It had been a while since I visited Ibaraki Prefecture's antenna shop "Ibaraki Marche" (shop and restaurant). On the way back from Palaceside Building at Takebashi after a gathering, we had a drink. One subway transfer from the nearest Ginza-itchome Station (1 minute), 4–5 minutes from Ginza, 3 minutes from JR Yurakucho—convenient.
Upper photo: the person at far left with half his face showing, delighted as a woman on the right pours sake, is Ibaraki Governor Masashi Hashimoto. The sake is "Tsukinoi." Shot on an old cell phone before switching to a smartphone—sorry it's hard to see.
This time not the governor but the woman: Keiko Sakamoto. Profile: born Ibaraki 1961, graduated university, worked, married Kazuhiko Sakamoto in 1985... became representative director of Tsukinoi Sake Brewery in Oarai in February 2004 after Kazuhiko's death—a remarkable woman realizing her husband's unfinished dream of organic brewing.
She knew nothing about sake-making. After marriage she only worked the register and guided tourists through the brewe
ry to some extent. When Kazuhiko was diagnosed with cancer and given six months, learning his wish for organic sake, knowing nothing about brewing, she completed organic junmai "Wa no Tsuki"＝photo right as proof he lived. Calling yourself organic requires organic rice plus no chemicals, detergents, or vinyl—and certification.
She published "The Last Promise" (Bungeishunju) on those struggles, Kazuhiko's illness, and family feelings; a TV drama aired in spring 2006 (Kansai TV, Yasumi An as Keiko, Hiroshi Tachi as husband).
Keiko, who says continuing the family business for generations is her mission, planned to hand over to her eldest son after ten years as seventh head—year nine now, still energetic; hard to imagine her vigor fading soon.
"Wa no Tsuki" (720 ml, 2,415 yen) and "Tsukinoi" (various sizes) are sold at Ibaraki Marche and on the shop site (http://www.tsukinoi.co.jp/).