Headbanging Sake!

"Headbanging" from Wikipedia:

Headbanging is the act of violently shaking one's head in rhythm with music. It is common in rock, punk, heavy metal, and dub-step, where headbanging is often used by musicians on stage. Headbanging is also common in traditional Islamic Sufi music traditions such as Qawwali in the Indian subcontinent and Iran.

The pleasure of headbanging, vigorously shaking your head in time with the music, is exceptional. Despite the pleasure, headbanging has also been said to have negative effects on the neck (including muscle pain and whiplash), head, and brain (including concussion, cerebral infarction or cerebral hemorrhage), and it's also said to put strain on the semicircular canals, causing dizziness, nausea, and loss of balance. Many musicians have injured their necks and cervical vertebrae due to excessive headbanging. However, I've been enjoying headbanging while performing music and listening for nearly half a century, and fortunately it hasn't caused any physical problems yet (although it may soon).

Actually, I've never tried headbanging while drinking sake, so I'm not sure about its effects-- after all, there are very few music venues where you can drink sake. So, today's theme is "Sake that's great to drink while headbanging!" Sounds a little crazy right? Well, how about this: "Sake that matches the mood of headbanging!" The keywords are strength, kick, punchy, gutsy, and a rich taste that permeates the whole body. What do you think?

First up, we have Kenbishi, or more accurately, Kuromatsu Kenbishi. This has a higher alcohol content than regular Kenbishi (which, unfortunately, isn't imported to the US). The Kenbishi brand is Japan's most famous and widely consumed sake, known to every Japanese person. It's also the subject of a true story known to every Japanese person, "Chushingura" (47 Ronin). The story tells of 47 samurai who, in order to avenge their lord's death after he was ordered to commit seppuku (hara-kiri), raided the residence of the feudal lord responsible and killed him. All 47 samurai then committed seppuku in front of their master's grave. It's also well-known that the sake the 47 samurai drank before going into battle was Kenbishi.

I've been drinking Kenbishi for over 50 years, but that's no big deal, as this sake has represented Japanese sake for over 500 years, with a recipe that has remained unchanged. This sake is seriously WOW when you look at it, WOW when you drink it. The color of the sake is not clear, but golden like sake that has been aged for a long time. The ripe sweetness, sourness, and umami flavors flow into your mouth all at once, and the finish is bitter and crisp, making this a powerful drink. Kenbishi means sword and diamond, a very striking name. The logo represents a sword and its tsuba (hilt or hand-guard), which is also said to represent the harmony of heaven and earth, yin and yang, and the male and female sexual organs.

The next most famous sake after Kenbishi may be Kikusui's Funaguchi, but it is probably the most famous cup sake. What's more, this is a Namazake that has not been pasteurized, and a Genshu that has not had any added water added. Over 50 years ago, it was revolutionary to develop a handy, easy-to-drink canned product that uses a special aluminum can and can be stored for a long time without the need for refrigeration. The taste is extremely unique for sake from Niigata Prefecture, where most sakes are clean and dry.

"Kikusui" means chrysanthemum flowers floating on water, and is an auspicious word associated with longevity and health. It comes from an old Chinese story in which the dew that collected on chrysanthemum leaves became heavenly nectar, and a hermit who drank that dew lived for over 700 years.

The tool used to squeeze the sake in sake brewing is called a "fune," and it presses and filters the sake mash (moromi) to separate it into sake and sake lees. The mouth from which the sake flows is called the "Funaguchi." The freshly squeezed sake that flows out of this "Funaguchi" is a fresh, juicy sake that has never been filtered or pasteurized.

Another sake we would like to introduce is "Senpuku Shinriki:" "Senpuku" means a thousand happiness's, and "Shinriki" means the power of the gods. This is another powerful and symbolic name that shows the specialty of this sake.

Fans of Japanese anime may be familiar with "Space Battleship Yamato," which created a huge boom throughout Japan in the mid-1970s. The anime told a fantastical story about the Yamato, the largest battleship ever built during World War II, being reborn as a space battleship to protect peace on Earth. The actual battleship Yamato was built in Kure, Hiroshima, and set sail from Kure. The Yamato was loaded with "Shinriki" rice, a type of rice used by the navy, but with the sinking of the Yamato and Japan's defeat in the war, the Shinriki rice also disappeared.

Miyake Honten Sake Brewery in Kure, which has long used Shinriki rice, has revived this lost rice and created "Senpuku Shinriki," an unfiltered sake made using a unique, unpasteurized kimoto method, with a lower rice polishing (85%). It has a sweet and sour aroma reminiscent of ripe fruit. After a strong, stimulating acidity, it has a rich flavor with a complex intertwining of umami, sweetness, astringency, and bitterness. Along with Kenbishi, it is a very popular sake that represents Kuraichi's "Umami/Rich" category.

The three sakes introduced here can be enjoyed in a variety of ways, and I encourage you to try them out to find your own preferences. Personally, I prefer Kenbishi and Shinriki served at room temperature or hot. Chilling them makes them a little more refreshing and easier to drink, but the rich, intense flavor of these sakes really shines when warmed.

Funaguchi also sells a red label product that has been aged for a year, but it's also fun to let it age in the refrigerator to suit your taste. As it ages, it becomes even smoother, sometimes developing a rich flavor like brandy or a depth reminiscent of Chinese Lao Zhu.

There are no rules when it comes to enjoying sake! Have fun! Cheers!