Through Sake, a Portal to the Past: Jomon to Asuka (0 AD - 794 AD)

THROUGH SAKE, A PORTAL TO THE PAST: JOMON to ASUKA (0 AD - 794 AD)

3/19/26

1

ΑΜΑΝΟΤΟ [?: AMANOTO]

"HEAVEN'S DOOR" NAMA - $39 (720ml)

Junmai Nama Genshu, Akita prefecture Historical reference: Magatama, Amaterasu, rice agriculture Timeline: -660-300 BC, Jomon period

The magatama, a gem carved into an apostrophe-like shape often threaded on jewelry like a tooth, is a sacred design dating from at least 1000 BC. It is closely associated with the goddess Amaterasu, whose 8-foot, 500-jewel magatama necklace Yasakani no Magatama was gifted to her by her father Izanagi, the mythological co-creator of the Japanese archipelago. It remains one of the 3 imperial regalia guarded by the emperor in an unbroken chain of 126 monarchs originating with Amaterasu's son, the first emperor Jimmu. Amanoto is named for an early poem that reads: Amanotowa shizukani akete Kamijiyama, sugino aobani hikage sasu miyu:" As the heaven's door slowly opens on Mt. Kamiji, I see the sunbeam shine on the green leaves of the cedar trees. This poem quietly references Amaterasu, who brought both daylight and rice to Japan. For Amanoto, the reference is apt: Akita's Yokote Basin is an early site of rice agriculture and the brewery focuses on hyper-local pure rice sake.

2

RIHAKU

"DREAMY CLOUDS" NAMA - $39 (720ml)

Tokubetsu Junmai Nama Genshu, Shimane prefecture Historical reference: Susanoo slaying Yamata no Orochi Timeline: ~660 BC, Jomon period

Cloud references are common in Shimane, where this sake is made and the imagery of shifting, moody clouds is tied to the mythological reputation of the region as a gathering place for spirits and gods. The paintings depict Amaterasu's irreverent brother, Susanoo no Mikoto, in one of his most famous exploits. Pursuing a Shimane maiden, Susanoo agrees to slay an eight-headed serpent, Yamata no Orochi, who has been terrorizing villagers. To incapacitate the serpent, Susanoo serves it an "eightfold-refined sake" causing it to get drunk and fall asleep. Susanoo then cuts all its heads and tails off, and inside one tail discovers a fine broadsword, Ama-no-Murakumo- no-Tsurugi ("Sword of Gathering Clouds of Heaven"). He presents this sword to Amaterasu, and it is later renamed to Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, becoming one of the three imperial regalia. Rihaku chose this name in part for the cloudy appearance but also in reference to the region's rich lore.

3 BORN

TOKUSEN 38 - $38 (360ml)

Junmai Daiginjo, Fukui prefecture Historical reference: Buddhism, Brahma Timeline: -400-700 AD, Asuka period

Buddhism was officially transmitted to Japan in 525 when the monarch of the Korean kingdom of Baekje sent a mission to Japan with images of the buddha, sutras and art. The religion received official government support in 587 CE during the reign of Emperor Yomei, becoming fully endorsed by Empress Suiko (33rd monarch) who promoted integrating Buddhism with Shinto. Buddhism indelibly changed life, religion, and art for Japanese people. When translated to sanskrit, captures the Buddhist concepts of primordial reality, striking purity and truth, represents the brewery's strong belief in second changes and karmic rewards for hard work. A deeply luxurious brew, evoking gold and transcendence.

4

HOUOUBIDEN A

ASAHIMAI JUNMAI DAIGINJO - $39 (720ml)

Junmai Daiginjo Fukui prefecture Historical reference: Buddhism, Brahma Timeline: 600-800 AD, Asuka-Nara periods

Houou-biden, loosely translated to "Fertile field of the Chinese Firebird," comes from Chinese mythology where hōō are known as fenghuang, Houou were originally two birds, the male hō (feng) and female ō (huang), symbolizing yin and yang and the duality of the universe, but eventually the two creatures merged into one. Hououbiden represents the widespread adoption of Sui/Tang dynasty culture in the 7th-9th centuries through regular envoys to Sui and Tang courts, especially the latter with a total of 19 trips. From Confucian ideology, Buddhist religion, government structure and law (Taika reform), written language! (Chinese) to arts, fashion and high culture, these cultural imports were adopted wholesale by politicians and aristocrats during the Asuka and Nara periods, changing life dramatically in a relatively short period of 200 years. Even hanami flower viewing came from China, where it was associated with plum blossoms. Chinese influence is ubiquitous today, even in hououbiden: the Chinese characters (kanji literally means Han letters) and houou are unchanged Chinese imports.

5

LO [?: illegible]

MIMUROSUGI

BODAIMOTO - NFS

BONUS: $7

Bodaimoto Junmai Genshu, Nara prefecture Historical reference: Omiwa Jinju, Sessha Ikuhi Jinja Timeline: ~20AD, Yayoi period

In Japanese, the kanji characters for mimuro mean "sake's origins" and, since ancient times, the mountain Mimuroyama has been worshipped as a god of sake and enshrined in Omiwa-jinja, Japan's oldest shrine. Mimurosugi (cedar tree of mimuro) is located at the base of the mountain and considered to be the oldest brewery in Japan. The association between the mountain and sake comes from an old legend. One day, as an epidemic plagued Japan, Emperor Sujin (ca. 20-300AD) had a dream in which he received a divine message from the deity Omononushi-no-Okami (who is also the son of Susanoo and the mountain god Mimuroyama), commanding him to appoint a man named Otataneko as the priest of the Ohmiwa-jinja Shrine and to make an offering of sake. This (along with other tasks) appeased Omononushi and he ended the plague. Otataneko went on to earn his own shrine, the Sessha Ikuhi Jinja, where the embodiment of Omononushi is said to dwell in the form of a white snake. You'll see a snake in the label art (and a rabbit, but that's another story) and at the Sessha Ikuhi Jinja visitors leave offerings to please the snake god: sake and eggs. This sake is made with the ancient bodaimoto method, developed by priests in Nara -12-1400AD.

1) AMANOTO

4) HOUOUBIDEN

3) BORN

5) MIMUROSUGI

4) RIHAKU