The Bichu region is a sake-producing area (sake dokoro) with many historic sake breweries.
As someone from the Kanto region, I encountered Bichu's local sake after moving to Kurashiki, and it was only after my move that I learned that the Bichu region is a sake-producing area.
Bichu's local sake is diverse and never gets boring, with endless new encounters.
An event called “Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!!” will be held over two days on June 8 (Saturday) and 9 (Sunday). This popular event will be held for the fourth time in 2024.
I have covered the details of this irresistible event for sake lovers.
What is “Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!!”
Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!! is an event that will be held on June 8 (Saturday) and 9 (Sunday), 2024.
Fifteen sake breweries from the Bichu region and two craft beer breweries, totaling 17 establishments, will gather, and the producers will directly serve their local sake. You can enjoy various local sake for a few hundred yen per cup, and if you find something you like, you can purchase it by the bottle.
Additionally, local restaurants associated with each sake brewery and craft beer brewery will gather, allowing you to savor the food of the Bichu region.
While the event mainly focuses on alcohol, there will also be sales of sweets, coffee, and sake vessels, as well as live music performances, so many families with children participated last time. Even those who do not drink can enjoy it, so many people visit every year.
Please check the following image for detailed vendor information.
The event was planned by Nakahara Kazuo. Nakahara serves as the representative of the Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!! Executive Committee and runs an izakaya in Kurashiki.
Nakahara felt a sense of waste when he learned that "people in Okayama hardly drink local sake" while talking with customers who visit his shop and the sake producers he sources from. To let local people know the deliciousness and charm of local sake, he says that the Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!! was born with the theme of "drinking and knowing."
I spoke with Nakahara about this year's event, which marks the fourth edition.
Interview with the Organizer
Can you tell us what inspired the creation of the Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!!?
Nakahara (no honorifics)
“I wanted the people of Okayama to drink local sake and to know the charm of local sake” was the initial inspiration.
Okayama Prefecture is said to be a sake-producing area with the eighth largest number of sake breweries in the country, but local people surprisingly do not drink local sake much.
Even when talking with customers who come to my shop and the sake producers, it seems that local people do not have many opportunities to drink local sake, and when I looked into it, I found that only 20% of the sake consumed in Okayama Prefecture is locally produced.
It is such a waste that such delicious sake is being produced locally, yet local people are not drinking it! This is why I planned the “Enjoi Bichu Jizake Festival SAKEbe!!” to gather the sake breweries from Bichu.
I hope it will provide an opportunity for people to know the deliciousness of local sake.
Additionally, Okayama Prefecture has three first-class rivers flowing through it, and it is one of the top producers of sake rice such as Omachi rice and Yamada Nishiki, which are essential for sake brewing.
Furthermore, the sake brewers, known as toji, are referred to as "Bichu toji" and have the second oldest history in Japan.
A place of water, a place of rice, a place of toji... indeed, Okayama is a sake-producing area, but I think many people are unaware of this. I want people to learn that Okayama is a sake-producing area through this event.
Can you tell us about the characteristics of Bichu's local sake?
Nakahara
The Bichu region is located vertically within Okayama Prefecture, with completely different climates between the southern and northern parts of the prefecture.
Sake is made according to the climate of the area, so even the sake from the same Bichu region can taste completely different between the breweries in the north and those in the south. The sake from the northern part tends to have a crisp taste, while the sake from the southern part tends to have a slightly richer flavor.
One of the major characteristics of the Bichu region is that various flavors of sake are produced.
What are the highlights of this event?
Nakahara
Half of the sake breweries in Okayama Prefecture are concentrated in the Bichu region, and this time, almost all of the breweries in the Bichu region will participate. I believe there is no other event where so many Bichu sake breweries gather in one place.
The sake producers will also directly explain their sake, so I hope everyone enjoys the local sake while having many conversations and encounters with new local sake.
Local restaurants associated with each sake brewery will also be selling delicious snacks, so please enjoy the pairing with local sake.
Additionally, there will be sales of sweets and coffee, live performances by local citizen bands, and the sale of sake vessels made by students from Kurashiki University of Science and the Arts. Although it is a sake event, I believe there are various ways to enjoy it, so I would like to encourage those who do not drink to come as well.
How was the response to the last event?
Nakahara
Last time, over 5,200 people attended, and I was surprised by the number of attendees, which exceeded my expectations. I believe many people enjoyed it.
The sake producers, who rarely have the opportunity to hear directly from customers, were also pleased.
For example, there are other opportunities for sake producers to meet general customers, such as during the kura biraki (brewery opening) events held at each brewery, but I think there are not many chances to have in-depth conversations.
At an event like this, the sake producers can properly explain their sake to customers, so I believe the main theme of the event, “drinking and knowing,” is being effectively realized.
Also, we often saw customers participating with children.
There were even people who came with three generations. The grandfather was telling his son and daughter, "The sake here is delicious," while the grandchildren were running around the venue having fun and dancing to the music being played...
The members of the band that performed also said, "It was fun because we usually don't have the opportunity to perform outdoors."
We aim to create an event that many people can enjoy, so hearing such feedback makes me feel that it was worth holding the event.
What kind of people would you like to come?
Nakahara
First of all, I would like people who have not had much experience drinking local sake to come and learn that Okayama is a sake-producing region.
Especially for the locals, I want them to drink local sake, and I hope they discover that "there is such delicious sake here in the local area!" It would be great if they could have that new discovery.
If they know what kind of sake is produced in their own region, they can convey the charm of their hometown when they go outside the prefecture, and I think it would be nice to be complimented with "It's delicious."
Also, I hope that even those who cannot drink alcohol will feel free to participate.
The most important thing is to enjoy together, so it's perfectly fine for those who only want to enjoy food, music, or sweets! I hope people of all ages can have fun.
Finally, please give a message to the readers.
Nakahara
Okayama is a sake-producing region that we can be proud of nationwide. And at this event, half of the sake breweries in the prefecture will participate.
Whether you have drunk Bichu local sake before or not, please take this opportunity to enjoy and talk with the brewers who make it.
In addition to local sake, there will also be food, sweets, and wonderful music. On the second day, we will have Awa Odori dancers joining us.
Let's eat, drink, and have fun together! Let's all get excited!
Let's Enjoy!
Conclusion
When it comes to sake events, I tend to invite people who can drink with me.
However, the Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKE be!! seems to be an event that is easy to invite various people to, thanks to the variety of booths, so I felt it would be enjoyable even for those who cannot drink.
It might be interesting to compare local sake from breweries located in the north and south and discover the differences in taste by region. Since it's a good opportunity, I thought I would like to visit various sake breweries.
The Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKE be!! offers various ways to enjoy, so how about exploring new local sake with your close friends?
4th Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKE be!! Data
| Name | 4th Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKE be!! |
|---|---|
| Date | June 8 (Saturday): 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM June 9 (Sunday): 10:00 AM - 4:00 PM |
| Location | 1-18-1 Chuo, Kurashiki City |
| Participation Fee (Tax Included) | Free admission |
| Homepage | Okayama Tourism WEB "4th Enjoy Bichu Local Sake Festival SAKE be!!" |
