Foreign Student (hereafter FS): Following on from Japanese cuisine, people from all over the world have a growing interest in Japanese sake.
I like it as well.
Several uncommon kanji terms are written on the labels of sake bottles, but I don’t understand them.
Firstly, what does “ 清酒 ” (seishu) mean?
Teacher (hereafter T): It is another word for Japanese sake.
If you simply say “sake,” this refers to Japanese sake.
But it also refers to all alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine.
FS: I also often see “ 純米酒 ” (junmaishu) written on the label.
What does it mean?
T: Many brands of sake are made by adding distilled alcohol to rice and malted rice.
But this sake is made with only rice and malted rice. It generally has a rich taste.
FS: “ 本醸造酒 ” (Honjouzoushu) can also be seen written on the label.
What does it mean?
T: The kernel of the grain of rice used to make sake with contains umami (savory flavors).
So, in order to make delicious sake, the husk of the grain, which impedes the umami flavor, is chipped away.
Up to 30% of the grain is shaved off and this part is used to make what is defined as honjouzoushu.
FS: Some are labeled as “ 吟醸酒 ” (ginjoushu).
What does this mean?
T: This has more than 40% of the rice husk ground away and differs from the normal manufacturing method in that it is made at a low temperature.
Sake known as “ 大吟醸酒 ” (daiginjoushu)is made from rice with more than 50% of the husk ground away, and “ 純米大吟醸酒 ” (junmai-daiginjoushu) is of the highest quality.
FS: Even so, isn’t it wasteful to shave off so much rice?
T: The shaved portion is used as an ingredient in cookies, so it does not go to w
FS: How many sake brands are there?
T: At present, that there are one thousand and some few hundred sake breweries nationwide, and the number of brands is said to be
several times more than that.
In order to produce delicious sake, it’s important to use rice suitable for making sake; there are about 30 different varieties.
In addition, good water is indispensable, and the high quality of Japan’s supply is known throughout the world.
Furthermore, sake brewers called “toji,” who are experts on rice, the properties of malted rice, and in brewing, have an important role to play in making delicious sake, by creating sweet, dry, and aromatic flavors.
FS: Depending on the brand, the taste of sake differs, but are there any other ways to improve its taste?
T: Generally sake is delicious whether you chill it or serve it warm.
The taste is subtly changed depending on the temperature.
Typically it is served in a small ceramic cup called an “ochoko” and is drunk in small sips, taking one’s time.
However, recently, to create a fashionable atmosphere, the number of people drinking it in wine glasses is increasing.
留学生
ryuugakusei
Foreign Student
(以下、留):
ika, ryuu
hereafter FS
日本料理
nihon ryouri
Japanese cuisine
に続き
nituzuki
following on (from)
日本酒
nihonnshu
Japanese sake
関心が
kannshinn ga
nterest
世界で
sekai de
(people from) all over the world
高まっています。
takamatte imasu.
have (a) growing
日本酒
nihonnshu
sake (bottles)
普段見られない
fudann mirarenai
uncommon
漢字の用語が
kannjino yougoga
kanji terms
書かれています
kakareteimasu
are written
意味がわかりません。
imigawakarimasenn.
(I) don’t understand (them)
「清酒」とは
seishu toha
seishu
意味ですか。
imidesuka.
does mean?
先生(以下、先):
sennsei ika, senn
Teacher hereafter T
日本酒の
nihonnshu no
Japanese sake
日本酒を
nihonnshu wo
Japanese sake
指します。
sashimasu
(this) refers to
アルコール飲料
aruko-ru innryou
drinking/material
指します。
sashimasu.
(it) refers to
「純米酒」
jyunnmaishu
junmaishu
と書かれた
to kakareta
written on
見かけます。
mikakemasu.
(I) see
どういう意味ですか。
douiu imi desuka.
what does (it) mean ?
日本酒は
nihonnshu ha
(brands of) sake
米こうじ
komekouji
(and) malted rice
醸造アルコールを
jyouzouaruko-ruwo
distilled alcohol
つくられます。
tsukuraremasu
are made
米こうじ
komekouji
malted rice
一般的に
ippanntekini
generally
「本醸造酒」と
honnjyouzoushu to
Honjouzoushu
書かれている
kakareteiru
written on
意味ですか。
imidesuka.
does mean ?
