May 30, 2011

Sake Journey - Niizawa Jozoten II / 新澤醸造店 II


the mask of "Kamagami sama" is protecting the brewery.
Kamagami sama is the god who watches over the fire of Kama, the rice steamer,
known in northern part of Miyagi and some parts of Yamagata prefecture.

宮城県北部と山形県の一部で知られている、
釜の火を見守ってくれる釜神様。
今日も蔵をしっかりと守っています。



Sanbongi is the town of wind.
When I visited the brewery in late May, there was dandelion puff floating everywhere.
it covered the ground of Sanbongi so quietly and so gently.

三本木は風の町。
私が訪れた5月の終わり、どこもかしこもタンポポの綿毛がふわふわ。
三本木の地を、静かに優しく包んでいました。


Eating lunch with everyone at the brewery tasted the best.
My stomatch was fuller than any other time, by sharing a dining table with so many people.

みんなで食べる昼ご飯は格別。
食卓を大人数で囲むのは久しぶりで、いつもよりお腹いっぱいだ。




People at brewery are the persons of calm mountains.
they never exaggerate, but have protected the brewery with their armful love.
Mr. Sugihara is the person of silence and shy heart,
but at the same time, he has constant and unextinguishing blue fire burning inside.
Mr. Niizawa is the person who by himself walks forward at all times,
by leading and comforting everyone to the brighter side. 
He is the person who has humble, yet kept the strongest will and spirit.
he is a person like Hakurakusei sake.
Every single one makes up this brewery.

蔵で働く皆さんは、みな穏やかな山のようなひと。
大げさでないけれど、大きな大きな愛で
この蔵の酒を守って来たひと。
杉原さんは、静かで恥ずかしがり屋に見えて
淡々と、絶えぬ蒼い炎をこの蔵に灯しているひと。

新澤専務は、いつでも前を向いて自らが進み、
周りを安心させながら光に導くひと。
控えめだけど芯を曲げず、どこまでも力強いひと。
まるで、伯楽星のお酒のようなひと。
みんながいて、この蔵がある。




Hakurakusei...
It is a old folk tale known in Sanbongi, where the brewery locates, 
the horses that are raised by the connoisseur will fly up to the sky some day,
"Our Sake may not be found be found now, but will be found and fly in the sky."
This name of Sake is filled with thoughts when Mr. Niizawa re-started the business. 

−伯楽星。
それは蔵のある三本木に昔から伝わる伝説。
伯楽という馬の目利きが大切に育てた馬は、
時がくると天に昇り、名馬になるという。
「いまは誰にも見つけられないけれど、いつか天に舞うお酒を造ろう。」
蔵に戻ったときの、新澤専務のそんな想いが詰まっている名前なのです。

Let's be Hakurakusei.
みんな、伯楽星になろう。

2 comments:

Alison said...

Are you still in tokyo? when do you go back to london?

natsuki kikuya said...

Alison!
How are you??? I miss you!!!!
I got back to London 2days ago... still Homeless!