Latest news with #Dassai
Asahi Shimbun
23-05-2025
- Business
- Asahi Shimbun
A boozy waltz: Sake brewed to world-class orchestral track
Hiroshi Sakurai, chairperson of Asahi Shuzo Co., and Philipp Gardie, vice president of the Austrian Federal Institute of Industry, with bottles of 'Dassai — Composing the Future' on May 22 in Osaka. (Akina Nishi) OSAKA—Renowned Dassai sake maker Asahi Shuzo Co. and the Austrian Federal Economic Chamber unveiled a collaborative brew at the Osaka Kansai Expo's Austria Pavilion on May 22. The sake 'Dassai — Composing the Future" features the pavilion's theme in its name as a literal interpretation of it, with the collaborators adding the unconventional step of playing music performed by the leading orchestras of both countries in the sake's fermentation tank for about 40 days. Production began in the summer of 2023 at the suggestion of the Austrian side. Johann Strauss II's 'Lagoon-Waltz' was selected as the specific piece and was performed by members of the Vienna Philharmonic, the world's most prestigious orchestra, and the Japan Century Symphony Orchestra in separate recording sessions. The recordings were then combined into a single track for Asahi Shuzo to play as brewers worked on the sake that was completed in March. According to the brewer based in Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, having it on loop was not a gimmick. The sound wavelengths from the waltz were enough to vibrate the tank, facilitating the release of dissolved gas and changing the yeast's behavior throughout the fermentation process. A representative of the company said, 'The sake tastes very rounded and soft after 40 days of listening to the music around the clock.' Hiroshi Sakurai, the company's chairperson, said, 'When we received the proposal, we were beyond thrilled. We have been working hard to produce good sake, and it shows in the taste.' Philipp Gardie, vice president of the Austrian Federal Institute of Industry, attended the unveiling ceremony and said the beverage represents music and sake well, the two being embedded in the culture and values of both countries. Limited to 8,000 bottles, this rendition of Dassai is now available at the Austrian pavilion as well as department stores in the Kansai region until Oct. 13, the expo's last day. Each bottle is 720 ml and costs 8,000 yen ($56). It can also be found in Austria and certain parts of Europe.
Kyodo News
26-04-2025
- Health
- Kyodo News
Exposure to 1-minute sound may prevent motion sickness: Japan team
KYODO NEWS - 12 hours ago - 10:10 | Japan, All People suffering from motion sickness may be able to prevent their symptoms from developing just by listening to a minute of special sound, a Japanese research team said. The research found a sound at 100 hertz stimulates the inner ear and helps to reduce motion sickness by improving balance, the team said, while current preventive measures are largely limited to taking medicines. The study comes as the risk of suffering from motion sickness is on the rise with the development of self-driving vehicle technology, as it is passengers rather than drivers that tend to develop symptoms, according to the team, which includes researchers from Nagoya University. In the experiment, around 80 volunteers were exposed to the special sound at a certain volume for one minute shortly before riding on a swing, a driving simulator and an actual car, while a similar group took part without exposure to the sound. The study showed 70 to 80 percent of those who were exposed to the sound found symptoms such as lightheadedness and nausea were alleviated, according to the findings published last month in medical journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. The improvement in such symptoms is believed to have been caused by the sound stimulating the otolithic organs in the inner ear, thus activating the vestibular system, the team said. "We'd like to put (the study) into practice at an early date after carefully confirming its safety. We hope that this will be an option for people suffering from motion sickness," said Masashi Kato, a Nagoya University professor who participated in the research. Related coverage: Japan hospital uses insulin-producing iPS cells for type 1 diabetes Innovation over tradition sending Dassai sake to the Moon Japanese people more susceptible to authoritarian messages: research
Kyodo News
26-04-2025
- Health
- Kyodo News
Exposure to 1-minute sound may prevent motion sickness: Japan team
KYODO NEWS - 19 minutes ago - 10:10 | Japan, All People suffering from motion sickness may be able to prevent their symptoms from developing just by listening to a minute of special sound, a Japanese research team said. The research found a sound at 100 hertz stimulates the inner ear and helps to reduce motion sickness by improving balance, the team said, while current preventive measures are largely limited to taking medicines. The study comes as the risk of suffering from motion sickness is on the rise with the development of self-driving vehicle technology, as it is passengers rather than drivers that tend to develop symptoms, according to the team, which includes researchers from Nagoya University. In the experiment, around 80 volunteers were exposed to the special sound at a certain volume for one minute shortly before riding on a swing, a driving simulator and an actual car, while a similar group took part without exposure to the sound. The study showed 70 to 80 percent of those who were exposed to the sound found symptoms such as lightheadedness and nausea were alleviated, according to the findings published last month in medical journal Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine. The improvement in such symptoms is believed to have been caused by the sound stimulating the otolithic organs in the inner ear, thus activating the vestibular system, the team said. "We'd like to put (the study) into practice at an early date after carefully confirming its safety. We hope that this will be an option for people suffering from motion sickness," said Masashi Kato, a Nagoya University professor who participated in the research. Related coverage: Japan hospital uses insulin-producing iPS cells for type 1 diabetes Innovation over tradition sending Dassai sake to the Moon Japanese people more susceptible to authoritarian messages: research
South China Morning Post
15-04-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Brewing sake in space? Japanese maker aims for small step towards moon-based brewery
If humans eventually colonise the moon, the early settlers might toast their success with a bottle of sake, realising the dream of Japanese brewer Asahi Shuzo. Advertisement Yamaguchi-based Asahi Shuzo, known for its Dassai sake brand, took a leap forward in February, unveiling at an event in Tokyo a bottle of high-end sake that it will attempt to brew in space. The price for the 100ml (3.3oz) bottle of Dassai Moon is 110 million yen (US$738,000) – the going rate for an alcoholic drink produced in space given that it will be the first of its kind. Inspired by the US-led Artemis moon exploration programme and other efforts to establish a sustainable human presence on the moon, Asahi Shuzo is serious about wanting the eventual inhabitants to be able to enjoy a low-gravity tipple. 'It's not a case of trying it out once for the sake of publicity but rather starting with the moon and moving on to other possibilities,' Asahi Shuzo president and CEO Kazuhiro Sakurai says. Kazuhiro Sakurai is president of Asahi Shuzo. Photo: Facebook/ Dassai Blue First, Asahi Shuzo will attempt to brew sake on the International Space Station where equipment will recreate the gravity of the moon's surface. The specialised brewing equipment and ingredients could be launched into orbit as early as September.
