Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store, a new liquor store by a Nagoya-based company with over 100 years of history, will open in Nakagawa-ku, Nagoya, on October 8, 2020.

The 10,000 products include sake, soy sauce, seaweeds, rice, and more. The lineup includes a variety of intriguing products that can only be found here, as well as rare and unique food items.

In this interview, we asked about the history and recommended products of Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store.

The location is about 10 minutes walk from JR Tokai Otobashi Station. The dark blue noren of Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store is a landmark!

Inside the store, there are sake, beer, wine, shochu, liqueurs, and more. They also have a wide variety of rare products.

The lineup is not limited to sake. From seasonings such as salt, soy sauce, and sugar to rice. There are also items that you have never seen in supermarkets. There was also salt sold by weight! It is also recommended as  bath salt.

Established in 1914 "Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store"

"Nakajima Kuwakichi Shoten was founded by my grandfather, Kuwakichi Nakajima, in Sakae, Nagoya in 1914. At that time, we were not a wholesaler, but an ordinary liquor store.

Later, the store burned down in the Nagoya air raid of 1945, and reopened for business in 1948. There were twists and turns, such as running out of stock due to Isewan Typhoon in 1959. During the Isewan Typhoon, we even filled bottles with water and distributed them to people. I remember that people were very happy with the bottles of water, since there were no plastic bottles like today.

After that, when the oil shock occurred in October 1973, beer sales became a "quota system". As a result, it became difficult to deliver beer to restaurants and hotels, and we struggled for several years. ”

Aiming to be an unprecedented liquor store

Next, we asked about the opening of the liquor shop “Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store”.

"The trigger was the decrease in the number of people drinking alcohol at taverns and restaurants due to the coronavirus. We opened the store as a place where people can casually purchase alcoholic beverages in response to the increasing demand for drinking at home.

Our goal is not just to sell sake, but to provide a place where people can enjoy it in new ways. For example, you can enjoy your own original gin at home by adding black tea to gin, or make homemade sauce by mixing soy sauce, mirin, and sugar."

Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store Recommended Products

From here, we will introduce the recommended products of Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store!

”Sake Owari Nanashi” made with rare rice

First, this one! The "Seishu Owari Nanashi" is a must-try sake. It is a junmai-shu made from "Kame-no-o," which is called phantom rice.

It is difficult to cultivate and there are only a few producers, so they had to work very hard to obtain the rice. The taste is pleasant, with a strong rice flavor. It goes well with meals!

Ishikawa prefecture's famous sake "Noguchi"

"Noguchi" is a sake made by Toji Naohiko Noguchi, who is said to be the god of Japanese sake.

It is a famous sake from Ishikawa Prefecture, known to all sake lovers. It is characterized by the umami taste of rice spreading to the palate and a sharp taste down the throat. The lineup includes a carefully selected selection from a number of lineups.

The only place to meet in Nagoya! Akasaka Rubin Rot

Here are my top picks!

Akasaka Rubin Rot, a ruby-colored sparkling wine that makes use of the natural pigment of purple potatoes. It is made by Hoppy Beverage in Akasaka.

The subtle sweetness, like champagne or sparkling wine, is so light and pleasant to drink that even people who don't like beer can enjoy it. When poured into a glass, you can enjoy its gorgeous color. It is also recommended for party occasions.

A must-see for craft beer lovers!

Nowadays, more and more people are enjoying craft beer.

Nakajima Kuwakichi Brewery recommends Y.MARKET BREWING, a craft brewery in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, and Gotemba Kogen Beer, a microbrewery in Kamiyama, Gotemba, Shizuoka Prefecture. Neither is available at supermarkets or convenience stores, so beer lovers should check them out!

Enjoy your own original!

As I introduced earlier, Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store proposes new ways to enjoy sake.

For example, an original gin made by soaking black tea in this NIKKA's GIN. Eikokuya Black Tea Store's black tea for ochazuke is recommended. It is only because Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store has been wholesaling alcoholic beverages for many years that you can encounter these previously unknown ways to enjoy alcoholic beverages. (*This small bottle of gin was made by a customer at home with tea leaves for his own use.)

Liqueur "Hpnotiq" with attractive blue color

Liqueur "HPNOTIQ". The beautiful blue color is attractive.

Fruity taste blended with fruits such as pineapple, blueberry, grape and passion fruit. Together with the Akasaka Rubin Rot that I introduced earlier, this is a sake that I would like you to drink at a party.

A retro taste. Denki Blanc & akadama

How about a retro drink like this once in a while?

“Denki Bran”, known for Kamiya Bar in Asakusa, and “akadama”, a sweet fruit wine that represents Japan. Recently, many people may drink it as "akadama punch”. Both are famous sake that have been loved for a long time.

A drip to drink? Amazake

Amazake is said to be a “drinkable drip”. Recommended not only in the summer, but also when you have no appetite or are tired.

The "genuine Amazake from a sake brewery made with only koji" on the right side of the photo uses only the sweetness of koji, and does not use any additives or preservatives. It has a refreshing and elegant taste, so it's delicious whether it's cold or warm!

"Alcohol Kankyo 77" that can be used as alcohol for disinfection

Alcohol Kankyo 77 is made by the Ganqiang Sake Brewery in Kanie-cho, Kaifu-gun, Aichi Prefecture [Notice: Not drinkable]. It can be used as a substitute for ethanol for disinfection, and can be used for hand sanitizing. At Nakajima Kuwakichi Sake Shop, a sprayer is included as an extra.

Long-loved local sauces “Golden Sauce” & “Taiyo Sauce”

A wide variety of unique seasonings are also available.

"Golden Sauce" was born in Ikeshita, Nagoya. It is characterized by the aroma of ripened vegetables and fruits, and the umami that you can feel firmly in the smoothness. A local Worcestershire sauce that has been loved for over 75 years.

The seasoning is exquisite! "Seasoned seaweed selected by the liquor store"

Slightly spicy seasoned seaweed. As it was selected by the liquor store, it goes well with sake. It is also characterized by being about twice as long as normal. It seems that the range of arrangements will expand, such as wrapping it on rice balls and rice cakes.

Prepare for what-if!

They also sell canned bread and canned goods that are useful in case of emergency. I didn't know there was brown rice that could be canned and eaten as is! Just being able to eat delicious food during a disaster can cheer you up. We want to be prepared just in case.

Thank you to everyone at Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store!

I didn't know there was such a drink! I didn't know there was such a way to enjoy sake! You will find new ways to enjoy sake at Nakajima Kuwakichi Liquor Store. The store also offers an extensive lineup of non-alcoholic beverages, so even those who don't drink alcohol are encouraged to visit.