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Sake of Fukui / Part-10 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Great Enthusiasm

2016.07.14

Sake

As I have been introducing in our blogs, “Arigato Project” (Arigato means thank you in Japanese), what did you think about it?

Did you become more interested in Japanese Sake?


I had such a precious experience by participating in “Arigato Project”.
I came to like Kokuryu brewery and Japanese Sake more and I want to tell people around me “Arigato” (thank you) more.

The most importantly, I got to know the purpose of this project.

Participants who are age of 20 to 30, they take one year to make Sake. They experience planting and harvesting rice. Not just buying one from a store, taking one year to make the Sake makes it special. The participants give the Sake with special thanks to their family members, friends and/or anyone whom they want to show appreciation to.


It feels awkward and/or uncomfortable for some young people to say “Arigato” (thank you) so with the sake which they make, they show their appreciation to their important ones.


Throughout the year, they make sake, learn about Japanese sake, and they also learn the importance of the bond with others and the charm of Fukui.


The purpose of this project made me realized a very simple but very important for anyone to do that is to show appreciation from the heart.

The people who support this project are authorized dealer of Kokuryu, “Yushino Kai” as main members cooperated with Juridical Agricultural Union and Kokuryu brewery.

With the earnest wish for young people to know the “good Sake” and also for them tell their friends and family members “Arigato” which can sometimes difficult to say, this project has been activated.



The people who support this project are very serious and passionate, so the participants became enthusiastic as well.


After finishing all of the activities for the day, I saw smiles from all of the participants which made me sure that all of them were grateful being parts of “Arigato project”.


Therefore, I came to like Kokuryu brewery and Japanese Sake more.
I would like to appreciate Sake more, spread Japanese Sake to more people and tell friends and family members “Arigato”.

Do you like Japanese Sake?
Are you interested in making Sake?
Have you ever had Sake of Kokuryu?

How about having Sake tonight at your dinner?

Stay tuned for our videos of the project, “Arigato Project” (Arigato means thank you in Japanese) which has been established since May of 2013 by authorized dealer of Kokuryu, “Yushino Kai” as main members cooperated with Juridical Agricultural Union and Kokuryu brewery.

*Registration of 2016 has been ended. Please apply next year if you would like to become a part of “Arigato Project”!

 

For more information about Kokuryu

Kokuryu Sake Brewing Corporation Official Site

 

Please enjoy our previous blog

Sake, Kokuryu

Sake of Fukui / Part-1 / One of the Greatest Sake Breweries, “Kokuryu” 

                      Part-2 / Fans of Kokuryu

                      Part-3 / Arigato Project / Passing on Japanese Sake to the Next Generation

                      Part-4 / Arigato Project / Learning about Sake

                      Part-5 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Brewery Tour

                      Part-6 / Passion for Japanese Sake at Kokuryu

                      Part-7 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Young Residents of Fukui

                      Part-8 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Overwhelming Moment

                      Part-9 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Overwhelming Moment

 

 

T.F

Newly-born fawns are open to the public in Nara

2016.07.13

Kyoto and Nara

When I went to Nara last month, fawns which were newly born in Nara Park had been opened to the public in Deer Park at a corner of the approach to Kasuga Taisha Shrine. (opened from June 1st to 30th) Fawns are born from May to July every year. In the Deer Park, some blocks are placed and the fawns look relaxed under them. This is because they try to protect themselves by hiding behind something from an animal instinct. Speaking of which, my cat also likes to hide in a small space.

 

And, another reason for gathering the fawns in the Deer Park is not to touched them
by people. Because if people touch a fawn and it smells of a human, its mother deer will neglect raising it. It’s such a merciless law of the animal world.

 

By the way, more than 1,000 deers live in Nara Park now. In fact, the deers are not kept but wild nature. So after dark, they return to the wood at the foot of Mt.Wakakusa all together.
I wish I could see the scene just once. (H.S)

 


Relaxing walk in the safe deer park

 


The blocks for the fawns with spot pattern like the back of them

 


There are some quiz boards in the park.
Q: If you run over a deer?
A: Call “Foundation for the protection of deer in Nara”

 


Q: Why do they dishorn of male deers?
A: To prevent from being injured people, deers and trees.
   Dishorn event has been popular since the Edo Period and this year it will be
   held on October 8th, 9th and 10th, for three days.

