo – like as if it would ruin the taste we have crafted with such a loving care.”

“But actually,” he exclaimed matter-of-factly, “I gave in when I was suggested by an internationally-awarded bartender from our city, Yuzawa. Now I think it could be a good starting point for some inexperienced drinkers. We would love many people to know how delicious Akita’s sake is!”

We couldn't agree more!

Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo has been holding this event since 2010 with the current manager, Mr. Ninomiya. Initially, he aimed to inspire young people, who are often reluctant and unfamiliar despite their interest in such tradition. Now this event has grown and become very popular with guests in all ages.

With this event, you will open a new door to the profound world of Akita’s sake!

Come Enjoy Akita's Best Sake and Local Cuisine - A Dinner Party at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo!

January to February is the best time for sake! Soon we will have fresh sake from the local breweries!

Here is an event we've been waiting for: The Sake and food party at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo! This is an annual event which will be held only twice a year only during these months!

At this event, you can enjoy more than 10 different types of sake served with the Akita’s local cuisine,  designed specifically to match with the distinctive tastes of Akita Sake!

The selected sake bottles are by 2 local brewers, Hideyoshi and Ranman, and will be presented by the brewers themselves! They will be explaining each bottle and you will be amazed how variant each type is.

You may be a novice who thinks sake tastes all the same – You are wrong! At this event, you will confidently know the difference in the tastes - or you might get too tipsy to remember it because they all taste so good!

-- See the difference in colors? You will lose the count by the end.



The very first part of the meal..
from last year's event.



Kyukamura Hotels are known for serving the local cuisine: At this event the chef will be satisfying you with dishes using local fresh ingredients that are available only in this season. This year, Mr. Abe, an Akita Native and a chef appretinced all over Japan, will be proudly taking up the challenge!

This event has inspired many people to get into sake! This is your chance to gain a compass of knowledge, which will take you so far! Come and discover the new world of sake culture!

The events will be held on January 29th and February 24th. There are only 25 seats available, so please make a reservation soon. The price per person is 5,000Yen for the party or 12,000Yen if you are staying the night (includes room, breakfast, hot spring). A shuttle bus will be available at 17:30 at Tazawako Station and will take you back there at 20:30. 

More Information and Reservation: Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo TEL 0187-46-2244

Nyuto Shinbun Gives You Fun Facts About Tazawako Area!

Despite that the facility is the largest in the Nyuto Hot Spring area, Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo retains at-home, get-away feeling! In your room, you will find a copy of Nyuto Shinbun (乳頭新聞), which gives you useful facility information and tips to enhance your local experience!

In your room, you will find cold fresh spring water from the beech forest and a small sweets.

Nyuto Shinbun

Facility business hours

Interesting local information written on the paper.

For example, each issue includes a staff’s recommendations of a restaurant and a souvenir. This issue introduced a café in front of Tazawako Station called People. It also shared a funny story about why the popular rice cracker, “Oranda Senbei,” is named as such with a meaning of “Dutch Cracker.”It is because the Yamagata prefecture, where it is manufactured, is said to have the similar scenery to the European country; also, the sound “Oranda” has the same sound as a local dialect with a meaning of “our own.” The rice cracker is sold only in Tohoku region! You can find it at the souvenir shop at here as well.

Nyuto Shinbun also tells you a folktale about Tazawako Area. This time it was a story about a man who disappeared in the mountains near Tsurunoyu Onsen and believed to have died but reappeared and told the family that he was now living with a bandit woman and her father so he wouldn’t want to return.

Some extra-knowledge like this can make your trip more memorable! Stories like this would take your mind away and wander in the beech forest! You can take the stories with you as souvenirs! (As we call in Japanese, “Miyagebanashi” - souvenir stories.)



You can take an optional tour to IRIS filming locations!


The real “souvenirs,” you can them at the Kyukamura shop! The shop has many different types of local specialties – cookies, cakes, candies, soaps, lotions, dried noodles, pickled vegetables, etc. If you do not know what to pick, ask the friendly staffs. They will assist you!

