06 Kojima Sake Brewery: Taku Kojima

Nov 14, 20243 min read

Introducing the guests and themes

theme

We asked Kojima, a brewer who aims to provide "alcohol entertainment," to teach us a new and free way to enjoy sake.

Disliked Foods

milk

Guest Biography

Originally from Shioya Town in Tochigi Prefecture, Kojima-san graduated from Tokyo University of Agriculture and trained at Midorikawa Sake Brewery in Niigata Prefecture before returning to his family's Kojima Sake Brewery to become the sixth generation head brewer.

What is your goal and what are you working on now?

We aim to provide entertainment related to alcohol, and to be enjoyable for everyone, including those who drink, those who make, and those who sell.

The appeal and fun of alcohol and food

What made you get hooked?

Since my family runs a sake brewery, I was always told from a young age to take over the business, but during my training at Midorikawa Sake Brewery, the president told me to find my future goal before returning to Tochigi. As I tried various things, I realized how interesting alcohol can be as entertainment, and that's what made me decide to take up sake brewing seriously.

During his time at Midorikawa Sake Brewery, he enjoyed the light, dry sakes from Niigata, such as Kubota and Hakkaisan , and began to aim to make sake like them.

What's the most memorable happy moment you've experienced since getting hooked?

I like the space to drink alcohol and communicate with family and friends.

At a drinking party with the local fire brigade, my seniors were mixing Kojima Sake Brewery's sake with various juices (cola, Fanta orange or grape, ginger ale, Aquarius, etc.), so I tried it mixed with ginger ale and was surprised at how delicious it was.It's a fond memory.

What failures have you experienced and lessons learned?

Don't gulp it down, just savor the taste and enjoy it.

How to enjoy alcohol

The most important points for enjoying the course: How to get started and advice

Ask a friend who knows a lot about alcohol to teach you, take you out drinking, or go to a liquor store and ask them to teach you.

What are some common hurdles beginners face and how can they be dealt with?

It's easy to decide on your personal preference and then drink only that type of alcohol, so first try drinking a variety of different types of alcohol.

Also, it is easy to understand such a range when you think of it in terms of the strength of "aroma" and "flavor," so in terms of aroma, Houou Bita and Dassai are easy to understand as strong sakes, and our sake ( Kannabi no Sato ) is easy to understand as lighter sakes. In terms of flavor, a weak/light type would be a sake from Niigata Prefecture called Tanrei Karakuchi.

What kind of alcohol do you usually drink?

I drink sake and wine, but I also like beer.

Recommended ways to enjoy at home

I don't like drinking alone, I like to drink with others.

We recommend the "Kannabi Highball," a 1:1 mix of Kojima Brewery's Kannabi no Sato and ginger ale. It goes well with white fish sashimi and Italian food.

Trends and services you're interested in

I would like to create a place where people can enjoy music and sake together, such as enjoying a Kannabi Highball at an outdoor festival.

Guest contact and service information

Kojima Sake Brewery Information Facebook: Kojima Sake Brewery

Instagram: @kannabi_kojima

Things to keep in mind when enjoying guest services

Enjoy it freely. Enjoy it according to your feelings, environment, and mood at the time.

Be sure to try the Kannabi Highball too!

A message to enrich your life by enjoying food and drinks

There are happy and sad things in life, but I want people to enjoy them all in a positive way while drinking alcohol.