Chūbu: Niigata Flashcards
For which style of sake is Niigata known?
Tanrei Karakuchi
Which leading tōji guild in based in Niigata?
Echigo tōji
Which institution was instrumental to developing Niigata’s important ingredients, such as Gohyakumangoku?
Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute
Niigata is often considered the heart of the ____ boom in the 1970s
Niigata is often considered heart of the jizake (local sake) boom in the 1970s
This is in part because of small breweries that produced very good sake and a cult-like appeal given their limited production
The nickname for these sake was Maboroshi no sake (Phantom Sake)
Echigo’s first and oldest sake brewery was established in ____, called _____
Echigo’s first and oldest sake brewery was established in 1548, called Yoshinogawa
The Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute was established in ____ to advance all aspects related to sake making within the prefecture
The Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute was established in 1930 to advance all aspects related to sake making within the prefecture
The term Niigata Sake became trademarked in _____
The term Niigata Sake became trademarked in 2006/2007
Which river – the longest in Japan – is an important source of water for breweries in Niigata?
Where does the river begin and flow to?
Shinano River
It begins in the Japanese Alps’ Mt Kobushigatake as the Chikuma River, flowing NE through Nagano and Niigata, before draining into the Sea of Japan at Niigata city.
The abudance of the water that the Shinano river delivers to the ____ Plain, combined with fertile soils, makes it one of Japan’s most rice cultivation areas.
The abudance of the water that the Shinano river delivers to the Echigo Plain, combined with fertile soils, makes it one of Japan’s most rice cultivation areas.
Niigata’s climate consists of relatively ___, ____ summers and ____ winters
Niigata’s climate consists of relatively short, warm summers and longer winters
While summers are short, they are warm enough with sufficient sunlight to grow exceptional rice
In the winter, heavy snowfall – as much as 30ft – is experienced. This heavy snowfall created excellent brewing conditions, not only purifying the area of contaminents, but also providing breweries an abudance of water.
Compared to Nada and Fushimi, the water in Niigata is very ___
Compared to Nada and Fushimi, the water in Niigata is very soft
This is because the water has little time to pick up mineral hardness as it rushes east towards the Sea of Japan
Niigata is divided into four geographical areas. What are they?
Kaetsu 下越 (northerly)
Chūetsu 中越 (middling)
Jōetsu 上越 (southerly)
Sado Island (in the Sea of Japan)
Niigata’s northern Kaetsu region is noted for vast amounts of ____, ____ water.
Inland breweries such as Kaetsu Shuzō and Kirinzan Shuzō are almost entirely surrounded by mountains and utilise the ______ ____ ____ that feeds into the ____ and _____ rivers flowing from Fukushima.
The _____ ____ _____ in the area are said to help in filtering the spring water.
Further north, Kikusui Shuzō uses soft water from the ____ Mountains, while Miyao Shuzō in northern Murakami taps into pristine groundwater from the ____ Mountains and _____ river.
Niigata’s northern Kaetsu region is noted for vast amounts of pure, soft water.
Inland breweries such as Kaetsu Shuzō and Kirinzan Shuzō are almost entirely surrounded by mountains and utilise the mountain snow melt that feeds into the Agano and Tokonami rivers flowing from Fukushima.
The beech tree forests in the area are said to help in filtering the spring water.
Further north, Kikusui Shuzō uses soft water from the Iide Mountains, while Miyao Shuzō in northern Murakami taps into pristine groundwater from the Asahi Mountains and Miomote river.
Chūetsu is famous for its high quality rice cultivation near ______.
The mountains are at their thickest in _____, ____ and ________, areas that receive the prefectures heaviest snows.
Mount _____, in addition to several other majestic mountains in the Uonuma area, provide snow melt for breweries such as Hakkaisan Jōzo and Midorikawa Shuzō.
Further south in Yuzawa, a famous skiing area, brewers use snow melt from the mountains around Mount ____.
Chūetsu is famous for its high quality rice cultivation near Uonoma.
The mountains are at their thickest in Yuzawa, Uonoma and Minami-uonoma, areas that receive the prefectures heaviest snows.
Mount Hakkai, in addition to several other majestic mountains in the Uonuma area, provide snow melt for breweries such as Hakkaisan Jōzo and Midorikawa Shuzō.
Further south in Yuzawa, a famous skiing area, brewers use snow melt from the mountains around Mount Iiji.
Jōetsu’s Mount _____ is Niigata’s most famous volcanic peak, and one of the five peaks that make up the Hokushingogaku range that straddles the Nagano Niigata border.
It serves as one of the many water sources found here.
Another is Mount _______ and its snow melt in Nagano that formes the ____ River, which flought through the tiny valley of Nech where Maruyama Shuzōjo resides.
Jōetsu’s Mount Myōkō is Niigata’s most famous volcanic peak, and one of the five peaks that make up the Hokushingogaku range that straddles the Nagano Niigata border.
It serves as one of the many water sources found here.
Another is Mount Amazakari and its snow melt in Nagano that formes the Hime River, which flought through the tiny valley of Nech where Maruyama Shuzōjo resides.