Oranda Senbei (left top), Chin-tanpo (bottom left), Nyuto Manju (bottom center), Fukuochoko (bottom right)
- You can find them all at the souvenir shop.

Kyukamura Stands as a Unique Place in Nyuto - Modern Facility, Regional Food Buffet, and Two Types of Hot Spring Water!

Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo is a unique facility among the seven hot spring inns in Nyuto Area! It is the only inn that can accommodate more than 130 people in rooms both  Japanese and Western Styles.

This location is a branch of Kyukamura, nicknamed “Qkamura” and also called in English, National Resort Villages of Japan. Each facility is located in a national park. This allows them to offer you some unique experiences in  the surrounding environment.

Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo features the following in the facility:

The All-You-Can-Eat Regional Cuisine for Dinner and Breakfast!

The Kyukamura hotel serves foods that reflect the regional originality! The all-you-can-eat meals are available in the common dining area. The “okazu” dishes – a side dish enjoyed in accompaniment with some rice – of traditional cuisine seasonally varies depending on the availability in the local area.

Here is an example of December 22, the day of winter solstice! The delicious kabocha pumpkin was served because it is believed to bring health if you eat it on this day. Also, hatahata fish in a kayaki (“shell-cooked”) hot pot, Iwana (Japanese chars), Yamanoimo nabe soup, some sansai dishes, chestnuts, and many more.

For your drinks, you can choose from a list of local sake such as Hidoyoshi and Ranman, and non-alcoholic drinks are also available.

Try Both Two Types of Hot Spring Waters!

The Kyukamura's onsen comes from two different types of headsprings - it means you can compare two different types of water at one place! There are 2 indoor and 1 outdoor hot spring baths for women and men – separated, not mixed!

The two different types of waters are called Simple Sulfur Spring and Sodium-Hydrogen Carbonate Spring, which are believed to provide positive benefits on chronic dermatitis and gastrointestinal diseases.

(Note: the English terms for each hot springs may not be correct. Also hot spring water may not have the same benefit to everyone.)

Indoor Bath

Outdoor Bath

Even if you are not planing to stay here for a night, you can still enjoy both bathing in hot springs and the buffet dinner! It's only 2,000 Yen! Check the details here.

A Candle Night With Folklore Music, BelleVientos, at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo

A Candle Night for 1,000,000 People (100万人のキャンドルナイト) is an event to raise the awareness for energy conservation. It is held twice a year on the day of summer solstice and winter solstice.

Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo is a hotel which has been participating in this nationwide project for a few times now. On December 22, they held the event while entertaining guests in a concert by Akita’s local folklore music group, BelleVientos.

The candles were made of recycled materials.
 The snow monument was created for this event outside the building (top left).

At 8:00 pm, the hotel staffs lowered the lighting to the minimum, and the guests gathered at the lobby for the music. The candle lighting was just enough to show the silhouette of the musicians, so the audience were relaxed and focused on the beautiful sounds of music. The band members held a number of unfamiliar Latin American instruments and explained them in between the songs.

The songs wildly varied in genre of Latin American folklore music; however, the band also characterizes its music as a fusion with our Akita’s local culture. In the end, they performed a few songs that themed in the Legend of Three Lakes! The melodies layered by flutes and pipes created such a mystic atmosphere. With the beautiful lyrics, it told stories that touched our hearts.



BelleVientos



For the unique style, the band has been invited to play all over Tohoku. Mr. 'Armando' Yamahira said, “Actually, we’ve been coming to Tazawako quite a few times lately. Also, we have been working on a musical play themed in Kunimasu, which I believe will be ready to be shown next year or so.”

BelleVientos is a group that Mr. Yamahira formed with students of Akita University in Akita City. There are more than 40 members in total, and the musicians present there were chosen to be on a short performing trip to Tazawako on this day and Iwate on the following day.

As we talked with the students, we were surprised to find out that most of them did not start such folklore instruments until the college. But they are all skillful and talented – more than anything, they are passionate and it is exuding with overflowing joy of playing music!

Even at the after party, when Mr. Yamahira casually started to play, one by one, the others just joined the leader – in a second, solo becomes ensemble and it went on like a real concert!

