TWTT - (Taste with the Toji) – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode of TWTT, Simone and Julian chat with Giulia Maglio.

Giulia was born and raised in Italy and moved to Japan in 2015. From then she worked in the tourism industry focusing on Japanese food culture which led to her growing interest in sake. 

She went on to receive qualifications in sake from SSI (Sommelier of Sake - International kikisake-shi) and the SEC (Sake Education Council) and also became a certified SSA Sake Educator. 

Wanting to further her knowledge and understanding of sake, she worked at Itakura Shuzo, a sake brewery located in the Shimane Prefecture for 4 seasons and is now brewing at Konohanano, a small craft sake brewery located in Asakusa, Tokyo. 

We chat to Giulia about her time at Itakura Shuzo, her work at Konohanano, making doburoku, the craft sake world and Singapore's first sake brewery: Orchid Craftworks.

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed making it.

Follow Giulia on Instagram: @jijisake

TWTT Podcast ⁠⁠@tastewiththetoji⁠⁠

Our hosts:

Simone ⁠⁠@sakemistress⁠⁠

Julian ⁠⁠@sakeadvocate⁠⁠

Maki ⁠⁠@sake.amata⁠⁠

This episode was recorded on 22 August, 2024.Thank you to our subscribers at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Podcast and The Project can be found on our website: ⁠⁠https://tastewiththetoji.com/⁠⁠

Music by Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Thanks for listening!

Some useful links from this episode:

Itakura Shuzo - Tenon

Konohanano

Orchid Craftworks

SSI

SSA

SEC

Hozuki fruit

In this episode of TWTT, Simone and Julian chat with a guest who needs very little introduction to those who are in the sake industry... Mr. John Gauntner.

Hailing from the U.S, John Gauntner is recognised as the world’s leading non-Japanese sake expert.

A resident of Japan since 1988, he is well known in the sake industry as the window to making sake understandable and popular outside of Japan. He has been writing and teaching about sake since 1994.

There is so much accessible information about John online that we decided to skip the back-story in our chat, (and in our show notes), and just have a good chin-wag and catch up while talking all things 'sake'.

A huge advocate in the sake world, and a huge influence & mentor for many - we hope you enjoy our chat with John as much as we did!

Useful links:

Sake World by John Gauntner

Sake Today Magazine

Sake Industry News

Sake On Air Podcast

Sake Confidential (book)

The Sake Handbook (book)

SPC - Sake Professional Course

SEC - Sake Education Council

JSS - Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association

Follow John on Instagram: @johngauntner

TWTT Podcast ⁠@tastewiththetoji⁠

Our hosts:

Simone ⁠@sakemistress⁠

Julian ⁠@sakeadvocate⁠

Maki ⁠@sake.amata⁠

This episode was recorded on 11 July, 2024.Thank you to our subscribers at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Patreon⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Podcast and The Project can be found on our website: ⁠https://tastewiththetoji.com/⁠

Music by Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Thanks for listening!

In this episode the TWTT crew chat with Wolfgang Angyal, President of Riedel (The Wine Glass Company) in Japan.

Wolfgang Angyal was born in Kufstein, Austria, the village that is home to the headquarters of the wine glass company Riedel.

Angyal first came to Japan in 1985 while he was working in the hotel industry in Austria. He travelled to Osaka as a representative of his country in the 28th WorldSkills Competition, where he won the gold medal in the Restaurant Service category.

His first experience of Japan was enough to entice him to return, which he did 3 years later. In 1988, he worked as a guest lecturer at Tsuji Academy in Osaka and the following year, he began working for Riedel.

Angyal has played a huge role in the development of Riedel's 2 sake specific glasses, the Daiginjo glass and the Junmai glass.

In this episode, we talk a little about that journey, the glasses themselves, and more, in what was a most enjoyable conversation.

We hope you enjoy listening to our chat with Wolfgang as much as we enjoyed having it.

