Ep 29: Emergence of Sake Series: Bodaimoto and How Oda Nobunaga Ended Soboshu

04/21/22 • 29 min

Soboshu, the sake brewed by monks played a very important role in the development of sake brewing techniques in medieval Japan. The monasteries possessed many key components necessary for successful sake-making: economic power, skilled labour force, scientific knowledge and strong political clout. However, it all was ended by Oda Nobunaga, who saw temples as a threat to his rule.
One of the very significant inventions was bodaimoto, a brewing technique developed by the monks of the Shoryaku-ji Temple on Mt. Bodai in Nara, which opened the way to brewing sake in commercial qualities. I was also talking about bodaimoto in Episode 2 of the podcast.
Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.
Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.
Episode's Content:

Sake innovations by monks
How bodaimoto is made
Kamakura period and Sake Prohibition
Muromachi periods: the start of the commercialisation of sake brewing
Sengoku Jidai: the end of soboshu
End of the era and pre-Edo sake
Sake of the episode: Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori Namazake Misty Stream

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori Namazake Misty Stream
Tsuji Honten
Tengu Sake
Sake Deep Drive Episode 2: Bodaimoto - Brewing at the Buddha's Foot
Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts
Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Vocal: Svetlana

Sake innovations by monks
How bodaimoto is made
Kamakura period and Sake Prohibition
Muromachi periods: the start of the commercialisation of sake brewing
Sengoku Jidai: the end of soboshu
End of the era and pre-Edo sake
Sake of the episode: Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori Namazake Misty Stream

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Vocal: Svetlana

Previous Episode

Ep 28: The beauty of nature: The Sparkling Sake Brewery

The new interview with Naoki Toyota and Tracey Delaney from The Sparkling Sake Brewery based in Cambridgeshire. Inspired by nature, Naoki went to study sake brewing in Nara, the birthplace of Japanese sake. After returning to the UK, he went on the mission to create the sake, which would express the beauty of UK nature.
His collaboration with Tracey, who is a certified sake specialist has led to the creation of AWA, a beautiful sparkling sake made by a traditional fermentation in the bottle method in small batches, each being unique. You can read more about my impression of AWA in the post about sparkling sake.
Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.
Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.
Episode's Content:

Naoki's and Tracey's sake stories
What is sparkling sake
Why make sparkling sake in the UK?
Naoki's journey and challenges of setting up a sake brewery in the UK
Sake of the episode: AWA Sparkling Sake
Food pairing and where to buy
Future plans

Kampai!
Sake mentioned:
AWA Sparkling Sake
The Sparkling Sake Brewery
Sorakami Online Store
Sakaya (Pantechnicon Ground Floor Arcade)
Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts
Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Vocal: Svetlana

Next Episode

Ep. 30: Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake (Interview with Nancy Matsumoto and Michael Tremblay)

It's always exciting to read a new book about sake. There are not that many of them published outside Japan. But the fact that this new book is written by two amazing authors and sake specialists Nancy Matsumoto, a renowned sake and food journalist and Michael Tremblay, Sake Samurai and sake educator, makes it even more thrilling.
In this episode, I am talking with Nancy and Michael about their new book, Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: how they came up with the idea, what it is like writing a book together, the main concept, key points, the people they met and sake they drank.
Don't forget, Sugidama Podcast now has a sponsor, London Sake, an excellent online sake store. London Sake has one of the widest selections of premium and craft sake available online today. They deliver across the UK and Europe, and with over 100 sake from 25 breweries, there really is something for everyone.
Using simple online tasting notes and sensible, affordable food pairings they help you find the perfect sake without any of the fuss. Listeners of the podcast can get a 10% discount Listen to the episode to get the magical code! London Sake: making sake simple.
Episode's Content:

Nancy's and Michael's sake stories
Coming up with the idea for the book
What is it like to write a book together?
The book's concept and structure
Sake vs Wine: Terroir
Key points of the book
People and discoveries
Looking back: Do you remember your first sake?
Sake of the episode: Sohomare Kimoto Tokubetsu Junmai & Sohomare Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo (Nancy) and Gozenshu 9 Junmai Usu-Nigori Bodaimoto (Michael)

Kampai!
Book:
Exploring the World of Japanese Craft Sake: Rice, Water, Earth

Sake mentioned:
Sohomare Sake
Sohomare Sake Brewery
World Sale Imports UK (importer)
Kimoto Tokubetsu Junmai
The Whiskey Exchange
Kimoto Junmai Daiginjo
Sorakami Online Store
Gozenshu Junmai Bodaimoto Usu-nigori (Misty Mountain)
Tengu Sake
Sugidama Podcast on Podchaser - please review if you don't use Apple Podcasts
Music used:
Wirklich Wichtig (CB 27) by Checkie Brown https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Checkie_Brown_1005/hey/Wirklich_Wichtig_CB_27

Just Arround the World (Kielokaz ID 362) by KieLoKaz
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/KieLoKaz/Free_Ganymed/Just_Arround_the_World_Kielokaz_ID_362

Licence: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/
Vocal: Svetlana

Sugidama Sake Podcast - Ep 29: Emergence of Sake Series: Bodaimoto and How Oda Nobunaga Ended Soboshu

Transcript

Episode 29: Emergence of Sake Series: Bodaimoto and How Oda Nobunaga ended soboshu
00:17
Greeting
Hey, everyone! Welcome to Episode 29 of Sugidama Podcast, the podcast about Japanese sake, the drink which for a long time was brewed by monks using a few very interesting methods before sake breweries as we know them now took over. And we are going to talk about it today.

But before we talk about it, let me tell you about our sponsor, London Sake,