You can catch the band around Akita Prefecture. Check their schedule and locations.

Come to a Charity Concert in Beech Forest (July 17 & 18)

Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo (休暇村乳頭温泉郷) is one of the 7 hot spring inns in Nyuto Onsen Area. It is the largest of them, which can accommodate as many as 112 people. It is located next to Nyuto Campground （乳頭キャンプ場）and surrounded by a beautiful beech forest with some hiking routes around it. The hotel presents many exciting events throughout the year: hiking tours, eco-candle illuminations, local Sake tasting, etc. This month they will host the biggest event of the year!

Buna-no-Mori Concert （ブナの森コンサート）will be held on July 17 and 18th during the three-days holiday weekend. The main attraction is the concert, which will be held on both days in the surrounding secondary beech forest: The abundance of water and fresh wide leaves are said to create a beautiful effect in echoing the sounds. Doesn’t it sound intriguing?

Other recreational activities are hiking tours, catch-and-grill of Japanese chars, flowing cold Inaniwa Udon noodle, a stage performance by a local magician, star-watching, some food services and souvenir give-aways, etc.

This is a charity event, whose profit will be entirely donated to the disaster victims. The tickets are available for 1 Day or 2 Days. Pre-Sales tickets are available for cheaper prices. Check the details below.

Buna-no-Mori Concert (ブナの森コンサート)

July 17 & 18 At 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

At Nyuto Campground next to Kyukamura Nyuto Onsen-kyo

休暇村乳頭温泉郷　「乳頭キャンプ場」

①　TICKETS:

ADULTS

1 DAY - 1,500Yen (Pre-Sale: 1,300 Yen) / 2 DAYS - 2,500Yen (Pre-Sale: 2,300Yen)

CHILD

1DAY 750Yen(Pre-Sale:600Yen) / 2 DAYS 1,500Yen (Pre-Sale: 1,200Yen)

*Free for Child under 4 Years Old. It includes one admission to a hot spring.

②　HIKING TOURS (500Yen)

Hot Spring Orienteering (July 17)

Hiking in the Beech Forest (July18)

*Both tours are about 2 hours. Please prepare your walking shoes and rainwear.

③　Sunday, July 17

10 a.m. Hot Springs Orienteering

　　　　*Kyukamura Hotel – Kuroyu Onsen – Magoroku Onsen – Okama Onsen –

　　　　　Nyuto Campground

           * Call 0187-46-2244 for reservation.

11:00 a.m. Shop Area Opens

11:30 a.m. Tazawako Reimen Give-Away (First 100 guests)

　　　　　　Catch and Grill of Iwana (Japanese Char)

12:00 p.m. Yama-no-imo Nabe Service

13:00 p.m. Ice Cream Making (Additional 200Yen)

14:00 p.m. Hot Springs Orienteering Awarding Ceremony

14:30 p.m. Concert in Beech Forest

　　　　　　(Tazawako Friends Band, and other performers.)

15:30 p.m. Brabo Nakaya’s Magic Performance

16:30 p.m. Event Ends

 

④　Monday, July 18

10:00 a.m. Hiking in the Beech Forest

                 Nyuto Campground – Tsurunoyu Canyon – Tsurunoyu Annex

                 *2 hrs tour / Call 0187-46-2244 for reservation.

11:00 a.m. Shops Open

11:30 p.m. Local Fresh Vegetables Give-Aways (First 100 guests)

12:00 p.m. Kiritanpo-nabe Service and Inaniwa-Udon Nagashi

13:00 p.m. Lamp Shade Making (Additional 200Yen)

14:30 p.m. Concert in Beech Forest

　　　　　　(Local traditional music and dance, Warabi-za, etc)

16:30 p.m. Event Ends

MAP

①　Buna-no-Mori Concert / Brabo Nakaya Magic Performance

②　Ice Cream Making / Lamp Shade Making

③　Catching Japanese Chars

④　Shops (Vegetables, Local Specialties, Grilled Japanese Chars, etc.)

