The Assemblage Club, a sake brewery in Kyoto, and My Sake World, a spot where individuals, restaurants, and businesses can create their own blends of sake, were realized with the cooperation of three Kyoto sake breweries. We interviewed the breweries and people who are cooperating with and supporting this unprecedented sake blending project, to find out why they decided to participate and how it has affected their lives.
Spreading the charm of Japanese food to the world
This teppanyaki restaurant offers the finest Japanese beef steaks under the concept of communicating the charm of Japan to the world through food. Although located in the bustling Nishiki Market, the bustle of the market does not reach the restaurant on the second floor at the end of an alley, and the modern Japanese-style atmosphere with black as its base color is relaxing. Behind the griddle on which the steaks are grilled, a pine tree is painted in the manner of a mirror plate on a Noh stage, making it an attractive spot to take pictures. Kobe beef, Yonezawa beef, and Yamagata beef, Japan's three major beef breeds, are all available, and Yonezawa beef is a rare brand with only 2,000 head produced per year. The beef is a rare brand with a production of only 2,000 head per year, and is a must-try for its rich flavor from the long term fattening in the cold environment. Halal certification is available. Yamagata Beef Sirloin Steak (S) 4,500 yen and up.
Assemblage Club Taro' is a taste that transcends borders
-How did you come to offer "Assemblage Club Taro'"?
Mr. Fukuda: "I was originally a bartender, so I was interested in the crossbreeding of Japanese sake. When I actually tried it, I found it to be fruity and simply delicious. I thought it was a taste that few people would dislike and that it would be loved by a wide range of people across borders.
-How was the response?
Mr. Ueda: "Everyone says, 'Yum! in Japanese (laughs). In Japanese (laughs)."
-I'm glad that people from different countries have recognized the deliciousness of Taro's. Have you had any good experiences with Taro's?
Mr. Fukuda: "After seeing the Taro's pop-up that you made, I received more and more requests for sake. I have always been interested in sake, but I often don't know what to drink with foreigners. If they drink something that doesn't suit them at first, they will become bitter. I feel that this easy-to-drink sake is a good opportunity for them to learn to like sake. It is easy for us to recommend it, and of course, sales of sake itself are also increasing.
Shin Aska" matches Japanese flavors.
-We asked Mr. Ueda to create Masa's original sake "Shin Aska" at "My Sake World". What did you think of the sake blending experience?
Mr. Ueda: "I myself was in the process of learning about sake, so I didn't know anything about it at all, just as much as people from other countries do. That is why I made this sake with two themes in mind: to go well with wagyu beef, and for people who are drinking sake for the first time.
-Based on Ikegumo Junmai Ginjo-shu, Shin Tsuchida, Niida Zenshu and 2013 vintage are blended.
Mr. Ueda: "When I tasted Shin Tsuchida, I thought, 'This is it! I thought, "This is it! It is a sake, but it is interesting in that it does not have a sake-like character, and I have tried to blend it to make the most of its unique taste and aroma. The name Shin Aska is a combination of Shin Tsuchida and my name.
Mr. Fukuda said, "The taste is like a ripe banana at first, and when the sweetness recedes a little, the dark umami essence of Shin Tsuchida and Niidashi Zenshu follows, leaving a long aftertaste. It's a blend that brings together the gorgeous flavor of the ginjo sake and the strong umami of the junmai sake."
-How do you like it with [Masa]'s food?
Mr. Fukuda: "Since this is teppanyaki, the combination of soy sauce and wasabi is more common than steak sauce, and red wine tends to be too heavy. However, white wine is not enough to match the greenness of the wasabi, so he created a sake with just the right body, and I think it shows his playful spirit.
Original tea planned next to sake
-Then, finally, please tell us what you are planning next.
Mr. Fukuda: "We have an idea to produce an original tea for those who do not drink alcohol. Our original sake has been doing well and has set a good trend. Matcha is very popular among foreigners, but I want them to know that there are delicious sencha and hojicha teas as well."
In the Nishiki Market, which is crowded with inbound tourists, most of the customers are foreigners. In some cases, "Assemblage Club Taro'" and the original sake "Shin Aska" are the first sake they have had, and we hope that this will be the start of an increase in sake fans around the world. We hope that this will lead to an increase in the number of sake fans around the world. We hope that you will try this original sake pairing, which was created to match the highest quality wagyu beef steak.
