Drinking Nara sake at a sushi restaurant

[Sushi and Sake Kotohogi] will open in April 2023, a short walk from Hankyu Omiya Station in Kyoto.
The store name “Kotohogi” is written in kanji as “koju”.Its origins lie in the humble wish of the owner, Tadashi Moriguchi, who makes the sushi, and his wife, Wakako, who supports the service: ``I hope people can feel a little joy through sushi and sake.'' from.

The store has 6 counter seats and 1 table seat.Even though it's a counter sushi restaurant in the back of an alley, there's no barrier to entry, and you can enjoy authentic Edomae sushi as if you were visiting a friend you can trust.

Why Nara sake?

Click here for the person introducing this article

Owner Makoto Moriguchi and his wife Wakako

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He has been working at Tsukiji Sushi Kiyoshi in Osaka and Kyoto for about 27 years.Mr. Makoto is an expert on Edomae sushi, and Mr. Wakako is a good storyteller and sake master.

Wakako, who is in charge of the sake, which has more than 10 types of sake open at any given time, says, ``We both like sake, and we like sushi restaurants where you can order whatever you want.We aimed for a restaurant that we both want to go to.''
As the number of sake breweries across the country is decreasing rapidly due to lack of successors, he says, ``I want to support breweries that are making good sake, even if they are not well-known,'' and ``I want people who shy away from sake to realize its deliciousness and charm.'' I select them with this in mind.
The knowledge he gained from working in department store liquor departments and sake specialty stores and his love for sake breweries lead to conversations that keep his regular customers happy.

Also, since Wakako is from Nara Prefecture, they are putting a lot of effort into Nara's sake.Of course, there is also a wide selection of sake from places other than Nara. ``Nara has a lot of delicious sake.Every time she went back to her parents' house, she thought that someday she would like to serve sake from Nara,'' said Wakako. Makoto said, ``I want to help people learn more about the appeal of not only Nara but also the wide variety of Japanese sake.'' Makoto said with reassuring words.

Characteristics of Nara alcohol

Sake is said to have originated in Nara Prefecture, where sake brewing has been closely related to Shinto rituals since ancient times.The area is blessed with abundant underground water from the Yoshino and Ikoma mountains and a cold climate suitable for sake brewing, making it ideal for producing high-quality sake.Its characteristics and appeal vary depending on the sake brewery, but it goes well with Nara's traditional food, ``Narazuke,'' and can be enjoyed as a delicious drink with meals.

Match with sushi or a la carte dishes

Nigiri 300 yen~
You'll be captivated by the beautiful sushi including the transparent kombu jime, the gorgeous tiger prawns, and the horse mackerel seasoned with vinegar.

You can experience the stylish and generous Edo-style work right in front of the counter.For the sushi, we select Kinumusume from Shimane Prefecture, which has a good taste and flakes well.By using red vinegar for sushi vinegar, the flavor of the toppings is enhanced and the overall impression is mellow. ``Feel free to tell us about the fish you're interested in and your preferences, such as wanting to eat tuna from start to finish and a variety of summery toppings,'' says Makoto in a soft-spoken manner.In addition to having your sushi made right in front of you while you consult with them, if you would like to focus on talking with your companion, you can also order 8 pieces of sushi starting from 3000 yen or order an order that suits your budget.

Sardine roll 1,000 yen
Wrap fresh sardines with crunchy vegetables such as cucumber and gari, and serve with ginger soy sauce.

Grilled conger conger 1,200 yen
Prepare lemon and salt to enjoy the lightness of the conger conger eel.You can also order parboiled and tempura.
In the summer, we recommend drinking chilled sake with conger conger.

Recommended sake from Nara

• Special Junmai Gisuke/Nara Toyosawa Sake Brewery
  The softness of the rice, the flavor, and the crisp acidity make it the perfect balance as a drink to accompany your meal.
  Clear and beautiful color, freshness and mellow taste spread in your mouth.

• Junmai Ginjo Harushika no Summer / Imanishi Seibei Shoten
  A famous sake that can only be drunk in summer.
  The fruity and gorgeous ginjo aroma that is typical of Harushika makes you feel cool.
  It goes well with sardine rolls.

• KURAMOTO 64 Yamada Nishiki GENERAL Unfiltered raw sake / Kuramoto Sake Brewery
  The “bit label” series is being worked on by a young brewer.
  The alphabet design has an impact.
  Smells like green apple and muscat and has a refreshing feel.
  It has a round, clear mouthfeel and a rich flavor.

Finally

We also have a rich lineup of alcoholic beverages from countries other than Nara.On this day, we selected dishes that go well with sushi, such as Iwate's Hirakaka Sake Brewery's ``Hidakami'', Kyoto's Matsui Sake Brewery's ``Kamizo'', and Fukui's Mori Sake Brewery's ``Sari''.The drinks go one after another as recommended brands are suggested based on the conversation.

Makoto creates nigiri and masterpieces with a flexible expression, and Wakako makes the sake stand out.
The single-mindedness of these two people makes sake bloom happily.
This is the sake that lives at this sushi restaurant.