our jobs / 私たちの仕事

Mr. Beau Timken of True Sake who i met at IWC judge
left to San Francisco by leaving me such a nice gift.

先日のIWC審査で出会ったTrue Sakeのボー・ティムケン氏が、

素敵なプレゼントを残して、サンフランシスコに帰っていきました。

"After 03.11.11, our job has taken on new meaning..."

I agree with you.

The Sake bonds feel even stronger.

「２０１１年３月１１日以降、私たちの仕事の意味が変わった。」

そうですね。本当に。

より強く感じる、日本酒の絆。

International Wine Challenge

Yesterday I had participated in International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2011,

as a judge for its Sake category.

As one of the biggest, and most recognized wine competition in the world, 

IWC had started Sake category 4 years ago. 

and the number of Sake enrolled are increasing every year; over 600 kinds this year.

Thanks to the IWC organizers, there was one minute silence

for the victims of the Japanese earthquake before the wine and Sake judge.

昨日、ロンドンのインターナショナル・ワイン・チャレンジ（IWC）２０１１に

日本酒部門審査員として参加してきました。

世界最大規模、最高権威のこのワイン・コンペティションに

日本酒部門ができて５年目になります。

出品酒は年々増え、今年は６００銘柄を越える日本酒がエントリーされたそうです。

IWCの心遣いで、ワインの審査員の方々も含め

審査前に一分間の黙祷がありました。

one flight was categorized by Junmai Ginjo & Junmai Daiginjo,

Ginjo & Daiginjo, Honjozo, and Koshu (Aged Sake).

All we had informed was the BY (Brewed Year).

Knowing that our decision would change the future of each brewery,

It is not easy judge at all.

各フライトは純米吟醸＆純米大吟醸、

吟醸と大吟醸、本醸造、古酒と分けられ、

与えられた情報はBY(Brewed Year)のみ。

一種一種が、それぞれの蔵本さんの未来にかかっていると思うと、

簡単な審査ではありません。

We had welcomed Senior Sake judge, 

star Sake celebrities like Mr. Beau Timken of True Sake in SF,

President Kimijima of Yokohama Kimijimaya, 

Many members of Sake Samurai,

and there and many Sake related people from all over Europe.

There will be Discovery Tasting of enrolled Sake to the public today,

with great Sake master class by Mr. Ken Ohashi and Mr. Beau Timken.

Results of this competition will be announced in 29th June,

followed by A taste of Gold event and ceremony.

Looking forward!

Big thanks to Ms. Rie Yoshitake, president of Sake Samurai Europe,

and Sayaka san and Satomi san, my sommelier heros for giving me such an opportunity!

サンフランシスコの日本酒ショップ、True Sakeのボー・ティムケン氏や

横浜君嶋屋の君嶋社長、酒サムライの皆様など

世界の日本酒界をリードする豪華な面々をシニア審査員に迎え、

ヨーロッパの日本酒関係者が集まりました。

今日は、一般流通関係者向けに昨日の出品酒を振る舞うディスカバリー・ティスティングと

大橋健一氏とボー・ティムケン氏によるサケ・マスタークラスが行われます。

今年の審査の結果発表は６月２９日。

同日にゴールドメダル酒の試飲会とセレモニーがあります。

非常に楽しみ。

参加の機会を下さった酒サムライロンドン代表の吉武 理恵さん、

大先輩サケソムリエのさやかさん＆里美さん、

どうもありがとうございました！

いつも何度でも / Always, No Matter How Many Times

*the song starts after 5:28 / 歌は5:28から
*videotaped in 06/08/2008 / ※2008年8月6日放送

Nataliya Gudziy, Ukrainian singer and  Bandura player.
A major theme of Natalka's work is the Chornobyl tragedy of 26th April, 1986, which she witnessed as a 6 years old children. 
Chornobyl has been a big part of her life ever since. 
Natalka's hometown was Prypiat, only 3.5km away from the plant, became one of the villages in the shadow of Chornobyl.
Her father had worked in the power plant and stayed behind with orders to work on the clean-up. 
He has subsequently become ill. 
She has lived in Japan since 1999. She has become fluent in Japanese, and sings and writes songs in that language, as well as in her native Ukrainian.
It almost has been 25 years since the tragedy of Chornobyl.
Let's listen her voice, and rethink.

translation:
Over 60 years ago on this day, August 6 a tragedy occurred in Hiroshima. 

