The guest for this experience will be Mr. Noritada Shimada, who has a track record including being the runner-up in the Mr. SAKE 2024 competition and representing Japan at the 6th World Sake Sommelier Competition. He is also an up-and-coming chef who runs the restaurant "Sake God's Banquet" in Tsukamoto, Osaka.

Click here for related articles

Tsukamoto, Osaka [Feast of the Wine God]
The charm of Japanese sake as told by the owner of the 2024 Mr SAKE runner-up

♯Osaka#Izakaya

The third time, "It's fun!"

He has previously experienced blending at My Sake World twice at the Oike Bettei branch, and this time he will be participating in the blending experience at the Kyoto Kawaramachi branch. Unlike his usual "battle uniform," he arrived dressed in a fashionable outfit.

As in the previous two articles, Shimada first receives an explanation from the staff about the characteristics and history of sake. In the interview that followed, in addition to explaining the interior of the store, Shimada also explains things to customers himself, which left a good impression as the explanation was concise and easy to understand while still covering the key points.

Then it's time to blend the sake.
This was his third time making his own sake, but the genre remained the same, but the number of sakes had been "reduced" from 12 to 8, which actually made him feel less uncertain. And yet, his first impression was, "It's fun!"

After completing the prototype, the conversation shifted to Sake World's original brand of sake, "Assemblage Club," and they showed interest in the new product, "KASUMI."
Taro' has already been introduced at the Sake God's Banquet, and they gave it high praise, saying, "This is great!" By the way, we received an order later. Thank you very much!

An "excitement" that can't be found in stores

After the experience, a retrospective interview will be conducted.

-How was the third time?
Shimada (omitted): "At first I thought, 'Do we have to do this standing up?' but once we got going, it was a casual experience. The Kawaramachi store has its own merits. There's a screen, so it seems more suited to groups."

-How does it compare to the Oike Villa?
"Because there were fewer varieties, it was actually easier to do. It was easier to decide what to make, and I was able to finish it in less time."

-Try making it again.
"It's fun! You can have the fun of comparing different drinks at a restaurant, but you can't get the excitement of making it yourself."

-Are there any parts that can be used in cooking?
"With cooking, you can sort of imagine what it will taste like if you use this and that, but that's not the case with sake. It doesn't always turn out the way you imagined, and sometimes you'll think, 'Huh? Did I make it like this?'"

-Even if you have an achievement like Shimada's?
"It's completely different. This is my third time, and I was quite surprised this time too."

-It's a feeling that only those involved can understand.
"As a chef, I basically have to lean towards either 'food-focused' or 'alcohol-focused'. If you want the strength of a steak, you'd go for a red wine. But the interesting thing about the sake blending experience is that you can create your own 'sake that goes well with the food.' For example, you can choose between 'light' and 'strong'."

The joy of "making it yourself"

-If you were to create a "Sake God's Banquet Bottle," what kind of flavor would you like it to have?
"First of all, I'd like to have two types. One is suitable for drinking with food... a type that matches traditional Japanese flavors and dashi. The other is a more modern type, fruity, refreshing, or juicy. Chicken nanban is also popular at the Sake God's Banquet, so a type with a strong acidity would be good."

Chicken Nanban, a popular dish at the Banquet of the Sake God

-If this comes to fruition, it will be an important case for our company.
"For me, the most important thing about sake is having fun. It's the fun of customers choosing for themselves, discovering new flavors, and discovering their favorites. At My Sake World, you can try a little bit of every variety of sake, and then make your own from there. That's definitely a key point in spreading the word."

-Was there anything in the lineup that caught your eye?
"At first glance, I thought, 'There's unpasteurized sake, aged sake, and umami-style sake. There's a wide variety.' I think it's easy for customers to tell the difference when they first taste them. It seems like it will be easy to understand their preferences. I had the impression that there were a lot of sakes that were 'extreme' in certain areas, but there are also some that are 'moderate,' and I felt that when mixed together they would come together simply. It's really well thought out."

- Sake God's Banquet offers an all-you-can-drink sake service and has a wide selection of brands. But it's not as "edgy" as My Sake World.
"Not to that extent. We try to stock as many different types of alcohol as possible, but we are conscious of 'balance'."

The store, which also offers an all-you-can-drink plan, is packed with a wide selection of fine sake.

Sake is a "tradition"

-Finally, what does "sake" mean to you, Shimada?
"It's difficult... (silence for about a minute)
For me, it's definitely 'tradition'. Sake is the 'national drink' and can be said to be the 'soul', and it's something that Japanese people need to cherish. It's not just a drink, it's a part of Japanese culture that is deeply connected to gods and agricultural products, and the 'history' you mentioned earlier is exactly that."

-This is just my personal impression, but Shimada-san himself gives off an image of "innovation" in terms of his new initiatives and age (born in 1998).
"I think there are some things that never change. In the past, the trends in sake were focused on umami and ginjo, but now it's said that the emphasis is on freshness.
But even if things change, the essence remains the same. I have a variety of sake in my shop, but I don't just stock fresh sake because it's "trendy," and many of my customers prefer aged sake. I want to promote a balanced selection without any preconceived notions.
In our generation, the opinions of young people are diverse, not just in terms of sake, but also in terms of gender and other things. I see diversity as a key point, so I would like to see it recognized in the world of sake as well."

-That was a wonderful thing to say.
"I actually wanted to say something more like a young person, haha.
After all, I want to cherish traditions, or rather, "things that never change."

Shimada's sake style is often perceived as being too rigid, but at its core, he values ​​tradition more than anyone else. As he expands his field of activity beyond his "home" at Sakekami no Utage, there will likely be other contexts where he will "cooperate" with Sake World in areas other than custom-made sake. Thank you for visiting.

My Sake World Kyoto Kawaramachi store
Book in Japanese

Click here for related articles

Experience making your own sake at [My Sake World Kyoto Kawaramachi Store]. Same-day reservations accepted. A new and exciting sake experience!

#MySakeWorld