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錦川水系の豊な恵みへの賛歌として生まれた「錦乃誉」 |
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八百新酒造は創業以来、山口県を代表する清流『錦川』の恩恵を受けて酒造りを続けてきました。
ところが戦後、昭和３０年代に試練の時が訪れます。
上流域に出来たダムにより錦川の流水量が減ったため八百新が位置する河口近くでは満潮時には海水が逆流するようになったのです。
当然伏流水にも影響し、塩分の混入により八百新の井戸は使用不能に陥りました。敷地内に新しく井戸を打ち抜いたり、脱塩素処理をしたり、様々な対策を講じたものの満足な水質の取得に至らず、一時は酒造りを断念せざるを得ない状況にまで追い込まれました。
しかし、先人の酒造りにかける情熱はこの逆境を撥ね返しました。
うちの井戸が使えないのならば他所に良い水を汲みにいこう｣
こうしてより良い水を求めて、中流域・上流域へと『水探しの旅』が始まりました。
水質検査を重ね、応援してくださる様々な方との出会いにも恵まれ、数箇所に素晴らしい水源を確保することができました。
仕込み水の全量を外部に汲みに行くことは他の蔵ではほとんどする必要のない余分な負担ですが、その分当たり前と思っているものがいかに貴重な存在であるかを再認識することとなりました。
そして、この時われわれは試練を情熱で乗り越えた証として、新しくつくり始めた酒に『錦乃誉』という名を付し、錦川水系の豊かな自然の恵みに対する万感の想いを表したのです。
酒は自然の賜です。われわれには｢おいしい酒をつくりたい｣という想いと、｢おいしい酒を造ることのできる環境を保ちたい｣という想いがあります。
『錦乃誉』が錦川水系への賛歌たり続けることを願ってやみません。
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名川｢錦川｣の水源「寂地峡」
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日本の名川の一つに数えられる錦川 |
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Do
you think it would be a little bit too romantic if you imagine a springs
of crystal-clear water, which is often said to be a favorite scene at
heart of the Japanese in general, when hearing the word 'a pure sake'
uttered and observing what image comes to your mind ? No matter which
you might tell, yes or no, it was really a blessing for the brewers of
Yaoshin Breweries in those days to find out that an ideal place for
brewing, almost looking dreamy though, was actually there around an
easily accessible land.
There stands Jakuchisan, the highest mountain (1337m) of Yamaguchi
prefecture, situated close to the borderlines between Yamaguchi and
Shimane, also Hiroshima, and Jakuchikyo valley, which has been formed as
it accepts the quick streams and falls flowing down from the mountain,
has been the origin of the flow of Nishiki river, which runs through
such beautiful highlands as Hongo village and Nishiki town gradually
enlarging its width as it flows down, and by reaching the middle stream
area it starts to largely wind turning from right to left until it comes
to be a big river with the reflection of deep blue and green colors from
around the riverbank on its surface, and before long it goes to split
into two wide streams by flowing through the right and the left of
Iwakuni city delta, and both rush into Setouchi sea, one by the way of
Imazu mouth, the other Monzen mouth.
The rich favor of nature around the upper stream of Nishiki river has
provided us with the crops of delicious rice of Hongo village, for
example, also the subterranean water full of minerals and nutrition has
been given to ones living in the lower stream area by the form of
bubbling forth water from the wells, all of which have contributed to
enrich the life of people.
Shinzaburoh Yaoya, the founder of Yaoshin Breweries undoubtedly
appreciated very much this gracious blessings of natural resources. 'Shingiku,'
a full flavored rich taste sake, was highly regarded as No.1 in Suoh no
doubt because of its bountiful use of the choice rice and water.
All the brewers had to do was absorb in producing the real sake by
making the most of the grace of nature.
However, the time of testing came in the post war days: the wells of
Yaoshin, which had provided the best quality water for sake producing,
were no more able to bubble forth the water for that purpose because of
the back flow of sea water into the river due to a dam that was built in
those days.
Notwithstanding, we were taught once again how the richness of Nishiki
river and the graciousness of the nature are beyond our imagination.
Why? Because we were able to find out the best quality water in the
place of Nishimi where Kintai bridge can be seen very well.
We used the water to produce a new sake, and when we named it 'Nishiki
No Homare (meaning the glory of Nishiki),' our deep felt feeling toward
the Nishiki river region was contained in there.
Ever since then, many lovers of the really fine sakes have chosen 'Nishiki
No Homare,' that has succeeded the position of main brand of 'Shingiku.'
Recently, by presenting new sakes as 'Kaya No Shizuku,' which uses only
the selected rice from Hongo village and choice water, and 'Omoshiroki
Kotomonakiyowo Omoshiroku' that the brewers successfully created by
being particular about rice having been inspired by the spirits of
Shinsaku Takasugi who lived his way for the sake of Japan at the end of
Tokugawa era, we continue to make efforts to fulfill the very
responsibility of every conscientious brewer, that is to show the best
appreciation to blessings of nature by fully utilizing the good things
from it to produce the best quality sakes.
Thus, our motivating force will never change in the future, as it has
been, which is our unspeakably deep regards to our mother nature around
the Nishiki river regions |
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