Like the tragedy that occurred in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, the tragedy which struck in Chernobyl over 20 years ago is still not over. 

The nuclear power plant at Chernobyl experienced a meltdown 22 years ago.

I was 6 years old at the time. Since my father worked at the plant, all of us family lived a mere 3.5 km from the plant. 

The accident happened in the middle of the night so most people were unaware that anything serious had occurred. 

For that reason, life went on as normal the following day. 

Children went to school and mothers took their young children out to play outside the whole day. 

As a result, they were exposed all day to invisible radiation.

We weren't informed of the accident until the next day. 

We were told not to worry as it was not a serious accident, but that to be on the safe side, evacuate. 

No need to take your suitcases, we were told, just evacuate the city for 3 days. 

So we did as we were told and left the city without packing our bags. 

Nonetheless, we didnt return in 3 days, a month, or 20 years.

The forests we children had played in every day as well as the houses full of memories were destroyed by the radiation and buried in the dirt. 

Today nothing remains. What was once a vibrant city is now dead. 

We didn't just lose our beautiful hometown in that horrific accident, but many people also died. 

Many of my friends have died. Just kids at the time, many of us have grown up, married, and have kids of our own, some of whose health has been adversely affected.

Mankind has forgotten and is making the same mistakes over again. 

Don't forget these tragedies. Don't make the same mistakes.

With this hope in mind, I will sing this lovely and meaningful song for you. 

“Itsumo, nando-demo ("Always, No Matter How Many Times")”.

It’s calling out, somewhere deep within my chest

My heart always wants to dance and dream

The number of my sorrows is countless

But across them, surely I’ll be able to see you again

Every time mistakes repeat, people will

Understand the blue of the simply blue sky

I can see that the path continues endlessly

But my two hands can embrace the light

My calm chest at the time of farewell

My empty body makes me listen carefully

It’s strange to be alive, it’s strange to die

For flowers and wind and towns, everything’s the same

It’s calling out, somewhere deep within my chest

Always, no matter how many times, I’ll sketch my dream

Rather than talking all about the number of my sorrows

I’ll sing softly with the same lips

Always, amidst my locked up memories

I listen to whispers that I don’t want to forget

Even the faces of a mirror shattered into pieces

Reflect new sceneries

The peaceful window of a starting morning

Fills my empty body

I won’t search on the far side of the sea anymore

Because I found in myself

What is shining is always here

"Always, No Matter How Many Times")”.

Ending song for the film "Spirited Away".

ナターシャ･グジーさん。ウクライナ出身で歌手、バンドューラ奏者。
彼女の作品のほとんどのテーマは、彼女が６歳の時に体験した1986年4月26日、チェルノブイリでの悲劇。
原発からわずか3.5キロで被曝をした彼女の町は「チェルノブイリの闇」になってしまい、
原発で働いていた彼女の父親は事故の後も勤務を続け、以後、身体を蝕まれています。

1999年より日本へ移住した彼女は、流暢な日本語と、母国語のウクライナ語で
日本の観客に彼女の歌を披露しています。
チェルノブイリの悲劇からあと少しで25年。
彼女の声に耳を傾けて、もう一度考えてみよう。

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で

いつも心躍る　夢を見たい

かなしみは　数えきれないけれど

その向こうできっと　あなたに会える

繰り返すあやまちの　そのたび　ひとは

ただ青い空の　青さを知る

果てしなく　道は続いて見えるけれど

この両手は　光を抱ける

さよならのときの　静かな胸

ゼロになるからだが　耳をすませる

生きている不思議　死んでいく不思議

花も風も街も　みんなおなじ

呼んでいる　胸のどこか奥で

いつも何度でも　夢を描こう

かなしみの数を　言い尽くすより

同じくちびるで　そっとうたおう

閉じていく思い出の　そのなかにいつも

忘れたくない　ささやきを聞く

こなごなに砕かれた　鏡の上にも

新しい景色が　映される

はじまりの朝の　静かな窓

ゼロになるからだ　充たされてゆけ

海の彼方には　もう探さない

輝くものは　いつもここに

わたしのなかに　みつけられたから

「いつも何度でも」

「千と千尋の神隠し」主題歌

noji chrysanthemum and snow camellia

"Noji Chrysanthemum and Snow Camellia"

