Motosaka Sake Brewery, which is particular about using ingredients from Mie Prefecture and values ​​traditional sake brewing that does not rely on machinery, has released "KATARU HOTARU," a sake that is only produced in years when fireflies visit. It is currently on sale on their official website.

The condition for the production of "Kotohotaru" is that fireflies visit. The Miyagawa River, where Motosaka Sake Brewery takes in water, is renowned as one of the cleanest rivers in Japan, and for the sake brewing of "Kotohotaru," water from the year that fireflies were observed is used as "brewing water." The 2024 batch was produced and sold after the appearance of fireflies was confirmed on June 2023, 6.

The product development was carried out by Modern Vietnamese Ăn C, a restaurant that has previously won the Michelin Guide Bib Gourmand award.ơSommelier Takeyuki Umemura was in charge of supervision. It has a beautiful transparency and freshness that is consistent from the moment you put it in your mouth to the finish, and it is a sake that you can drink smoothly like water. It is recommended to chill it to 6-7 degrees and drink it in a small, thin glass, so that you can feel the characteristics of the sake more easily.

In addition, all 2500 "Gohotaru" bottles to be released this year will be manufactured using returnable bottles to minimize the burden on the environment, and a portion of the sales will be donated to conservation activities for the Miyagawa River.

"Word Firefly" conveys the importance of "water," which is essential for sake brewing and for fireflies to live, and is imbued with the desire to preserve the Japanese landscape for future generations. With this initiative as an opportunity, we would like to think again about the importance of protecting clear streams and water issues close to home.