[Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture/Dogo] What is the alcoholic beverage associated with Japan's oldest poetry collection, Manyoshu?

The only sake brewery in the Dogo area that continues to grow together with Dogo Onsen Honkan.

Minakuchi Sake Brewery has been producing sake in Dogo ever since its founding in 1895 (Meiji 28). This is the only sake brewery in the Dogo area that continues to grow together with Dogo Onsen Honkan.

Nowadays, we are trying to create not only sake but also beer, shochu, gin, liqueur, cider, and a variety of other products, delivering delicious memories of Dogo to many people.

The store and main building of Mizuguchi Sake Brewery, where the store is located, is also a registered tangible cultural property of the country. The wide variety of sake produced by Mizuguchi Sake Brewery and the numerous awards it has received are displayed.

Mizuguchi Sake Brewery began with the production of Japanese sake ``Nikitatsu.''

I think "nikitatsu" is a word that even Japanese people are not familiar with. What does it mean?

Songs written in the Manyoshu that pray for victory in battle

The Manyoshu, created around the 8th century, is said to be Japan's oldest poetry collection. The Manyoshu contains over 4,500 poems composed by people of various social standings, including the emperor and aristocrats.

Among these, the words ``Nikitatsu'' are included in a poem composed by ``Nukata no Okimi.''

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``If you go sailing to Nikitatsu, wait for the moon, the tide won't come, so start rowing now.''

(As we were waiting for the moon to set sail at Mikutatsu, the moon was rising and the tide was just right for sailing. Now, let's go rowing.)

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It is said that when Emperor Saimei headed to Kyushu for war, he stayed in Dogo to wait for the tide. This is a formal song that is said to have been used by King Nukata, who was accompanying him, to encourage the soldiers and pray for victory when they set out for battle.

It's a brave and powerful song that brings to mind the scenery of that time, and conveys the strong passion of the soldiers heading off to battle and King Nukata, who was composing the song. By the way, King Nukata, who composed this song, is a woman.

The current view of the Seto Inland Sea. Did King Nukata also look at such a blue sea? (From Matsuyama City official tourism website)

And to the current “Nikitatsu”

Dogo's local sake ``Nikitatsu'' was born from Dogo's name, which was sung as ``Nikitatsu'' during the Manyo era, and conveys the meaning of ``Tsuwata with benevolence and joy.''

Since its founding, it has passed through many eras, including Meiji, Taisho, Showa, Heisei, and Reiwa, and is a masterpiece that has been refined over a history spanning more than a century. Nikitazu's sake has always been loved by many people, and even though times have changed, our commitment to taste remains unchanged.

This commitment is similar to the brave and powerful song of King Nukata.

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"Nikita no Michi" continues in front of Mizuguchi Sake Brewery. It's nice to take a leisurely stroll along the quiet streets and think about the distant past. (From Matsuyama City official tourism website)

In addition, in the women's public bath of the Dogo Onsen annex "Asuka no Yu", there is a ceramic mural depicting the sea of ​​Jukutatsu (Setouchi), which is mentioned in the poem of King Nukata.

A Tobe ware mural in the women's bathroom at Asuka Onsen. (From Dogo Onsen website)

This is a mural made of Tobe ware, a type of porcelain made mainly in Tobe Town, next to Matsuyama City, and you can enjoy projection mapping at set times. It's a great experience to soak in the hot springs and experience the seascape of the Seto Inland Sea that King Nukata is believed to have seen at the time.

Thinking back to the distant Manyo era

The era of Manyoshu is far away. Please try the Japanese sake ``Nikitazu'' while thinking about the scenery of Nukata-no-Ko and Dogo back then.

Stores selling sake “Nikitazu”

[Dogo Beer Museum] (*Food and drink available inside)

Address: 20-13 Dogo Yunocho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture 790-0842

Business hours: 11:00-22:00, Closed: Open all year round

HP: https://www.dogobeer.jp/bakusyukan-restaurant/

[Dogo Beer Museum Annex] (*Drinking inside is possible)

Address: 14-16 Dogo Yunocho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture 790-0842

Business hours: [Weekdays] 15:00-LAST [Saturdays, Sundays, holidays] 12:00-LAST, Closed: Irregular holidays

HP: https://www.dogobeer.jp/bekkan-restaurant/

[ Nikatsu Kurabe ] (*No eating or drinking inside the store. Purchase only)

Address: 3-23 Dogokitacho, Matsuyama City, Ehime Prefecture 790-0848

Business hours: 10:00-18:00, Closed: Mondays (the following Tuesday if Monday is a holiday), first Tuesday of the month

Homepage: https://www.dogobeer.co.jp/club/

*This article is information as of January 2024.