Oni no Shitaburui Honjozo [1 Koku - 98]

From Chiyomusubi Shuzo in Tottori. Made from Gohyakumangoku, semaibuai 50%, SMV +15, acidity 1.5, 14.5% abv.

Oni no Shitaburui translates as "quivering tongued devil" or "drunken monster." As my man J. further explains, "Oni no Shitaburui is also the name of a v-shaped valley thru which the Omaki river (in Shimane, Tottori) runs, studded with car-sized boulders. Legend has it that a Princess long ago was courted by a pesky alligator who swam upriver every night to see her, so she stopped up the river with the boulders. Could this have led to a pining, drunken reptilian rage?"

Clean nose, super light and dry on the palate, grainy, mineral, stony. Superb! As for pairings, I think this could take on just about anything... seafood, sure, but I'm thinking an Irish beef/barley stew...

Tottori... home to Japan's sand dunes. Can't help but think of Kobo Abe's Suna no onna (The Woman in the Dunes). Tremendous writer, book and film. Pulled out the soundtrack to listen to this evening, composed by the legendary Toru Takemitsu. Playing the opening track right now... nothing but the sounds of wind and blowing sand... chilling... and perfect.