02/04/2026
One week has passed since returning to Luxembourg from my trip to Japan.
In Niigata, I had the opportunity to meet with sake breweries through a program by JETRO, and also visited Niigata Saje no Jin(新潟酒の陣). Sake no Jin was far more crowded than I had expected, and the entire venue was filled with a palpable sense of energy and excitement.
Niigata sake is often described as “tanrei karakuchi,” meaning clean and dry. While that style is certainly present, I found a wide range of expressions, including softer and more umami-driven profiles.
What stood out consistently was the quality of the water, giving the sake a refined, clean, and balanced character.
Outside the venue, local crafts and foods from Niigata were also being sold, giving a wider glimpse into the region’s culture.
日本出張から戻り1週間。新潟ではJETROのプログラムを通じて酒蔵の方々と直接お話しする機会があり、「新潟酒の陣」にも足を運びました。酒の陣は想像以上の人で賑わっていて、会場全体に熱気と活気が溢れていました。
「淡麗辛口」のイメージが強い新潟のお酒ですが、やわらかさや旨みのあるものなど幅広く、それでも水の良さを感じる、きれいで飲みやすいお酒が多いと感じました。
会場の外では、新潟の工芸品や食品なども販売されていました。