After the Great Hanshin Earthquake in 1995 and the Chuetsu Earthquake 2004, when their evacuation lives became long terms,
Hyogo and Niigata Prefectural Police formed a team of female police officers named after flowers.
Their mission to visit as many shelters as possible to "listen the voice of earthquake victims".

Team Noji Chrysanthemum engaged in a picture‐story show and ventriloquism puppet shows,
"We cannot help anything, all we can do is listening and nodding what they say with tears" said in the report back then.
With a support of other prefectures, their team grew to 150 officers, visited 5,000 locations, 760,000people's stories and they "teared and encouraged by the locals who strived to live positively".

After the Tohoku Earthquake this March, there have been many police women coming from all over Japan to patrol each shelters. Their activity is wide and everything like "taking a walk with a local lady who has a difficulty on walking".
the tires of their patrol car wear out in a day because of its bad road environment, and the filter of air conditioner were blocked up from the dust of broken buildings.

We heard from Iwaki-cuty, Fukushima prefecture that their cherry blossom had bloomed this year for the first time, and its local school children in shelters started new term.
The scenery had dramatically changed, but there again a new spring season arriving in the area.
Noji Chrysanthemum flowers even in the sandy coastal road and Snow Camellia blooms after enduring under the heavy snow of winter.
The areas once swept away from Tsunami, where we could only stand aghast, would surely bloom.


13/4/2011
Shunshuu corner, Nikkei Newspaper

「のじぎく」と「ゆきつばき」。阪神大震災、中越地震のそれぞれの後、住民の避難生活が長期化する中で兵庫、新潟県警は女性警官中心の部隊を編成し、花の名をつけた。任務は避難所を回り「とにかく被災者の声を聞く」だった。

のじぎく隊は紙芝居や腹話術の人形を片手に奔走。当時の記録に「どうしてあげることもできず、泣きながらうなずくしかない。つらい」とある。それでも全国の応援を得て150人体制を組み、「前向きに生きようとする被災者の姿に涙し、逆に励まされて涙し」、５千カ所延べ76万人の話を聞き続けた。

東日本大震災でも、被災地の県警に加えて、警視庁のきずな隊など各地から駆けつけた女性警官たちが避難所巡りを始めている。「足の不自由なおばあさんと一緒に散歩」など活動は幅広い。道路環境が悪いため車は一日でタイヤの表面がボロボロになり、粉じんでエアコンのフィルターが目詰まりするという。

福島県いわき市から桜の便りが届き、避難先の子供たちは入学式や新学期を迎えた。情景は一変してしまったが、被災地にもまた春がめぐってきた。のじぎくは海岸の砂地にも咲き、ゆきつばきは厳しい冬を雪の下で耐え、花開く。津波にのまれ、今はただぼうぜんと眺めるしかないこの地にも、花はきっと咲く。


2011/4/13付
日本経済新聞　春秋欄

Welcome to London: Kawatsuru Brewery

It's been quite a while ago, Mr. Kawahito, president of Kawatsuru Brewery came to visit London for the second time.
His mission this time was to attend International Food Festival (IFE), the biggest food exhibition in UK.
JETRO (Japan External Trade Organization) arranged this trip with several other food and beverage producers from Japan.