 


Q: What animal are the deers scared of?
A: Dogs. Dogs are natural enemies of them. Many of deers died from a feral dog attack.
   So you must be careful when you take your dog to Nara Park. Please make sure to put
   a leash on the dog at least.

Japanese Pottery / Wood-fired Kiln on a Summer Night

2016.07.12

Arts and crafts

The other night, I had an opportunity to take pictures of making a pottery in a wood-fired kiln at an Echizen-yaki potter’s studio.

In modern pottery art, gas, kerosene, electricity and firewood are used as fuel to make potteries. Potters change the fuel depends on its style.

There are many restrictions on obtaining firewood than purchasing other fuels. Also, to install kilns is restricted as well, so that it cannot be installed anywhere. Even it is not easy to make potteries in the wood-fired kilns, it seems that there are rather many potters still use the kilns to inherit “yakishime” which is to make pottery at a high temperature and is the tradition of Echizen-yaki pottery.

 

As the firewood is thrown into the kiln, flames rise high from the kiln. Although I am sure that being in front of the kiln must be extremely hot and it must be tough, it is beautiful to see the flames of firewood at a distance.

 

Shortly after the firewood was thrown into the kiln, flame started coming out from the tall chimney.

T.S

Sake of Fukui / Part-9 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Smiles

2016.07.11

Sake

The fourth Arigato Project was conducted from May 2015 to June 2016.

 

The participants were not only from Fukui, there were also people from other prefectures

and even from a foreign country. In recent years, sake has been loved by many people all over the world. As a Japanese person, I am grateful to see sake

which is one of our pleasurable culture has been spread to the world.

 

Being a part of this project was such an interesting experience for everyone.

All of the participants were concentrated on every activity of the project

from beginning to end. Although they all looked very serious during the acitivity on that day, by the time when they finished it, they all had smiles on their faces and seemed very satisfied.

 

For more information about Kokuryu,

Kokuryu Sake Brewing Corporation Official Site

 

Please enjoy our previous blogs.

Sake, Kokuryu

Sake of Fukui / Part-1 / One of the Greatest Sake Breweries, “Kokuryu” 

                      Part-2 / Fans of Kokuryu

                      Part-3 / Arigato Project / Passing on Japanese Sake to the Next Generation

                      Part-4 / Arigato Project / Learning about Sake

                      Part-5 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Brewery Tour

                      Part-6 / Passion for Japanese Sake at Kokuryu

                      Part-7 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Young Residents of Fukui

                      Part-8 / Arigato Project at Kokuryu / Overwhelming Moment

 

 

T.F

World Heritage site “Kasuga Taisha Shrine” in Nara, whose main shrine is currently under restoration

2016.07.08

Kyoto and Nara

I went to Nara last month and visited a World Heritage site “Kasuga Taisha Shrine”.
When I got to the shrine, I found that this year marked one which religious restoration would be held every twenty years. So I happened to worship at the tentative place,
where main deities were moved into.

 

Ise Shrine’s renewal of the main building every twenty years is famous but I first heard
about one of this Kasuga Taisha Shrine. So I read an information board about it and knew
that it was not a shrine's transfer but a restoration at the same place.

 

This traditional event since more than 1,200 years seems to have been proceeded uneventfully this year again, and I hope it will continue in the future and will always remain
the beautiful main shrine there. (H.S)

 


Big shrine gate at the approach leading to Kasuga Taisha Shrine

 


Information board about the traditional restoration

 


There are over fifteen shrines in the wood where the shrine is. At one of them, Meoto Daikokusha Shrine, here is a stone water tank for unique fortune-telling slip to have it float
in water to see the fortune

 


Speaking of Kasuga Taisha, the beauty of the cloisters and the many lanterns is one of the features

 


The vivid vermillion contrasts favorably with greenery. The large cedar tree you see on the left is called a sacred tree and is over 800 years old

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