Japan Travel

From Native Brewery to World Sake Big: The Historical past of Gekkeikan

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2023年9月23日

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In terms of alcoholic drinks in Japan, sake is undoubtedly the oldest and hottest instance. After we hear the phrase ‘sake’ we typically consider rice wine which is called nihonshu in Japanese, because the phrase ‘sake’ merely refers to alcohol typically. Nihonshu is made by way of the method of fermenting rice and has been in manufacturing for a lot of centuries now; though the precise determine isn’t recognized, it’s estimated that there are over 1500 licensed sake breweries in Japan. Given the abundance of breweries, it’s pure that a few of these breweries are comparatively area of interest, whereas others have attained home and world renown. One instance of the latter is the esteemed Geikkeikan, primarily based in Fushimi, Kyoto. Not solely is Gekkeikan one of many oldest and most revered sake breweries in Japan, being based in 1637, however it is usually one of many world’s oldest corporations typically, naturally making it steeped in wealthy historical past. It turned so profitable that it will definitely expanded to the USA and now controls roughly 25% of the sake market there. However how did this family-oriented sake brewery grow to be one of the vital outstanding sake producers inside the world sake business?

A number of numerous sake – Credit score: Zaji Kanamajina

Humble Beginnings

Gekkeikan was based firstly of the Edo interval in 1637 by Jiemon Okura, who established a sake brewery in Fushimi, Kyoto, the place the corporate’s headquarters are situated to at the present time. Okura moved right here from the Kasagi space of southern Kyoto and fittingly named the brewery Kasagiya at first, which accurately interprets to “Kasagi store”. He selected this location for a number of causes, however primarily attributable to its riverside location the place sanjikokkubune (conventional medium-sized boats used to move folks/items) stopped to load and unload the cargo they transported alongside the Yodo River to Osaka. Okura knew he would be capable of exploit the hustle and bustle of travellers and merchants coming by the realm attributable to his retailer going through the primary highway. This prime location turned the cornerstone of the corporate’s eventual prosperity.

The primary Okura residence in Fushimi, which nonetheless stands at this time – Credit score: Gekkeikan

Through the Edo interval, Fushimi thrived attributable to its riverside location, which allowed it to behave as a hub that facilitated commerce and transport between Kyoto, Osaka and Tokyo (then generally known as ‘Edo’). It was second solely to the likes of those cities by way of inhabitants dimension and nationwide affect. As Fushimi continued to flourish, so too did its sake breweries, and 20 years after Gekkeikan’s inception round 83 sake breweries had been granted licenses to supply sake. Regardless of the rising variety of breweries, it wasn’t as straightforward for them to commerce as one may assume. The truth is, by 1785, the 83 native Fushimi breweries had been decreased to a mere 28. One fundamental cause for this was spoilage attributable to microorganisms, of which little was recognized on the time. By shrewd administration and some strokes of luck right here and there, Gekkeikan managed to make it by this arduous interval. However regardless of managing to remain afloat, they have been nonetheless a comparatively small native brewery on the time, so how did they go from such humble beginnings to the giants of the sake business that they’re at this time? Properly, this was a comparatively latest growth and was largely due to the improvements and enterprise acumen of their 11th head, Tsunekichi Okura.

A 39-year-old Tsunekichi Okura contained in the Okura Sake Brewing Analysis Institute – Credit score: Gekkeikan

Tsunekichi Okura – Gekkeikan’s Saviour

After just a few centuries of getting by as a neighborhood sake brewery, Gekkeikan actually discovered its ft when Tsunekichi Okura took over as head of the corporate in the course of the Meiji interval on the remarkably younger age of simply 13. Nonetheless, this title was initially speculated to be bestowed upon Tsunekichi’s older brother, who was thought-about to be smarter and extra succesful than him. Tragically, his older brother died abruptly and thus the mantle was thrust upon Tsunekichi as the one different son of the earlier head. Naturally, eyebrows have been raised at giving such a lofty title to such a younger and seemingly incompetent boy. Tsunekichi’s father additionally had two youthful brothers who have been vying for the place after his passing, however Tsunekichi’s mom, Ei, insisted that Tsunekichi be given the prospect to inherit the household enterprise and strived to make sure that he wouldn’t fail by garnering the help of native monks and sake brewery homeowners to carve out a path for him to comply with. Impressed by his mom’s religion in him, Tsunekichi devoted himself to residing as much as his mom’s expectations by working diligently and studying every thing he might about sake.