もう随分前のことですが、香川の川鶴酒造の川人社長が二度目の訪英されました。
今回の目的は、International Food Festival (IFE)という英国一大きな食品の展示会への参加。
JETROさん主催で日本からの食品、酒造メーカーの方々と一緒にいらっしゃいました。

When I first met Mr. Kawahito, it was end of last year. Mr. Kitabayashi of S.K.Y enterprises,
Zuma's big Sake and food supplier, introduced us him and his Sake.
Straightforward, soft and his Sake explains his honest, passionate, humble yet gentle personality.
His Sake is perfect to match with wide range of dishes,  after the tasting,
we decided to put two kinds of his Sake on our menu.
Muroka Umakuchi Junmai and Fukurozuri Muroka Junmai Daiginjo.

Soon after Mr. Kawahito and other guest participants' flight took apart,
earthquake occurred in northern part of Japan. Fortunately all the participants arrived safely
and we had so many customers visiting our booth.
JETRO agreed to place donation boxes for Japanese earthquake appeal,
and I run to get its official boxes to British Red Cross.
With in only one and half day, more than £1,300 has donated from the customers
with full of supportive messages! I was very glad.
All the money collected was sent to Japan through British Red Cross.


川人社長に会ったのは昨年末。ZUMAのサプライヤーとしてお世話になっている
S.K.Yの北林さんから紹介をされて、はじめて川鶴のお酒を唎く機会を頂きました。
真面目で熱心、控えめだけれど情熱的で優しい川人社長の人柄を表すような、
とてもまっすぐで柔和なお酒。食中酒としても優秀で、試飲後すぐZUMAでの
無濾過旨口純米と、袋絞り無濾過純米大吟醸の二種取り扱いをスタートしました。

川人社長を始め日本からの方々の乗った飛行機が離陸してすぐ起こった東北関東大震災。

無事参加メーカーや貿易会社の方々も無事到着し、
イベントも沢山の来客者に恵まれました。

私が急遽JETROさんにお願いをして各ブースに義援金箱を置いてもらえる事になり、

英国赤十字さんへ専用の募金箱を調達しに走りました。

たった一日半の間で、集まった義援金の額は£1,300！日本円にして18万円近く。

沢山の応援メッセージも同時に頂き、僅かながらにも力になれたことを嬉しく思います。

集まったお金は全額英国赤十字を通して震災地支援に送られました。

There was Sake seminar and tasting on the stage by JETRO, followed by Atsuko san, who teaches Japanese home style cooking here in London,

I thought I was just translating Mr. Kawahito, but suddenly he told me

"Please let us know about food-matching with Kawatsuru Sake from Sommelier's view point."

and "at the end, please tell us about your passion for Sake as a family of Sake brewery" !!!

In front of many people who gathered to taste Kawatsuru's yummy Sake,

Pimieta was all blushed like an apple.

But I was honored to introduce the speciality of Kawatsuru, as their efforts
to produce from their rice with local people and their efforts to make non-carbon filtered Sake.

At the end we introduced Ms. Kitanishi of Bunraku Brewery in Saitama,
who I met last International Wine Challange (IWC) on the stage.

ロンドンで活躍する料理研究家あつこさんのクッキングデモの後、

JETROさんのステージでの川鶴さんSAKEセミナーとティスティング、
私は川鶴の法被を着て川人社長の通訳サポートを…と思ったら、
「ソムリエ的な観点でフード・マッチングについてお話下さい」と無茶ぶりが！
そして「最後には酒蔵の孫として、なつきさんの日本酒への想いを一言」って！！
試飲につられて集まった多くの飲食関係の方を前に、
林檎のごとく顔の真っ赤なぴみえんたでした。
そんな中でも、無濾過や米造りにこだわる川鶴さんのこだわりを伝え、
ティスティング後の会場の皆さんの嬉しそうな顔を見れ、一安心。
最後は同じく参加されていた、昨年のInternational Wine Challenge (IWC)でお会いした
埼玉の酒蔵、文楽の北西さんにもステージに上って頂き、一言いただきました。

Thank you very much Mr. Kwahito, JETRO, Mr. Kitabayashi of S.K.Y, Ms. Asami of World Sake Import, and other producers and importers who participated for giving me such a opportunity.
and Gochisousama for Yashin, for the great Sushi after the event.
As I mentioned above, Zuma carries two kinds of Sake from Kawatsuru Brewery;
Muroka Umakuchi Junmai and Fukurozuri Muroka Junmai Daiginjo.
Please come taste them!

