Horoscopes are something quite mysterious. Some people firmly believe in it, others not at all. Every time we read information about astrological signs, we can find things that speak to us. It’s the power of the stars!
Today, a little focus on the so-called Chinese horoscope. This horoscope is not recent and it includes 12 animals, mythical or real. There is an order to follow: rat, ox, tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat, monkey, rooster, dog and pig.
In Asia, the new year is eagerly awaited. It takes place between January 21 and February 20. Chinese astrology is based on the stars but also on the calendar. It also takes into account five planets: Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Venus and Mercury which are associated with the 5 elements: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal and Water.
Each year, we therefore have an astrological sign associated with an element. In 2024, we have entered the year of the Wooden Dragon.
For you… Just for you, I looked into the Chinese horoscope and Japanese sake! Which sake is best for you? Find out more below.
Rat (1912, 1924, 1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020)
You are intelligent by nature with a sharp mind. You are also charming and persuasive. So, I offer you a sake that should make your head spin! In the mythology of the Chinese horoscope, according to legend, the rat will deceive his friend the cat so that he does not attend the party. This is why the cat is not one of the 12 signs… In reality in certain Asian countries such as Vietnam, the Cat replaces the Rabbit. So, to play below, Tatenokawa – Cat Tatenyan Junmai Daiginjo is what you need! This sake is floral, sweet but also full of energy. In tasting, it is like a purr on the palate. Maison Tatenokawa originates from Yamagata and the name of the sake, Tatenyan, is in fact the 4-legged mascot of the Maison.
Beef (1913, 1925, 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021)
You are patient, kind but also stubborn and conservative. So, for you, you need a sake with body and umami. Also, I suggest you to discover Cowboy Yamahai ! n my book “111 Sakés à ne pas manquer” at EMONS Editions, I devote a page to Maison Shiokawa which makes this sake. It is a nihonshu with a lot of umami which was produced in order to seduce the American market and in particular their cuisine which is very focused on beef!
Tiger (1914, 1926, 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022)
You are authoritarian and emotional without forgetting that you are intense and courageous. So I thought that Akitora Arimitsu would be the sake you needed. This sake offers a fresh, firm and robust flavor at the same time. You will notice that on its label, there is a magnificent tiger: so it is destiny! And besides, you can’t have this sake without cooking good meat with fried potatoes!
Rabbit (1915, 1927, 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023)
You are popular, compassionate and sincere. It is therefore without a doubt that my choice falls on Nito de la Maison Marauishi. Located in the Tokyo area, this house produces a fresh and dynamic Junmai Daiginjo sake but also round and complex. It should be enjoyed cold to appreciate it more. Also, you can see that there are two rabbits on the label because “only those who chase two rabbits can get two rabbits”! This changes from our adage “running two hares at once” which is rather negative!
Dragon (1916, 1928, 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024)
You are someone full of energy and warm. You are also fearless and charismatic. You therefore need a sake with body but which is also silky in the mouth. A sake with lots of fruit and sweetness with a long finish so you can travel. It is therefore Ryujin Dragon God Kakushi Ginjo Genshu from Maison Ryujin that I chose for you and more, there is a dragon on the label!
Snake (1917, 1929, 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025)
You are charming, gregarious, introverted, generous and intelligent. Therefore, you need something lively but not too much. A balanced product! So off we go to Maison Soutenbou which is in Niigata with their sake Soutenbou Rose Snake Super Dry Junmai Nama Genshu. It’s a sake with lots of umami that will be particularly delicious with grilled eel! I also really liked the little pink snake on the label!
Horse (1918, 1930, 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026)
You are energetic, independent, impatient and you love traveling. Tazinba sakes are made for you. They are made in Niigata Prefecture by Mr. Takashi Iwama (Sanhorsepower). The particularity of this House is to use horses in the rice fields of Gohyakumangoku to work the soil. The name of the sake is a mixture of Ta: rice field, Zin: man and Ba: horse. A very beautiful bottlesomme avec des prix très importants…
Goat 1919, 1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015, 2027
You are gentle, shy, kind and peaceful. This is why I offer you the sakes of the Brasserie Chevalier : sakes made in Japan but made by French people. The two brothers make very nice pairings with cheeses, particularly goat cheeses, with their sake. You will therefore have to take a bottle but also eat on the side with a good cheese and a good baguette!
Monkey (1920, 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016, 2028)
You are fun, energetic and active… You need a sake that reflects your personality, a sake that envelops you like the water of an onsen where Japanese macaques bathe in the snow in Jigokudani near Nagano. And in fact, here is Snow Monkey which is a nigori sake made by the House Tamamura Honten in Nagano too.
Rooster (1921, 1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029)
You are independent, practical, hardworking and observant. Cocorico, you have to try Les Larmes du Levant, a French sake house. And why not their sake Le tonnerre because “Tonnerre de Brest”! This nihonshu is aged in vats after fermentation and it has body and lots of umami. In addition, there is still a nice roundness and it is consumed rather hot. In terms of agreement, a little cockerel would be perfect!
Dog (1922, 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030)
You are patient and diligent by nature. You are also generous, faithful and kind. Therefore, you need to be with friends, in a park for a picnic, with games, to enjoy Maneki Wanko (“wan”: bark and “ko”: suffix for cute). Lucky Dog is a sake in a fruit juice pack: quite fun! It’s produced in Hyogo and it’s small, cute, fresh… A sake that brings joy, like you!
Pig (1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019)
You are a loving, tolerant, honest person and you appreciate luxury! I remember 2019 very well: it was a year that was predicted to be a year for money and investments. However, it wasn’t easy to find you a sake. I could have had a slightly “bling bling” sake with gold leaves but I wanted to find a sake close to the earth, the strong element of pig, wild boar, pork… So, I found Boar Bird Gibier which is an aged Junmai style sake. It has character with tertiary notes and an amber color. It is rather sweet so can go well with desserts but also game. It is produced by Maison Fujii in Japan. A good compromise because it is golden, at the same time with tertiary notes and with a little wild boar on the label!
I hope you found this little article fun and enjoyable! Don’t hesitate to tell me in the comments if there is another sake that could match your sign: there are bound to be others! Remember that alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health. To consume with moderation.
This was my last article of this season for France Bleu Gironde. We’ll see each other again at the start of the school year, I hope, to talk more about sake and Japan!
#France Bleu Gironde broadcast from June 19, 2024 with Marie-Corine Cailleteau: click on the link to listen to the replay more easily and go to my Instagram @chloeandwines to see my time on the radio in Reels !
