All about Kagoshima　-sightseeing, accommodations, shopping, gourmet, hot spring -

Study Field Trip to a Shochu (Distilled Spirit) Cellar【Meiji Kura】

[Meiji Kura] is a Shochu cellar of the Satsuma Brewery.

 

Speaking of the Satsuma Brewery, long before the popularization of Shochu, Satsuma Brewery has already been producing and exporting the "Satsuma Shiranami", a famous Shochu distilled from sweet potatoes, nationwide. The origin of the name "Meiji Kura" stems from the Meiji era (1868~1912), the time where Shochu distillation was established. Why was the cellar simply named after the period where the distillation method was established? The answer can be found from within the cellar.

 

The interior of the cellar is dimly lit and made of wood. Large pillars can be found everywhere within the cellar. The floor boards are made of dark coloured wood, and the whole building resembles Meiji period architecture. The staff of Meiji Kura explains the distillation process using easy-to-understand terminology. Besides, the display furniture in the cellar is also built according to Meiji period design.

 

 

Paper clay figurines depict the whole process of the Shochu distillation.

 Each and every one of these figurines is simple but bears rich facial expressions, bringing a smile to anyone who looks at them. Apparently, these figurines are modelled after the Toji (spirit distillers / wine brewers).

 

Next, we see pictures hung on the wall. These pictures do not depict the distillation process. Just like the paper clay figurines, people featured in these pictures have rich and warm facial expression. Through these pictures, we can see how these people give their best to distill the tastiest Shochu. Some of the photos show people with jovial smiles. With the Shochu being distilled by such cheerful people, we can expect the Shochu to be tasty.

 

From selection to the cleaning and steaming of the sweet potatoes, and even the corridors passing through the various distillation processes is filled with retro reminiscence of the Meiji period. With the alcohol barrels stacked up high along the corridors and the metallic advertisements hanging from the ceiling, one can't help but imagine how our grandparents would probably have once walked along such corridors.

 

The biggest surprise is the steamer and cooler made from wooden buckets. The staff explained, to our disbelief, that these items are still being used for production today.

 

Of course, the ones on display are merely replicas, but even until today, the distillation methods developed since the Meiji period are being followed earnestly, using larger versions of the display replica equipment.

 

After learning much about the distillation, we proceed towards the souvenir gift shop. The speciality of this shop is that not only it allows the testing of the various Shochu, but the interior, with its wooden pillars and white walls, fits perfectly with the "wa (Japanese)" ambience of our study trip. The best thing here is the "Kurochoga", a black-coloured ceramic pottery for Shochu which is only available here in Meiji Kura. (*The "Kurochoga" belongs to the "Kuro Satsuma" family, and the "Kuro Satsuma" is one of the two branches of the "Satsuma-Yaki", which is essentially traditional ceramic pottery of Kagoshima) The "Kuro Satsuma" is "Satsuma-Yaki" ceramic pottery used in the past by the commoners of Kagoshima, and Shochu-drinking at suppertime can never be without the "Kurochoga". Although these days Shochu is diluted in a pot with hot water and drank using glass cups, do give the "Kurochoga" a try!

There is also a restaurant within the Meiji Kura. Called the "Hanawatarigawa Beer Hall", one can get to taste happoshu (low-malt beer), brewed using sweet potatoes. French cuisine is served in the restaurant, prepared by an overseas-trained chef. You can try great French cuisine at a reasonable price. The first floor of the restaurant is a sun-filled open garden, where garden weddings and other types of parties can be held.

 

 

 

Another feature of this restaurant is its second floor, where one can see the whole of Meiji Kura. The scene from the second floor takes us back in time to the Meiji era, with white walls, grey tiled roofs, and cobblestone streets.

 

The "Meiji" term of the name "Meiji Kura" not only simply refers to the time period, but it also carries respect and pride for the people of the Satsuma Brewery, the well-kept distillation methods, the importance of the Meiji era, and also aims to emphasize to all visitors the significance of this important time period (in Japanese history). Touring the Meiji Kura is free-of-charge, so let's appreciate the wonders of the Meiji period while learning more about Shochu.

 

 

【Makurazaki Fish Centre】

Speaking of Makurazaki, we would refer to it as the street of Katsuo (Bonito). The local production of Bonito flakes ranks top in Japan. In the Fish Centre, besides Katsuo, many other processed fish products are on sale.

The interior of the building is a cross-shape, lined with shops selling local products. Some shops are decorated with huge flags bearing pictures of fish, a bustling place indeed. Filled in abundance with seafood products from furikake (a dried seasoning sprinkled over rice) to frozen fish, this place attracts not only visitors but locals as well. With the products being sold cheaper than market price, we can easily dub this place as "the seafood kitchen of the Makurazaki residents". With children living nearby coming to play in the shop vicinity, we can feel the close relationship of the local residents.