川人社長、JETROさん、S.K.Y.の北林さん、World Sake Importの麻微さん、
他参加されたメーカー及び商社の皆様、本当にありがとうございました。
打ち上げでお邪魔したYashinの皆様も美味しいお寿司ご馳走さまでした！
ZUMAでは川鶴さんのお酒、無濾過旨口純米と袋絞り無濾過純米大吟醸の二種を常時お取り扱いしています。お立ち寄り下さい！

ラフスピ☆ブログ更新しました。

ラフスピブログを更新しました！

食の記憶　−京都で食べた宇治金時です。

ラフスピ☆ぴみえんたBlog

Sake season: Hanami zake / 日本酒の季節：花見酒

また桜の咲く季節がやってきました。
ZUMAでは、淡く、果敢なく、しかし艶やかに咲き誇る
桜の花に良く似た生酒５種を用意いたしました。
震災から一ヶ月。今でも余震が続き、被災地の方々に関わらず
気持ちが休まらずにいる方も多いかと察します。
毎季の季節限定の日本酒メニューは、季節の訪れに感謝して飲むお酒なんだよ、と
普段当店のスタッフやお客様に伝えています。
今回のシーズナルメニューはそれだけではなく、被災地にいる方々、
そして不安な夜を過ごされている日本の全ての方々のことを想って、
飲んで頂きたいと思っています。

イギリスでも、東北のお酒を支援したい！と願っているのですが、
EU協定で決まった放射能検査の規定が予想以上に厳しく、
日本からの輸入が夏までは安定しない見通しです。
私たちにできる形で、できる支援をしたい思っています。


“Hanami” (花見; literally: "flower viewing") is the Japanese traditional custom of enjoying the beauty of flowers, "flower" in this case almost always meaning cherry blossoms (=Sakura,桜). From the end of March to early May with the sakura in bloom, this is one of the best times for experiencing Japan's wonderful knack for tying just about everything in to the seasons. Clothing, food, drink, etc; everything seems to resonate with the Sakura this time of the year.
The sake world's seasonal equivalent of blooming cherry blossom buds is un-pasteurized (=Nama-zake,生酒) Sake which is widely available in this season. Hanami Zake selection this year at Zuma is all Nama-zake, which is great for Hanami for several reasons. One reason is - like the beautiful, fragile and ephemeral sakura - delicate Nama-zake only blooms for a short time.



1) O-yama, Hatsushibori Shinshu, Honjozo　大山 初しぼり新酒本醸造生
Origin: Yamagata
Rice:  Haenuki / Polished ratio: 65%  / AVB: 16-16.9%
Description:
Oyama area in Yamagata prefecture used to be the biggest Sake producing city in eastern Japan. This small brewery that only produces 7K bottles per year uses very clean soft water from Gassan mountain, where has the snow throughout the year.
Note:
Very soft and gentle texture, lovely cucumber and young pear followed by pungent spicy finish.


2) Sawanoi, Niishibori, Ginjo　澤の井 吟醸新しぼり
Origin: Tokyo
Rice: standard rice   /  Rice polished ratio: 55%  /  AVB: 15-16%
Descpriction:
Sawanoi brewery locates in the southern end of Tokyo border to Saitama prefecture, and has abundant natural resources. The water spring from the cave gives sharp and clean dry finish to its sake.
Note:
This soft and easy-drinking sake would be nice for the sake beginners. It has delicate strawberries and peaches on the nose, with a hint of vanilla pod and white flower on the palate followed by fresh and crisp acidity.


3) Aramasa, Junmai Ginjo, Nama Genshu　新政 立春朝搾り 純米吟醸生原酒
Origin: Akita
Rice:  Akita Sakekomachi / Polished ratio: 55% / AVB: 17%
Description:
“Aramasa” means “Revolution”;reflecting the fact that Akita was the only prefecture in T_hoku region to support the Meiji Restoration. After the young son recently joined the company, this brewery is becoming one of the leading breweries by its dramatic change of its sake making to “new generation sake”.
Note:
This delicate and feminine style of medium bodied sake has aromas of blackcurrant & mint, with flavours of lychee, lime and a touch of olives.


