Listen "Koji - Sake's (In?) tangible Cultural Heart"
Episode Synopsis
In December, UNESCO recognized “Traditional Sake Making Techniques” as Japan’s latest example of Intangible Cultural Heritage. Andy and Jim have questions, and maybe even a few answers, about what exactly that might mean. The key is, of course, koji and its use in alcoholic fermentation in Japan. Come take a listen as our hosts explore the implications for nihonshu and its future.
Vocabulary for this episode:
Barakoji バラ麹 - Japan’s particular style of sprinkling Aspergillus oryzae spores over loose rice to make koji.
Mochikoji 餅麹 - One Japanese term for the common Chinese style of cake fermentation starter, called sometime jiuqu or qu. Basically, a cake of rice flour or other starch mixed with water and inoculated with various microbes including Apergillus or Rhizopus molds.
Recommendations:
Andy - Daigorei from Bajo Shuzo
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/SakeDeepDive
Also, check out Andy’s new sake tours at: https://www.originsaketours.com/
And buy Jim’s book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake wherever you order your books (print and ebook available)!
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg
Vocabulary for this episode:
Barakoji バラ麹 - Japan’s particular style of sprinkling Aspergillus oryzae spores over loose rice to make koji.
Mochikoji 餅麹 - One Japanese term for the common Chinese style of cake fermentation starter, called sometime jiuqu or qu. Basically, a cake of rice flour or other starch mixed with water and inoculated with various microbes including Apergillus or Rhizopus molds.
Recommendations:
Andy - Daigorei from Bajo Shuzo
Don’t forget to support us on Patreon at https://www.patreon.com/SakeDeepDive
Also, check out Andy’s new sake tours at: https://www.originsaketours.com/
And buy Jim’s book, Discovering Yamaguchi Sake wherever you order your books (print and ebook available)!
Our theme music is from
Lotus Lane by The Loyalist - Preconceived Notions Available at https://soundcloud.com/preconceived-notions
Under a Creative Commons — Attribution 3.0 Unported— CC BY 3.0
Free Download / Stream: https://bit.ly/lotus-lane
Music promoted by Audio Library https://youtu.be/1YVHRMVwwHg
More episodes of the podcast Sake Deep Dive
Namazake - The Story of Unpasteurized Sake
30/11/2025
Hiyaoroshi - Autumn Sake Season is Here
31/10/2025
Sugidama - Sake Brewing's Evergreen Symbol
30/09/2025
Nigori - Clearing up Cloudy Sake
31/07/2025
Natsuzake - Summertime Sake
30/06/2025
Shibori - Sake Pressing Matters
31/05/2025
Aramasa - Sake with Style
31/03/2025
Sake Bars - Drinking in Japan
28/02/2025
Jizake - Local Sake Goes Global
31/01/2025
Honjozo - A Hidden Sake Hero
30/11/2024
ZARZA We are Zarza, the prestigious firm behind major projects in information technology.