Norakuro Sake and More at Aoike Masuya Saketen

Published: March 19, 2018

Sandwiched between the Morishita and Tokiwa areas of Koto-ku is Takabashi, home to the Morishita shopping street better known as Norakurodo (Noraku-Road). The name is a contraction of “Norakuro Road”, named after the popular manga character Norakuro, a black-and-white dog first created in 1931 by local comic book artist Suiho Tagawa.

 

 

On the left side of Norakurodo is Aoike Masuya Saketen, a liquor shop that has been purveying the finest beverages to local people since 1892. On a recent balmy spring morning I dropped in to chat with the affable 5th. generation owner Mr. Aoike.

 

 

“Yes, we’re quite an old shop; this year is our 126th. in business. It’s thanks to our regular customers that we’ve continued for so long. I’m a local person as well; I was born and grew up right here in Takabashi. When the museum dedicated to Suiho Tagawa opened in 1999 in the Morishita Culture Centre just down the road it was decided to commemorate the event by producing a special edition sake.”

 

 

“The Kitsukura Brewery in Nagano Prefecture has a history of over 300 years and they agreed to produce the special edition. Mr. Tagawa was well known for his love of sake, the dry (“karakuchi” in Japanese) style in particular. We are the only shop in all Japan that sells it. It costs only 520 yen a bottle and is very good indeed. Many visitors to the museum and the local area pick up bottles as souvenirs. Also, there are Norakuro fan clubs all over Japan; they order Norakuro sake and drink it at their get-togethers.”

 

 

When I ask Mr. Aoike what he recommends except for the Norakuro sake he doesn’t hesitate for a moment. “This is terrific,” he says. “It’s a Junmai Daiginjo from Kitaya Brewery in Yame City, Fukuoka Prefecture. At only 1600 yen for a bottle it’s incredibly good value for money. Dassai is perhaps the most in vogue sake in Japan and around the world right now but for me Kitaya’s products are just as good and they’re catching up in terms of popularity.”

 

 

Mr. Aoike assures me he has sampled everything he sells in the shop, “for research purposes.” We can but admire his dedication to his job. This year he has two summer recommendations, both from Chiba prefecture. First is this lemon wine from the South Boso peninsula. “It’s light and fresh, perfect for warm summer days. You can drink it at room temperature or chilled, with ice or even a splash of soda for a real summer spritzer. It’s very popular with ladies and at 7% alcohol by volume it won’t knock you out. We sell it for 910 yen per bottle, which is a good price.”

 

 

Second is this sparkling pear wine (Japanese ‘nashi’) also from Chiba Prefecture. “It’s another very nice summer drink,” says Mr. Aoike, “light and refreshing with a pleasant pear flavour. It’s just 8% ABV so not too strong. It also suits a summer brunch for those who enjoy a sparkling wine such as CAVA. On Sundays, we have a “pedestrian paradise” when Norakurodo is closed to traffic and many shops sell their wares from tables in the street. Both these wines are popular with ladies and the Norakuro sake sells well too.”

 

 

Continuing the theme of good value, Mr. Aoike points to this 2015 Antoine Chatelet Chablis as being of equivalent quality to wines double the price. In fact, many of the prices are considerably lower than in other liquor shops.

 

 

This Mana by Invivo 2015 Sauvignon Blanc from New Zealand is a prize-winning wine produced by the highly rated Invivo Winery. The experts love this wine and it seems a steal at 1900 yen a bottle. The McKinnon’s 2015 oak aged Shiraz; a powerful, full-bodied Australian red wine also comes highly recommended.

 

 

If you’re looking to push the boat out then Mr. Aoike suggests this barley shochu Hakata Kenjyo from the Shinozaki Brewery in Fukuoka. “It’s a little more expensive but it’s really good. If I give a bottle of this to my friends as a gift they’re extremely happy. It’s strong and for real shochu lovers.”

 

 

If you’re visiting Koto-ku then a trip to Norakurodo is a must. You can stroll along the arcades, enjoy the museum and even pick up a bottle of Norakuro sake as a unique souvenir. There’s a shop full of top quality beverages at reasonable prices at Aoike Masuya Saketen, with the highly knowledgeable Mr. Aoike waiting to advise you. How many cartoon dogs have a brand of alcoholic drink named after them? Not many, I’m sure!

 

 

 

Story and Photos by Stephen Spencer