4) Nishinoseki, Junmai, Nama Genshu　西の関 立春朝搾り 特別純米生原酒
Origin: Oita
Rice:  Yamadanishiki / Polished ratio: 60% / AVB: 17-18%

Description:
Kayashima brewery is located in the North-east tip of Kyushu, the third biggest island in Japan. The brand name Nishinoseki means "Champion of the West". The sake brewing method of the old days can still be seen in the main brewery.
Note:
Very livery beautiful sake with juicy pears and ripe stone fruits, with a hint of fresh herbs.


5) Nanbu Bijin, Shiboritate, Tokubetsu Junmai　南部美人 絞りたて特別純米
Origin: Iwate
Rice:  Gin-otome/  Rice polished ratio: 55%  /  AVB: 15.5%
Description:
The brewery of Nanbu Bijin, translates as Southern Beauty, located in northern Japan's Ninohe City, an area long referred to as "Nanbu no Kuni." It is an area blessed with lush and beautiful natural reserves, fine water, two national parks, and a lake. They are one of the first breweries who introduced premium sake to overseas, and their sake is imported to 25 different countries world wide.
Note:
White musk and subtle eucalypts on the nose, you will enjoy the very long finish of  melon and chestnut.

もっと春を。let it bloom

  

To me, who is short-tempered,

to her, who scares being lonely,

to you, who cry like a baby,

to everyone, sleepyhead,

let the spring bloom.

let it bloom,  let it bloom, let it bloom.

怒りん坊のわたしにも、

寂しがり屋のあの子にも、

泣き虫のあなたにも、

ねぼすけの、みんなにも。

春よ、もっと咲け。

unforgettable graduation speech

translation:

"Hashikami Junior High has been famous for its disaster prevention, 

and we were proud to be well prepared. 

However, we, human beings were completely powerless 

when facing with the enormous rage of nature.

And it deprived us of many precious things without any mercy.

This was just too merciless as a punishment by God.

We are in deep despair, sorrow and pain,

However, It is our future missions that no matter how hard time we has been going through, 

we would not detest Mother Nature, must endure with our divine, 

and support one another to live."

These are the words came out from 15 year old boy 

just graduated from Hashikami Jr. High School 

in Kesennuma-city, Miyagi prefecture where had severely damaged by Tsunami.

How loyal, and sublime graduation speech it is.

we would not forget their deep scars, and strong courage to live.

「苦境にあっても、天を恨まず、運命に耐え、

助け合って生きてゆ­くことが、これからの私達の使命です。」

なんて崇高で、清い答辞だろうか。

彼らの深い傷と、強く生きる勇気を、忘れてはいけない。

ラフスピ☆ブログ更新しました。

ラフスピブログを更新しました！

ロンドンは、桜が満開です。

ラフスピ☆ぴみえんたBlog

welcome spring 春を探しに

Finally, London has a color of Spring.

we went to chelsea physics garden on its reopening day this year.
ロンドンも、ようやく春の色。

チェルシー・フィッジクス・ガーデンの今年はじめての開園日に行ってきました。

Tommy, it's been a while.

トミー、久しぶりだね。 

and Alison, too. 

アリソンもね。

lots of veggies from the garden.

ガーデンの、お野菜がいっぱいのサラダ。 

peacefully, we did not have to fight with three pieces of cakes we got for dessert.

Alison liked courgette &walnut, Tommy liked polenta & orange, and I liked Tunisian citrus.

平和なことに、デザートの３種類のケーキで争う事はありませんでした。

アリソンのお気に入りはズッキーニと胡桃のケーキ、

トミーはポレンタとオレンジのケーキ、

私はチュニジア風シトラスケーキが好み。

Alison, who I spent times with here is going back to Singapore in this May.

I will miss you.

こっちでよく遊んでくれていた、アリソンが

５月にシンガポールに帰ってしまいます。

さみしいなぁ。