KOZAEMON
Nakajima Jouzou / GIFU Pref.
Farmers and Agriculture
Hiyoshi Mechanized Farmers Association
Brewing / Brewer
Nakajima Jouzou
Design and Art
Hiroe Takigawa
CONCEPT
Think again from agriculture.
Brew a sake in local nature.
A brewery with a history of being founded in 1702. At that time the head of the family,
Nakashima Kozaemon Youshin, started brewing sake using annual tribute rice. After
then they continued making using rice from other prefectures. But in 2002, the 300th
anniversary of their foundation, they started growing sake rice at the local Mizunami,
like when it was founded and launched two kinds of sake. There is a starting point that
should not be forgotten, no matter how convenient the world becomes. The brewer who
noticed that realized again that they should make sake in the local nature. Then they
started dealing with agricultural cooperatives and focused on obtaining rice that can be
identified farmers. They wish people not only enjoy sake but also have an interest in
agriculture. It would be great if you could imagine the rural scenery every time you drink.
Sake rice producer / Hiyoshi Mechanized Farmers AssociationWe dare you to see the other side of rice farming. Aiming for recycling-oriented agriculture in cooperation with the brewery.
Hidahomare, the rice used in Kozaemon's drawing “Core of Rice,” is Gifu Prefecture's representative rice suitable for sake brewing. Mr. Itabashi, head of the Hiyoshi Mechanized Farmers' Union, one of the local farmers' unions in Mizunami City that produces Hidahomare, showed us around. The rice fields in early summer when the seedlings are green and in autumn when the ears are ripe are picturesque, but why don't you come in winter to learn about the behind-the-scenes of rice farming, such as compost making? We visited the farm in February.
The Hiyoshi Mechanized Farmers' Association is a cooperative that is positively engaged in agriculture with the mission of establishing a recycling-oriented agriculture in the near future. This time, they were in the process of making their original compost using sake lees, a byproduct of Nakajima Brewery's sake production, rice husks, rice bran, and cattle manure. Compared to the compost without sakekasu, the ammonia smell is reduced, and the mild aroma is more sour than that of the compost without sakekasu. It was also very different in that it was fermented at a high temperature of about 65°C for a long period of time. They say that the use of high-quality compost keeps the water in the rice fields clean, and that this clean water grows delicious rice.
This is only the second year for this experiment, but this year they will try to see if there is any difference in taste and composition by dividing the compost with sakekasu and without. I believe that a new world of sake will be born through this kind of cooperation with farmers.
Brewery / Nakajima Jouzou
We are committed to making sake with rice that is visible to the farmers.
The brewery that produces the Kozaemon Holiday series is Nakajima Jozo, located in Mizunami City, Gifu Prefecture. The brewery has a long history, dating back to 1702. The brewery was founded by Nakajima Kozaemon Yojin, a village headman in the area, who started his own sake brewing business. Originally, the main brand was “Shiroku,” but in 2000, a new brand “Kozaemon” was launched with a total of seven types of sake, mainly junmai and three-year old sake. Then, in 2002, sake rice was grown and harvested in the local area of Mizunami, and now the company has begun trading with the unit's agricultural cooperative. The company is committed to obtaining rice from farmers.
Illustration / Hiroe Takigawa
Kozaemon, a sake made from local rice grown in a land rich in nature
Three bottles, each with its own distinctive flavor.
I was given the concept of using the word “Holiday” to express the time that sake is with us, the restful and relaxing time people spend together, along with the scenery, and painted each “Holiday”.
I painted each “Holiday” with a loose touch, as if I was enjoying my own vacation and wanted to be inside the picture. I would be happy if you could pick up the work with the thought, “Let's enjoy my Holiday.
I think it will be born.
1983. Born in Hiroshima.
2004. Starts working at a design company in Hiroshima.
2015. Starts working independentely as a freelancer.
Creates with the ideal of not be restrained by the frame, but to express life, and “create paintings that fit the place where they are going to be displayed, and that give the owner a pleasant feeling”
Established in Hiroshima, and making solo exhibitions, custom-made paintings, production of illustrations and printed material for many kinds of markets all around Japan.
Illustrator and graphic designer.
