Japan Diary 3

The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) is a non-profit organization that consists of producers of sake, honkaku shochu, awamori, and hon mirin. JSS not only helps the members in every possible way, it also promotes sake and shochu, both within Japan and globally. JSS has set up a well equipped information center in Tokyo to educate people about Japanese beverages. Bishan Kumar spent an evening at the centre and filed a report from there. Let me take you to the JSS Information centre in Tokyo through his report:

If you happen to be in Tokyo and want to learn about Sake, Shochu and Awamori, just go to the JSS Information Centre, located at Nishishimbashi. The ground floor of the building, which also houses the head office of Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, is a very welcoming set up. This beautiful set up takes the visitors to the fascinating world of Japanese beverages.

The centre has a large variety of Sake, Shochu and Awamori etc for guests to taste and compare. Any time of the day, people are seen tasting Japanese beverages here. Shuso IMada san is always eager to help the visitors to understand Sake and Shochu better. He told me that the centre hosts a variety of sake and shochu events aimed at both the general public and professionals. These events include tastings as well as hands-on educational sessions.

Center also publishes a variety of educational materials for people to learn the basics. Many of these materials such as flyers and pamphlets are free of charge and available at the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center.

JSS Director Hitoshi Utsunomiya san is a very busy person but he toll out time to take me around the centre. He and his team are busy promoting Sake, Shochu and Awamori around the globe but he is very keen that people in India start drinking sake as their preferred beverage.