"The Engine of our Hometown" - Thinking Globally, Acting Locally -

We at Kuge Honten are back at work today (January 4) for the first time this year.
The factory has started the production of our daiginjo. We look forward to working with you all this year!

Today (December 30) is Kuge Honten’s final working day of the year. We will return on Monday, January 4.
Kuge Honten would like to thank everyone for all their support during the year. Happy new year and best wishes for 2021

 

*The photo shows the Ichinoide bus stop next to the factory in the cold winter wind.

We were given an old cigarette lighter by a kind Usuki local. “If I keep it, it’ll just sit at home, I won’t use it” they said. What is particularly special about this lighter is the engraving on the lower right side, Ichinoide. We presume that it was probably sold as a novelty item around 50 years ago. When handling it, you can’t help but feel the nostalgia of a corona free, booming era!

 

The lighter was made by the Crown Lighter Company. I remember them being the sponsor of the now Seibu Lions, after Nishitetsu.
I was also fascinated by the advertising for the Crown Jet Flame - Canary “Singing Lighter”.

On Saturday, December 5, Liquor Port Kuraya in Machida, Tokyo, which has been selling our barley shochu, Tsunezo, for many years, held SHOCHU CALLING 2020 on its YouTube channel. (Kuge Honten is featured from 2:01:20 to 2:15:12).

 

Many of Kyushu’s shochu breweries were featured and Kuge Honten also participated. Our manufacturing manager, Mr. Murakami, can be seen discussing our company and products, filmed at our shochu brewery.

 

(Shot by General Affairs Section Chief - Ms. Adachi). Please feel free to watch it.

 

Kuge Honten is a proud host of The Hometown Working Holiday Project spearheaded by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications.
Mr. Kokoro, a graduate student from Fuchu City, Tokyo, came and took part in sake tasting and bottling. A short film was made about his experience that we hope will demonstrate the charm of our region and appeal to young people.

 

If you are a young person from an urban area and would like to experience the relaxing Usuki way of life, please apply!

 

On December 7, Kappo Ando Restaurant in Mochizuki, Usuki City, hosted a yellowtail tasting party.
The sake-lees fed yellowtail has a velvety soft texture and wonderfully rich flavour.
Kuge Honten in Emuta, Usuki City, uses Wakamizu rice, a rice known for producing excellent sake, to make our Tokubetsu Junmai. The lees are a by-product of the sake production and are mixed with ordinary fish food to create the diet that the yellowtail, reared in Sashiu in the Usuki sea, were bred on.
And then, like destiny, the Tokubetsu Junmai and sake-lees fed yellowtail were served together at Kappo Ando in a perfect union of local flavour.

 

On Saturday, December 5, Liquor Port Kuraya in Machida, Tokyo, which has been selling our barley shochu, Tsunezo, for many years, held SHOCHU CALLING 2020 on its YouTube channel.

 

Many of Kyushu’s shochu breweries were featured and Kuge Honten also participated. Our manufacturing manager, Mr. Murakami, can be seen discussing our company and products, filmed at our shochu brewery.

 

(Shot by General Affairs Section Chief - Ms. Adachi).

 

Our tokubetsu junmai - Ichinoide won the SILVER MEDAL, and daiginjo - Kurokui won the COMMENDED prize at IWC2020.
The tokubetsu junmai - Ichinoide was evaluated and noted as having “a fragrance of walnuts and hazelnuts with a taste reminiscent of banana bread. It is a very mellow sake.”.

 

*The IWC (International Wine Challenge) is one of the most prestigious blind tasting committees in the world, established in 1984.

 

A ceremony to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the “The Cheers Rule”, a local toasting ordinance, which was established for the first time in Oita Prefecture, was recently held.
The event was held at Notsu and Usuki, but attendees were limited due to coronavirus measures. It was held remotely for participants outside the prefecture.
We have also created a wonderful poster featuring four local ladies with the sake of four Usuki breweries. We will continue with the #Usuki’s Local Sake gift campaign and the Usuki Sake Brewery Tour. Please feel free to come and enjoy what we have to offer.

 

Kuge Honten (Emuta, Usuki City) and our antenna shop, Masuya (Yokomachi, Usuki City), are both Go To Travel - Regional Common Coupon Participating Stores. We accept both paper and electronic coupons.
If you are traveling to Oita Prefecture using Go To Travel, why not take this opportunity to try some sake from our brewery.

 

In addition, the Premium Gift Certificate issued by Usuki Chamber of Commerce and Industry will continue to be valid until January 14 next year at both shops.