On the first day of Golden Week, which was free of movement restrictions for the first time in three years, a Japanese wine event was held at the Kabukiza Theatre.
This event, "LIFE with WINE," is already compelling just with its concept of "enjoying Japanese wine alongside the winemakers themselves at the Kabukiza Theatre."
On top of that, after being canceled for two consecutive years starting two years ago due to COVID-19, an in-person event was finally able to take place this year, making it a hugely popular occasion that wine lovers had eagerly awaited.
The NIHON WINE.JP coverage team visited LIFE with WINE, and here is our report on how it went.
"Winemakers you can go and meet"
"The event with Japan's closest connection between drinkers and producers"—that is what they aim to be.
This year, winemakers from 24 wineries across Japan, from Hokkaido to Kyushu, gathered at the Kabukiza Theatre.
Guests brought their own glasses and enjoyed a seated style.
The event operated under a new format where winemakers visited each table to pour wine, while food was sold vendor-style.
Being able to relax in a seated position and enjoy wine while listening to the winemakers speak is an incredible luxury and learning experience for wine lovers.
It also served as a great opportunity for the winemakers themselves to hear direct feedback from many wine enthusiasts.
By the way, with each winery offering two types of wine, there were more than 48 varieties available to taste in total!
Guests might need to mark the wines they are curious about and the winemakers they are interested in beforehand.
(Clockwise from top left)
Enzan Yoshu (Yamanashi) Hiroki Hagiwara,
Kizan Wine (Yamanashi)
Kozo Tsuchiya,
Shinshu Takayama Winery (Nagano)
Eiichi Takano,
Domaine Chaud (Niigata)
Hideo Kobayashi,
KIYO wines (Niigata)
Kiyoshi Sakazume,
Cave d'Occi (Niigata)
Fumito Kakegawa,
Fattoria AL FIORE (Miyagi) Hirotaka Meguro,
SAYS FARM (Toyama)
Shun Tamukai
(Clockwise from top left)
Sapporo Fujino Winery (Hokkaido) Takahiro Akimoto, Suntory Shiojiri Winery (Nagano) Kentaro Shinoda, Fukuyama Wine Workshop (Hiroshima) Kazuaki & Rika Furukawa, Ajimu Wine (Oita) Koji Furuya, Hitomi Winery (Shiga) Junya Ishimoto ・Kiyosumi Shirakawa Fujimaru Winery (Tokyo)Haruka Sakuma・Okuizumo Vineyard (Shimane)Satoshi Saito・Tsuno Wine (Miyazaki) Seiji Akao
(Clockwise from top left)
YELLOW MAGIC WINERY (Yamagata)Sumito & Emi Iwaya・BELLWOOD VINEYARD (Yamagata)Tomoaki Suzuki Ippei Sakai, Sakai Winery (Yamagata)Naoki & Mako Osanai, OSA WINERY (Hokkaido)Diamond Winery (Yamanashi)Yoshio Amamiya * Kazuhiro Kishihei of Takeda Winery (Yamagata) was unable to attend this time, but his wines arrived safe and sound! * WOODY FARM & WINERY (Yamagata)Hayato KaneharaDROP (Yamagata)Masamitsu Deki
Even when visiting wineries, there is a limit to how many you can visit in a single day, so it is very rare to be able to meet so many Japanese wine producers at once and take the time to talk with them.
Not just simple snacks! The food is also irresistible
In addition, the food stalls are from acclaimed, insider-favorite spots, making for another luxurious lineup.
・Pasemiya (Wine, Okonomiyaki, and Vegetable Cuisine) ・Parlour Ekoda
・YAKITORI Moes
・O2
(I secretly bought some butterbur sprout shumai to take home from O2 in Kiyosumi-shirakawa—a place I had been wanting to go to but hadn't been able to secure a reservation for.)
Two special guest stars make an appearance
And as a special guest,
Mr. Kudanji Ichikawawas there!
The Dankikusai May Grand Kabuki is coming up in May. In addition,
from the Association of Japanese Wine Lovers,
President Takuro Tatsumialso attended and offered a greeting.
The slogan is ~Japanese wine in everyday life.~
We spoke with the organizer, Saori Yanagi.
This event celebrated its 10th anniversary this year.
She started it 10 years ago, before Japanese wine became the boom it is today, driven by a desire to support Japanese wine.
Under the slogan "Making Japanese Wine Part of Everyday Life," she works to educate the public and promote Japanese wine.
"Recently, Japanese wine has been attracting a lot of attention with many high-quality wines, but compared to imported wines, it is still far from being part of everyday life. I want to share with even more wine lovers that Japanese wine pairs wonderfully with everyday meals and home cooking," she said.
A Message to Everyone from Saori Yanagi
The quality of Japanese wine has been steadily improving recently.
Whether you already love Japanese wine or haven't tried much of it yet, whenever you have the chance, I hope you'll enjoy pairing it with your everyday meals. Thank you for supporting Japanese wine!
In Closing
As you can see from the group photos, despite restrictions like wearing masks and refraining from speaking loudly, the event was filled with great enthusiasm. It was also impressive how efficiently the staff managed the event while taking various precautions under these difficult circumstances. If conditions allow, the next event is scheduled for this autumn. If you are interested in Japanese wine, be sure to check it out!