Forbes
26-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Served At The Oscars And The Dodger Stadium, Japanese Sake Is Becoming An American Drink
The guests at the 2025 Academy Awards saw something new: Japanese sake. It was the first time Japanese sake was selected as an official beverage at the Award reception and the Governors Ball, the post-awards party, along with other familiar beverages like champagne, wine and tequila. Also this month, the Los Angeles Dodgers announced that they will make Japanese sake available at Dodger Stadium concession stands in collaboration with the 103-year-old Hakkaisan Brewery. There is nothing more American than the Oscars and the Dodger Stadium. Is Japanese sake becoming an American beverage? 'I hope so. But we still have a simple challenge,' says Hiroshi Sakurai, chairman of Dassai, which is the brand that was selected to be served at the Oscars. 'When you drink champagne, you don't think of having French food with it. But when you think of sake, there is a strong association with Japanese food. We really want to change the perception of sake being only a part of Japanese culture.' Except for a handful of non-Japanese restaurants, such as Michelin-starred Blue Hill At Stone Barns and Eleven Madison Park in New York, you don't normally find sake outside of Japanese restaurants' beverage lists. However, there are signs that sake is more widely enjoyed, free from the image of the companion of Japanese food. Akio Matsumoto, head sommelier at the Michelin-starred Restaurant Yuu in New York, says, 'Since we are a French restaurant, 90% of our beverage list is wine. But because our chef-owner is Japanese, we serve Japanese sake as well. Interestingly, 30% of the orders are Japanese sake.' Matsumoto's guests often ask for sake out of curiosity; he also serves sake within a beverage pairing menu. 'After trying sake, quite a few guests ask, 'Where can I buy this?', which is a nice surprise but makes sense to me,' he says. 'Sake is uniquely harmonious with food. Its texture is softer and the taste is mellower than wine in general. Sake's subtle sweetness and rich umami work like a soft blanket on your palate. On the other hand, wine's acidity creates sharpness and clarity of flavor effectively. These are very different palate experiences and both are equally satisfying. You can easily amplify your food and beverage pairings if you add sake to your dinner.' For example, a terrine of foie gras is classically paired with Sauternes, a sweet French white wine, but instead, he recommends serving elegantly rich, sweet sake called Kijoshu for a similar yet refreshingly new experience. Keshonn Hatcher, beverage director at the New American restaurant Pretty To Think So in New York, also found sake's unique property and uses sake in his cocktails. One of his signature cocktails is "Inaudible", which is a martini made with Japanese sake, Symphony 6 botanical spirit, strawberry rhubarb gin, yuzu and lemon bitters. 'For this cocktail, I chose Dassai Blue 35, a Junmai Daiginjo sake made locally in New York. I find its floral and lightly scented fruit notes complement unique low-alcohol options in martinis.' Hatcher serves sake on its own with food as well. 'It is uncommon to serve sake for New American restaurants, but different types of sake offer various approaches to expand the dining experience. Similar to how one might ask for a glass of wine with dinner, I have noticed sake has that same level of versatility. We recommend it to pair with dishes from our pan-roasted halibut to even the truffle baked potato. Our raw bar selection and caviar service go well with sake too, because it complements the brine and textures of seafood.' Dassai's Sakurai had success in establishing his brand reputation in France through the recognition by renowned chefs, including Joel Robuchon, Alain Ducasse, Michel Troisgros and Yannick Alléno. 'These chefs approach food and beverages first and foremost for pure deliciousness, regardless of their cultural origins. They have introduced sake to a wider population in France outside the context of Japanese food. But we need to think of the mindset of American people differently, which seems more marketing-driven.' However, he is not considering a major marketing campaign to promote his sake in the U.S. Instead, Dassai built a sake brewery in New York to make sake a local beverage rather than an imported product from far away. In fact, the sake served at the Oscars was made in Dassai's New York brewery. Also, Hatcher at Pretty To Think So and Matsumoto at Restaurant Yuu chose Dassai's sake made in New York. Dassai is not the only American sake producer. There are over two dozen American sake breweries, offering craft sake to their local communities and beyond and making sake slowly and surely a domestic drink. One of them is Brooklyn Kura in New York, which was founded in 2018 by two Americans. This month, it will become the first U.S. sake producer to export its products to Japan, making sake effectively a borderless beverage. On the other hand, the Dodgers Stadium will serve sake that is made in Japan. Whether local or imported, Japanese sake seems to be taking root in the U.S. to become a part of American culture.