A huge thank you to our subscribers at ⁠Patreon⁠

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Useful links:

https://www.riedel.com/en-au

https://www.riedel.co.jp/

https://en.sake-times.com/how-to-drink/riedels-new-junmai-sake-glass-worlds-best

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netsuke

Follow Wolfgang on Instagram: @w.j.angyal

Follow TWTT Podcast on Instagram: @tastewiththetoji

In this episode, Simone, Maki and Julian bust out their ceramic sake-ware and chat with TWTT's Yakimono Guru, Robert Yellin.

No Stranger to the TWTT audience, and well known to many pottery collectors, and 'Sake Today' readers around the world, Robert has been residing in Japan since 1984.

Robert has been a valued core member of the TWTT community since its founding year, 2020. In that same year, Robert helped to launch TWTT's sister project, MTA (Meet the Artisan). Fewer and far between compared to TWTT session, the MTA sessions introduces potters and artisans from Japan, all whom create sake vessels amongst other beautifully crafted vessels and creations.

Pottery was not what initially brought Robert to Japan, but somehow, slowly but surely, his path led him to become one of the world's leading experts on Japanese pottery.

What started with curiosity, appreciation and a humble personal collection, turned into a deeper curiosity, tireless and continuous research, endless appreciation, a deep connection and respect, a bigger personal collection, an online store, lectures, articles and book publications, all which led to him opening the most beautiful gallery space in Kyoto - showcasing a rotating and stunning collection of ancient treasures and modern masterpieces.

Robert's knowledge is extensive and his passion is infectious. It's always a joy chatting all things pottery - AND sake, (and drinking sake), with him. We hope you enjoy our chat!

If you're travelling to Kyoto, be sure to pay a visit to Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery, right on the Philosopher's Path, not far from Ginkakuji, (the Silver Temple).

A huge thank you to our subscribers at Patreon

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Robert's website: https://japanesepottery.com/

Follow Robert on Instagram: ry_yakimono_gallery_kyoto

In this episode, Simone, Maki and Julian pick up where they left off in Episode 12 and continue their conversation with Tamagawa Toji, Philip Harper.

In this second half of the conversation with Philip, we chat a little about the impacts of COVID, the brewery's use of Yeast #1, Junmai vs Aruten and more.

More info on Philip can be found in our show notes from Episode 12.

We will be sorting through some of the edits that are still on the cutting room floor and releasing them in video format to our subscribers over at  ⁠Patreon⁠.

We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation with Philip as much as we enjoyed having it.

A huge thank you to our subscribers at Patreon

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Useful links:

https://www.sake-tamagawa.com/en/

https://sake-festival.com.au/melbourne

https://www.amazon.com.au/Insiders-Guide-Sake-Philip-Harper/dp/4770020767

In this episode, Maki and Simone are once again joined by Julian Houseman, and they chat with Philip Harper, from Kinoshita Shuzo in Kyoto Prefecture.

No stranger to fans of sake, Philip is the only non-Japanese Toji (head sake brewer) in Japan. Originally from the UK, Harper was born in 1966 and came to Japan to teach English when he was 22.

Currently in his third decade of brewing, having begun working at a sake brewery back in 1991. He joined, Kinoshita, (producers of Tamagawa sake), where he works as the Toji, in 2007.

Last month, (July 2023) Philip Harper visited Melbourne, Australia for the Australian Sake Festival, held at Queen Victoria Market, where Simone got to meet him in person for the first time.

This was Philip's second time in Australia but first visit to Melbourne and this is just one of the many things we chat to him about in this episode.

Harper was a guest in the Zoom room for the TWTT Project for session #19, back in October 2020.

(correction: in Episode 11 of TWTT The Podcast, I mentioned that the TWTT session with Philip was in 2021).