⑤　Inaniwa Udon Nagashi (Flowing Cold Udon)

A Cup of Tohoku Sake Provided for Free at Nyuto Inns to Support the Faster Recovery

There are lots of ways to support the Tohoku recovery! Donating goods and money would be one way (thank you!) but also the easier and more sustainable way to support is promoting the Tohoku products!

Our local hotels are also trying to support by promoting the Tohoku brands !

The Union of 7 hot spring inns in Nyuto Onsen-kyo Village has started a new campaign from April 29th, in which the inns provide each guest with a FREE cup of Sake from the disaster zones like Miyagi and Iwate Prefectures.

The inns are making efforts to introduce the Sake brands to promote the consumption, hoping to contribute to the faster recovery!

All the Sake bottle were purchased when the Union members visited Rikuzen-Takata City and Kesennuma City to deliver the relief supplies and to cook foods for evacuees at shelters.  (Related article)

A Free Cup of Tohoku Sake for Each Guest at Nyuto Inns. (Photo at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsenkyo)

Each hotel serve the Sake Cup in different way -- a bottle might be placed on the table of buffet corner (photo) or it might be brought to you after your meal – but the guests have been finding it as a good opportunity.

Mr. Ninomiya, president of the Nyuto Onsen-kyo Union, commented, “We would like to continue buying the (safe) seafoods and produces from the earthquake areas and provide to the guests. This is the least we could do, but we hope this can contribute (to the recovery).”

Our Tohoku communities will stay connected! This is only one example of how our Tohoku communities have been helping one another!

Other Ways to Support the Tohoku Areas!

Thank you for all the support by donations to the Tohoku Area.
Now almost a month has passed since the devastating 3.11 earthquake.

Tourism and Entertainment Industries to Encourage People in Tohoku:

In the first few weeks, many businesses in Japan had voluntarily minimized the business to show the condolence and respect to the victims in the disaster-stricken areas. Some foreigners may have found this confusing, but this is according to the cultural code in Japan. Festivity in time of mourning is commonly considered to be rude in our Japanese culture. That refrainment affects even more severely in the tourism and entertainment industry. People are travelling and eating out less, which has been causing a significant secandary damage to our economy.

However, because this is a difficult time for everyone, such industries like tourims and entertainment should be showing perseverance. After all, it is what we do: to entertain, encourage, and inspire people! Those industries have an immense power bringing up the spirits of those who are in need!

Supporting Our Fellow Tohoku Areas from Here, Akita and Tazawako:

Many businesses in Tazawako Area have been persevering in this time of difficulty. For instance, Warabi-za Theater Company  has been promoting a new production, ATERUI, whose theme surprisingly coincides with the present circumstances. It is to inspire and encourage the Tohoku region in this difficult time. Hotels in Tazawako like Kyukamura Nyuto-Onsenkyo and Sanrokuso are accepting guests with adjusted price. Other smaller souvenir shops like Bee Skep have been keeping it up as well.

Akita Prefecture has been fortunate to have only minimum damage, except for the temporary shortage of water, electricity, and fuels. Akita Airport has been operating with increased number of flights to support the supply shipments. Many Akita people are volunteering and donating food and supplies to the affected areas. Meanwhile, the government has been arranging to sheltering evacuees from the disaster-stricken areas. Many evacuees are being sheltered at hotels in Tazawako area as well.

What Else We Can All Do to Support the Tohoku Industries:

All the news about disasters and radiation problems are scary enough to steer you away. Understandable! But here is our plea to you: Please do not forget that Tohoku is a beautiful country, where the most untouched nature and rustic villages are hidden. You would be welcomed in heartwarming unforgettable experiences!

So what else can we all do? The answer is simple: Keep up our normal life!

Like in April, we can go to hanami (“flower viewing”) and enjoy Tohoku's great sake, rice, vegetables, and fish! Eat out at your local restaurants and enjoy your food of Tohoku. Take a train trip! Check out some beautiful traditional crafts of Tohoku!

All these efforts (and enjoyment) would be a support to our farming, sake, fishing, transportation, and crafts industries in Tohoku!

So please continue and enjoy your support!

