April 2022

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[Noda Horo's Butter Case has been added]

Noda Horo, a company synonymous with Japanese enameling, has added a butter case that combines practicality and stylish design. It is a combination of enamel with high cooling performance without odor transfer and a lid made of natural wood (cherry).

After removing it from the refrigerator, the body can be turned over with the butter in it and the wooden lid can be used as a cutting board to cut the butter. As you continue to use it, the gloss of the wooden lid will increase, and you can enjoy the aging process as it grows to your own unique color.

The smooth texture of enamel and the soft texture of natural wood are combined to create an excellent design with a high sense of affinity despite the different materials. Fill it with your favorite butter and you will be able to enjoy it at the table every day.

Noda Horo's Butter Case
https://www.shokunin.com/en/noda/butter.html

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[A Small Peephole in Ginza]

The peephole is located next to the basement entrance of Matsuya Ginza. There are not many people peeking in. Because, in contrast to the brilliant hustle and bustle of the earth, this is one corner that emits an aura that is unapproachable. For some reason, it also takes a little courage to put one's foot on the two-step staircase to look through that peephole. But please take a peek. Beyond the peephole, labeled "Ginza Utility Tunnel," you will encounter the achievements of Ginza's forebears, the people behind the scenes.

There, 2.4m high and 2.8m wide, an underground communal trench extends further down from 50cm below the pavement. The utility tunnel was constructed under the sidewalks on both sides of Ginza 1-chome to 8-chome by the Ministry of Construction in 1968. Gas, water, and sewage systems necessary for department stores and stores in Ginza, as well as signal, power, and telephone line cables for the Metropolitan Police Department are also lined up. This utility tunnel allows for maintenance and management without having to dig up the road every so often, and allows people to walk comfortably on the beautifully paved streets of Ginza.

The world's first utility tunnel was completed in Paris, France. The plan to accommodate lifelines under all public roads was initiated as a countermeasure against the cholera epidemic, and has supported the development of Paris. In Japan, the first three were built in 1925, after the Great Kanto Earthquake, as part of the reconstruction project of the Imperial Capital, at Kudanzaka, Yaesu-dori, and Hamamatsu Kinza-dori. Near Ginza, this viewing window is also located near Exit B1 of Nihonbashi Station on the Ginza Subway Line, where you can look inside.

This kind of underground scenery is not particularly rare, as seen on TV, but it is an interesting sight to see it displayed at the entrance of a department store. We think this is a very good exhibit for children to see how the city actually works at any given time, what is going on under the sidewalks, and for children to get a background on life in the city.

Since learning of this peephole, we have walked past it muttering to ourselves, "Oh, no one is peeking in today."

Ginza Showroom (Open from 12:00-18:00 on Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and Monday)
https://www.shokunin.com/en/showroom/ginza.html 

References
http://tkyw.jp/archives/1781667.html
https://www.ktr.mlit.go.jp/toukoku/toukoku00035.html

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[Types of Sake]

There are three main types of sake: junmai-shu, ginjo-shu, and honjozo-shu.

Junmai-shu is made with only rice, koji, and water, and contains no brewing alcohol, giving it the sweetness and umami of rice.

Ginjo-shu (excluding junmai ginjo-shu and junmai daiginjo-shu) and honjozo-shu contain brewing alcohol. The major difference between the two is the rice polishing ratio (the percentage of rice remaining after the top layer is removed from the brown rice), which is defined as 60% or less for ginjo-shu, 50% or less for daiginjo-shu, and 70% or less for honjo-shu.

Ginjo-shu is also made using the "ginjo-zukuri" method, in which more polished rice is fermented at lower temperatures for a longer period of time. This allows sake beginners to enjoy its dry, clean, fruity aroma. The higher the polishing ratio, the stronger the floral aroma. Junmai ginjo-shu and junmai daiginjo-shu are sake with both junmai and ginjo-shu characteristics.

Honjozo-shu is characterized by its "dry" taste with a crisp aftertaste. This is due in part to the fact that the brewing alcohol added is itself dry.

In addition, the type of product varies depending on the degree of heat treatment (heat treatment for the purpose of sterilization) and storage period. Sake that has never been fired is called "nama-shu," while sake that has been stored without firing and then fired once before shipping is called "nama-chozou-shu." You can tell the degree of firing by the name, so it is interesting to compare the different flavors.

Sake brewed from rice harvested in the fall and shipped in the winter is called "shin-shu" and is characterized by its freshness due to its short storage period. On the other hand, sake that has been stored for more than three years is called "koshu," and its color and taste vary depending on the period of time. Why not compare different brands as they have completely different aromas, such as fruits and nuts?

In addition, the flavor of sake changes with temperature, and there are different types of sake suitable for different temperatures.

Rei-shu: 7°C to 10°C - the aroma spreads moderately
Hiya (room temperature): 15°C to 20°C - sake's original flavor
Nuru-kan: around 40°C - mellow flavor
Atsu-kan: around 50°C - Sharp aroma

In addition to the kind you prefer, enjoy the changes in temperature.

Hirota Glass's Ultimate Sake Glass
https://www.shokunin.com/en/hirota/nihonshu.html
Hirota Glass's Sori Yanagi Wine Glass S
https://www.shokunin.com/en/hirota/wine.html

References
https://www.sawanotsuru.co.jp/site/nihonshu-columm/knowledge/kind-of-sake/
https://www.pref.hiroshima.lg.jp/lab/topics/20201218/02/
https://www.hakutsuru.co.jp/yamada/about/
https://jp.sake-times.com/enjoy/shop/sake_g_fushimi-sakagura-kouji