Ei Okura, Tsunekichi’s motivational mom – Credit score: Gekkeikan

The title “Gekkeikan” was first adopted as the brand new title of the corporate’s model in 1905. The title’s literal that means ‘laurel wreath’, like the sort victorious Olympians acquired, stemmed from Tsunekichi’s need to make Gekkeikan the champion of the sake world. Tsunekichi had lengthy been troubled by the spoiling of sake and was determined to discover a technique to treatment this. In 1909, with the assistance of sake brewing engineers, the Okura Sake Brewing Analysis Institute was established to just do that. The institute was instantly profitable, discovering methods to forestall lactic acid micro organism from spoiling sake and implementing the situations for pasteurisation, which subsequently allowed Gekkeikan to grow to be the primary producer in Japan to supply pre-bottled sake freed from preservatives. Sake barrels have been the norm on the time, however these have been troublesome to disinfect, so bottles have been rather more conducive to stopping sake contamination. Moreover, pre-bottled sake was extraordinarily in style amongst Japan’s ‘salarymen’ (typical Japanese workplace and authorities staff) who have been drawn to Gekkeikan’s hygienic, westernised merchandise. The success of this invention led Tsunekichi to focus his efforts on producing extra pre-bottled sake and this quickly turned the usual that every one sake corporations adopted, thus enhancing Gekkeikan’s popularity as pioneers of the business.

An early design of the corporate’s now iconic wreath emblem Credit score: Gekkeikan

Having achieved vastly superior high quality sake by the utilisation of science, Gekkeikan determined to enter their sake in competitions to see how it might fare towards one of the best sake breweries within the nation. Of their first competitors in 1911, Gekkeikan gained first prize for his or her sake, additional including to their nationwide status. They continued to comb the board at many competitions over the following few many years, establishing themselves as a significant home sake model within the course of and increasing their attain far past Fushimi.

Conventional prizes given for first place at sake competitions Credit score: Gekkeikan

Along with making scientific strides to enhance the standard and preservation of Gekkeikan’s sake, Tsunekichi additionally exemplified an entrepreneurial spirit to maximise the corporate’s gross sales. When rail transport began to grow to be prevalent in Japan, Tsunekichi determined to promote sake at stations to accompany ekiben (lunch packing containers offered at stations) to assist unfold Gekkeikan’s model throughout the nation. He employed a revered designer to carry contemporary concepts to the corporate, who subsequently got here up with the ground-breaking concept of attaching an ochoko cup onto sake bottles, permitting folks to drink pre-bottled sake on the go.

The original ochoko cups attached to sake bottles

The unique ochoko cups connected to sake bottles – Credit score: Gekkeikan

After years of revolutionising, revitalising and increasing Gekkeikan’s model, the 11th head Tsunekichi Okura handed away on November 17th, 1950, on the age of 77. He laid the foundations for his successors to increase Gekkeikan’s model throughout Japan and ultimately abroad and with out his pivotal contributions Gekkeikan might not have reached the extent of home and world recognition it has at this time.

Gekkeikan Right now

Following the dying of their dynamic 11th head and the tip of World Conflict II, the 12th and 13th heads targeted on increasing the marketplace for sake inside Japan by concentrating on the family market and at all times upholding their motto of ‘high quality first’ to assist them stand out from the competitors. They continued to pursue scientific improvements by the Sake Brewery Analysis Institute and expanded their vary of sake to accommodate the ever-changing delicacies and culinary customs of the time.

An instance of Gekkeikan’s present huge vary of sake Credit score: Gekkeikan

Gekkeikan’s sake continued to realize world acclaim and recognition through the years and the corporate ultimately determined to arrange their first brewery within the US in 1989 to allow the sleek manufacturing, sale and import of sake inside the US. As a consequence of Gekkeikan’s comparatively early institution of this brewery, they’ve been in a position to acquire a robust foothold within the American sake market and now management roughly 1 / 4 of this market.

Gekkekikan additionally based Okura Sake Museum of their authentic dwelling of Fushimi, Kyoto, in 1982. Guests to this museum can see a few of the authentic instruments and gear utilized in sake manufacturing and may get a complete overview of the historical past of sake-making in addition to Gekkeikan’s personal story in an simply understandable manner. The museum is open from 9:30-16:30 each day (excluding nationwide holidays) and will be reached in round 5 minutes from Chushojima Station. Admission is 600 yen (about 4 {dollars}) for guests aged 20 or over, 100 yen for these between 13-19 and free for these 12 and beneath; friends over the age of 13 can even obtain a present.

The Okura Sake Brewery Museum Credit score: Gekkeikan

The historical past of Gekkeikan is a protracted and wealthy one, so in case you’ve loved getting a glimpse into this large of the sake business’s story, we urge you to go to the museum to actually immerse your self on the planet of sake. Sadly, whereas there are guided excursions of the museum, they’re solely provided in Japanese. So, if you wish to know extra about Gekkeikan’s historical past and the numerous components concerned in sake manufacturing, why not guide one in every of our sake brewery excursions? This tour will embrace a 3-hour tour of the historic Fushimi district, performed by our native tour guides with professional data of the realm, a go to to a neighborhood sake brewery and a guided tour of the Okura Sake Museum. Company may have the chance to pattern numerous forms of sake all through the tour and there’ll even be an opportunity to buy souvenirs distinctive to the realm from a close-by native arcade on the finish. Excursions are topic to availability, although, so to your sake (excuse the pun) we advocate reserving as quickly as doable!

Featured picture credit score: Gekkeikan