Bill Belew has raised 2 bi-cultural kids, now 34 and 30. And he and his wife are now parenting a 3rd, Mia, who is 8.
Blogging in Japan
Sake – the SA is pronounced like the so in sod. And the KE is pronounced like the ke in Ken. Not like ‘key’. If you say it right you will already sound cool.
Last year, exports from Japan to the US were almost 3 million liters, up nearly 70% from 5 years ago and double what it was three years ago. That’s a lot of alcohol, at 15-18% proof.
Japan, on the other hand, saw sake consumption fall to 826 million liters (about 7 liters per person!). And it fell, mind you. Its postwar peak was double that as late as 1976. I guess when you lose a war you have to…well, never mind.
There seems to be a new Japan mania happening, at least in San Francisco, right up the street from me, and New York, a long ways from me. And drinking sake is the new thing to go with sushi, wasabi, and miso.
In order to fuel the upswing, 340 some year old countries are now studying market techniques, devising new bottle shapes and hiring renowned graphic calligraphers to design labels.
I wonder if they will also follow NAPA Valley’s lead and start offering sake tasting tours as well.
What do you think?