That session back in 2020 went for a whopping 5 and a half hours... and maybe then some, so it came as no surprise that this podcast chat with Philip saw us deep in conversation for over 2 hours. Rather than cutting a whole lot of content and leaving it on the editing room floor, we have decided to split this conversation into 2 episodes.

We hope you enjoy listening to our conversation with Philip as much as we enjoyed having it.

A huge thank you to our subscribers at Patreon

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Other links from this episode:

https://www.sake-tamagawa.com/en/

https://sake-festival.com.au/melbourne

https://qvm.com.au/

https://supernormal.net.au/

https://sakenet.com.au/

https://www.amazon.com.au/Insiders-Guide-Sake-Philip-Harper/dp/4770020767

https://sake-world.com/

In this episode, Maki and Simone are once again joined by Julian Houseman, and they chat with the lovely Eiko Kodama, from Kodama Jozo in Akita Prefecture.

Kodama Jozo was founded in 1879 in picturesque Katagami City, Akita Prefecture, northwest of Japan. 

Originally, the Kodama family started their business by making soy sauce and miso for local consumers.  Production of these quality “fermented” food products represented by “Yamakyu” brands still remains an important part of Kodama Jozo’s business.

It was the second generation of the business that began brewing sake at Kodama Jozo. In 1913, Tomokichi Kodama began making sake by the name 'TAIHEIZAN' (太平山). This brand name comes from towering mountain in Akita City, Mt. Taihei (“Great Peaceful Mountain”) which for centuries has been the area’s spiritual symbol.

Eiko Kodama is married to the 5th generation, and current, president of Kodama Jozo, Shinichiro Kodama.

Both Eiko and Shin have been guests on the TWTT Project twice: for session #12 in August 2020, and again for session #61 in October 2021.

Earlier this year, Simone had the fortunate pleasure of visiting the Kodamas at their brewery in Akita Prefecture.

Earlier this month, Eiko made her first trip to Australia, visiting Melbourne, (Simone's hometown), for the Australian Sake Festival, held at Queen Victoria Market.

We chat to Eiko about her first time in Australia, the Australian Sake Festival, her family's sake and brewery, and learn a little about what she was doing before marrying into a sake brewery family.

It's always a delight to chat with Eiko, and we hope you enjoy listening to our conversation as much as we enjoyed having it.

A huge thank you to our subscribers at Patreon

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Other links from this episode:

https://www.kodamajozo.co.jp/en/

https://sake-festival.com.au/melbourne

https://australiansakeawards.org.au/en/

https://qvm.com.au/

https://komeyui.com.au/melbourne/

https://www.supersake.com.au/

https://www.philipperestaurant.com.au/

https://sakeassociation.org/2019/07/a-history-of-sake-brewing-in-brazil/

In this episode, Maki and Simone catch up with good friend and TWTT faithful, Mr. David Cheek.

Those who frequent the TWTT Project Zoom sessions will know Dave for his enthusiasm, his 3 part questions and his dedication to keeping the Nijikai going after each session, but most importantly, for his undeniable love of sake.

There is no denying that sake has played a huge role in Dave's life for a long, long time - it was even how he met his wife, Miwa, who was managing True Sake in San Fransisco at that time.

Dave was born in the USA, in Tacoma, Washington. He then moved to Washington DC, then on to San Fransisco and now lives in Japan, in Hachioji, Tokyo.

Dave spent a couple of years working alongside Brian Hutto at Brian's sake bar in Yokohama, and later, opened Dozo Sake Bar with his wife, Miwa, in Hachioji.

Sadly, despite its success, Dozo Sake had to close their doors... and not long after that, the pandemic hit. When they were able to do so, they started doing Dozo Pop-up at Chef's, the restaurant where Miwa works as a cook, in Shinjuku.

More recently, Dave has started hosting a series of sake tasting workshops that look strongly sake vocabulary, moving away from lexicons and generic descriptions and making it personal - because it IS personal. He encourages those who attend his workshops to allow themselves to go on a journey with the sake, to have a conversation with the sake... so, we decided to have a conversation with Dave about the language of Nihonshu: 'Nihonshu-go'.