日本酒づくりに
nihonnshuzukurini
to make sake (with)
米
kome
(the grain of) rice
中心に
chushinnni
(the) kernel
うまみが
umamiga
savory flavors
うまみの
umamino
(the) umami flavor
邪魔をする
jyamawosuru
(which) impedes
米粒
kometsubu
(the) grain
外側を
sotogawawo
(the) husk
そぎます。
sogimasu.
is chipped away
30%
sannjyuppa-sennto
thirty percent (of)
削って
kezutte
is shaved off and
つくられる
tsukurareru
(this part) is used to make
本醸造酒
honnjyouzoushu
honjouzoushu
「吟醸酒」
ginnjyoshu
ginjoushu
表示されている
hyoujisareteiru
are labeled
ものもあります。
monomo arimasu.
some
意味ですか。
imidesuka.
does mean ?
米を
komewo
(the) rice (husk)
40%
yonnjyuppa-sennto
forty percent (of)
削り、
kezuri,
has ground away and
製造法とは
seihoutoha
(the) manufacturing method
異なり
kotonari
differs from
低温
teionn
(a) low temperature
つくったものです。
tsukuttamonodesu.
(in that it) is made
50%
gojyuppa-sennto
fifty percent (of the husk)
以上
ijyou
(with) more than
ものは
monoha
is made from rice <product>
大吟醸酒
daiginnjyoushu
daiginjoushu
といい、
toii
(sake) known as and
純米大吟醸酒は
jyunnmaidaiginnjyou ha
junmai-daiginjoushu
最高級品と
saikoukyuuhinn to
(of) the highest quality
されます。
saremasu.
is [said to be]
削ってしまったら
kezuttesimattara
to shave off
部分は、
bubunnha
the) portion
原料
gennryou
(an) ingredient
無駄にはなりません。
mudanihanarimasen
(it) does not go to waste.
日本酒の銘柄は
nihonnsyuno meigaraha
sake brands
あるのですか。
arunodesuka.
are there ?
現在、
gennzai,
at present
酒蔵は
sakagura
sake breweries
全国に
zennkoku
nationwide
千数百
sennsuuhyaku
one thousand and some few hundred
銘柄は
neigaraha
(the number of) brands
数倍
suubai
several times more than
といわれます。
toiwaremasu
is said
酒づくり
sakezukuri
to produce sake
30種
sannjyushu
thirty different varieties
欠かせません
kakasemasenn
is indispensable
日本の
nihonnno
Japan’s (supply)
質の高さは
shitsu no takasa ha
(the) high quality (of)
世界中に
sekaijyuuni
throughout the world
知られています。
sirareteimasu
is known
米こうじ
komekouji
malted rice
性質
seishitsu
(the) properties
醸造法
jyouzouhou
brewing
熟知した
jyukuchishita
(who) are experts (on)
酒づくりの職人が、
sakezukurino syokuninnga,
sake brewers
甘口、
amakuchi,
(by creating) sweet
香り
kaori
(and) aromatic flavors
酒づくり
sakezukuri
sake making
役割を果たしています。
yakuwariwo hatasiteimasu
have a[n] role to play
さまざまです
samazamadesu
differs
おいしい
oishii
to improve (its) taste
飲み方は
nomikataha
(any other) ways
あるのですか。
arunodesuka
are there ?
一般的に
ippanntekini
generally
冷やしても
hiyashitemo
(whether you) chill (it) or
温めても
atatametemo
serve (it) warm
おいしく
oishiku
serve (it) warm
飲めます。
nomemasu.
is <can drink>
温度
onndo
(the) temperature
変わります。
kawarimasu
is changed
注ぎ、
sosogi,
(it) is served and
少しずつ
sukoshizutu
in small sips
一般的です。
ippanntekidesu.
typically
最近は、
saikinnha,
recently
おしゃれな
osharena
fashionable
雰囲気を
funnikiwo
a[n] atmosphere
かもし出すため、
kamoshidasutame,
to create
ワイングラス
wainngurasu
wine glasses
人が
hitoga
(the number of) people
増えています。
fueteimasu.
is increasing