CONTENTS
1: Crowd-funded Sonic Decanter Uses Science to Decant
2: Hidetoshi Nakata’s CRAFT SAKE COMPANY and Chivas Regal are teaming up for a Japan-Scotland craft collaboration
3: Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Sake Production?
1. Crowd-funded Sonic Decanter Uses Science to Decant
Dionysus Technology Concepts has invented an ultrasound decanter for wine, whiskey, and yes, sake. The The Sonic Decanter uses soundwaves, agitation, and air bubbles to remove oxygen and accelerate the decanting process. In less than 20 minutes, the flavors and aromas of alcoholic drinks are improved. The Sonic Decanter received 600% of its crowdfunding goal on Makuake crowdfunding site and the distributor, Hands Aid Co., says it can’t keep up with overseas demand. The decanter is set to hit shelves in Japan this spring. No word on overseas sales yet, but we’ll keep you posted.
Link: PRTIMES | 2017/12/18 | クラウドファンディングで600％の支援を達成したSonic Decanter 一般発売開始。超音波でワインやウィスキー、日本酒が熟成する！
2. Hidetoshi Nakata’s CRAFT SAKE COMPANY and Chivas Regal are teaming up for a Japan-Scotland craft collaboration
Soccer legend Hidetoshi Nakata and Chivas Regal have announced a collaboration between Nakata’s JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY and the scotch whiskey giant called the Chivas Craft Brothers Project.
The project combines the cultures of Japan and Scotland by mixing traditional techniques of Japanese sake brewing with Scotch whiskey making to create an entirely new taste. Under the supervision of JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY, the sake of “Masuda Shuzo” (makers of Masuizumi brand sake) are being matured in barrels used for aging Chivas Regal whiskey. It’s the first such sake collaboration for the Chivas Regal brand. The aged sake is scheduled for release around June 2018. We’ll update you when it comes out!
3. Can Artificial Intelligence Improve Sake Production?
In an industry first, AI (artificial intelligence) is being implemented in attempt to improve sake production.
The internationally renowned Ninohe City (Aomori Prefecture) based sake producer of “Nanbu Bijin” (Southern Beauty) has become the first to use artificial intelligence to help create its sake. The brewery has partnered with Tokyo based ima (pronounced Ai-Mah), a tech company specializing in market research for traditional industries.
The project is attempting to digitally optimize water absorption time for sake rice by digitizing the experience of toji, the brewery master. Toji decides the water absorption time by looking at conditions such as the kinds of sake rice, rice milling ratio, temperature, and the like.
Kosuke Kuji (45) of the fifth generation Nambui Bijin explained, “When the water absorption rate changes even by 1%, the finish of the sake is greatly changed.”
Converting the expertise of toji into data and storing it in the AI, ima aims to quantify and preserve the knowledge of brewmasters. The AI scans the appearance of sake rice every few seconds. Analyzing changes in the appearance of sake rice, it derives the time that toji might judge as optimal.
With Japan’s decreasing population, the hope is to eventually help sake producers that suffer from shortage of people.
For those envisioning an dystopian robotic future for sake, ima President, Ms. Ami Miura says AI will never replace artisanal skill.
“Artificial intelligence is not a substitute for craftsmen, it will always be supplementary to sake making.”
Link: 河北新報 | 2018/02/02 | 業界初！酒造りにＡＩ 二戸「南部美人」東京の企業と実験 杜氏の経験や勘をデータ化
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