Sake Tasting Party at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsen-kyo 2011

Osake-de-asobima Show (“Let’s play with Sake”) is an annual sake tasting event at Kyukamura Nyuto Onsen-kyo （休暇村乳頭温泉郷） that has been being held this month! This event is to introduce the new brew of the season. That is why it is held at this time of the year, when sake is enjoyed at their freshest and richest in flavor.

Last year, the event inspired many people unfamiliar with the profound culture of rice wine. It has become a rare opportunity to taste and compare about 10 types of different sake from two breweries. Here, you will find your own preference of sake – light, rich, sweet, or spicy – and it is a great introductory experience for all the participants!

Kyukamura’s chef has designed this course meal to match with sake. It is served in a simplified kaiseki-ryori manner, in which you are served many dishes on small portions that usually include sashimi (raw fish), simmered fish, soup, pickled vegetables, etc. All of the dishes are beautifully arranged and garnished with seasonal flowers and leaves.

Each dish was delicious and unique! Some of our favorites were salmon roe with creamy yuba (tofu skin), deep-fried hinai-jidori (Akita’s local chicken), and lobster and fresh vegetables with original dip of sake-kasu (sake lees).

Kyukamura's chef designed  this course meal only for this event to match with Akita's local sake!

Bishu Ranman (美酒　爛慢）and Hideyoshi （秀よし）

Sake bottles were brought from two of Akita’s best breweries, Bishu Ranman and Hideyoshi – not to mention it was the main feature of this event!

Bishu Ranman, （美酒　爛漫）a brand made by Akita Meijo, was established in 1922. They are known for the impressive commercial campaign that employed beautiful women.  They have brought four bottles: Yutosho (Junmai Daiginjo), Tobikkiri Shizen-na Junmaishu (Junmaishu), Shiboritate, and Tappuri-budo GABA Liquor.

Hideyoshi (秀よし) is a brand from Suzuki Shuzoten in Daisen City. It is one of the oldest breweries of Japan and was established in 1689. Hideyoshi presented 5 bottles this day: Jindai (Daiginjo), Shosei (Junmaishu), Junmai Namagenshu, La Chamte.

The dinner party started with a toast with Hideyoshi’s La Chamte as an aperitif. It is carbonated sake made of Akita Komachi rice 100%. The rich and fruity Hideyoshi flavor is enhanced in the sparkling glass. It is hard to believe that no sweetener is added— the sweetness purely comes from glucose of rice!

Left:

Hideyoshi's Namashibori and Shiboritate (top)

La Champte (left bottom)

Above:

Ranman's Tappuri Budou GABA Liquor

Ranman's Yutosho （優等賞）has a rich texture and a delicate aroma!

Yawaragi-mizu (和らぎ水;left top）is water used for the sake brewery. Remember to drink a lot of water at a sake tasting event. Banzai Factory's Fuku-ochoko (right top) is a wooden sake cup with Japanese lacquer that is a popular gift from Tazawako. We got to taste more than 9 different kinds of sake this day!

As the dishes were delivered to the table, Ranman and Hideyoshi representatives came around the tables and offered different types of sake, explaining the unique feature of each bottle.

Mr. Ninomiya interviewing the winner (left top);

Sugi-dama (杉玉）is a cedar ball that is a sign of new sake in the season;  

Some brewery tools (center bottom); Mr. Kazushi Sato (right bottom)

A quiz game was held in the middle of the party, in which Mr. Ninomiya asked 10 questions about sake and a pair of hotel ticket was given to the person who got the most right.

As one of the questions was about the discovery of kunimasu that is still much discussed in Tazawako area. Mr. Kazushi Sato, president of Tazawako Tourism Association and CEO of Tsurunoyu Onsen, shared a very interesting story about the discovery of kunimasu and his recent trip to Lake Saiko.

The Next Sake Tasting Party:

Date: February 25th, 2010
Place: Kyukamura Nyuto Onsen-kyo
From 18:00 to 20:30

*Maximum number of participants: 30 people.

*A shuttle bus is available from JR Tazawako Station at 17:30.

*Reservation: Call 0187-46-2244