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

You can subscribe to this Podcast at Patreon

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Show notes:

What Dave was drinking:

Wataribune Junmai Ginjo 55

from Huchu Homare, Ibaraki Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Muroka

Wataribune rice polished to 55%

Yeast #9

ABV: 15.5%

What Maki was drinking:

Chikurin Hoshioboro

from Marumoto Shuzo in Okayama Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama

Polishing ratio: 60%

ABV: 17%

What Simone was drinking:

Ruri Karakusa

from Shintani Shuzo in Yamaguchi Prefecture

Junmai Ginjo Muroka Nama Genshu

Polishing ratio: 60%

ABV: 16%

We're back after a brief hiatus and trying something a little different and more laid back for this episode.

It's been a busy month for Maki and Simone with travel and family commitments - some of that included visiting a few breweries in Japan together... so some good research travel... and drinking!

In this episode, we welcome our friend, sake advocate and fellow Aussie (residing in Japan), Mr. Julian Houseman.

Julian is no stranger to those who have followed TWTT The Project, as he was co-host and interpreter for a few TWTT Zoom sessions in 2020 and 2021. Many in the broader sake community will most likely be familiar with him or his work in publications like Sake Today, and online subscription publication, Sake Industry News.

He's a man who wears many hats and we're delighted to welcome him to the TWTT Podcast family.

We're stepping away from the interview style session in this episode, and basically 'just talking sake'!

This episode is just a bit of fun and another excuse to talk about sake.

As we mention at the start of this episode - we can't promise anything educational, or even necessarily entertaining... but if you are happy to listen to 3 sake lovers randomly talk about sake, then pour yourself a cup or a glass of sake and drink along with us as we ramble our way through episode 9 of TWTT The Podcast.

If you have any sake related topics you'd like to hear us ramble on about in any future episodes, feel free to email us at tastewiththetoji@gmail.com

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

You can subscribe to this Podcast at Patreon

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

In this episode, we audibly cross the seas to Australia and spend time chatting with Matt Kingsley Shaw, one half of the team that is Melbourne Sake.

It seemed only fitting to chat with an Australian guest whilst Simone, (who is based in Melbourne), was traveling in Japan. This is the first episode where we, (Maki and Simone), have been in the same country, let alone the same room, during a recording. We had so much fun chatting with Matt whilst tasting the most recent releases from Melbourne Sake.

'After working together at a Melbourne wine bar in 2014, it didn’t take long for Matt Kingsley Shaw and Quentin Hanley to take their first baby steps into the world of Sake.

Although a little confused and overwhelmed at first, they were spurred on by a next level meal at the (sadly now closed) Kappo on Flinders Lane.  If they were only scratching at the surface of the sake rabbit hole before, this experience sent the boys tumbling down.  Amazed by the range, complexity and depth of flavour possible in sake, they were hooked.

The next few years were spent exploring new styles and producers, learning as much as they could about both, followed by a tilt at home brewing.

Inspired by that experience at Kappo and emboldened by many long nights of sake “research”, they decided they would have to do it themselves and Melbourne Sake was born.'

2001 saw Melbourne Sake celebrate their first commercial release of their brew and in this episode, we get a little further insight into how their story began, what's happening for them right now, and what lies ahead for boys at Melbourne Sake.

Sadly, Quentin was in transit during the time of this recording, but we hope to catch up with both Matt and Quentin in a future podcast episode and hear how things are progressing for Melbourne Sake.

Ganbatte guys!

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

You can subscribe to this Podcast at Patreon

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Other suggested links from this episode:

Melbourne Sake

Zenkuro Sake

Black Market Sake

Marivale Farm

Bar Liberty

Simon Denton

Sake Bar Yoramu

Gozenshu

Tamagawa

Ombra

Supernormal

Bydri

Grossi Group