Japan is known for being at the forefront of modernity while still having its feet steeped in tradition. When we think of Tokyo, we imagine the Imperial Palace, symbol of a long history… but we also dream of the immortal neon lights of the Akihabara district, which is a paradise for manga fans!
Manga is a graphic art with unique characteristics that corresponds to an illustrated novel. The first official manga dates from 1902 but its origin is much older: the 13th century thanks to the famous Hokusai. The works have around a hundred pages, in small format and they are read from right to left… Very often in black and white, the drawings have special lighting to compensate for the absence of colors and the backgrounds are also very detailed. This denotes European or American comics. There are different styles of manga:
- Kodomo manga: comic book for children (Pokemon).
- Shonen manga: comic book for teenagers which often tells the story of an orphan hero who must fight (Naruto).
- Shojo manga: comic strip for young girls which is like a romantic novel (Nana).
- Seinen manga: comic book for adolescents or young adult males that deal with different subjects (Attack on Titan).
- Josei manga: the feminine side of seinen manga.
- Hentai: comics prohibited for under-18s!
It is the mangaka, the artist, who creates these stories but also the drawings. Its paw is unique and recognizable. We can cite Osamu Tezuka (Astro the little robot), Akira Toriyama (Dragon Ball), Eiichiro Oda (One Piece), Hayao Miyazaki (Studio Ghibli), Masashi Kishimoto (Naruto), Hajime Isayama (Attack on Titan)… They (or they) are considered living Gods, they are true icons in Japan but also in the world.
After this little introduction to the manga… Do certain works play the game of tradition by highlighting Japanese culture and especially our Japanese sake? The answer is yes! The nihonshu can play several roles. For example, it will be a facilitator of socialization. In fact, the characters will consume it after work, to relax and have a good time. But sake can also be used in certain mangas to pass a milestone: from sober to tipsy… and this inevitably brings a touch of humor even if the characters don’t always drink in moderation!!
Be aware that sake can even be the main theme of some meals!
- Here are these essential mangas for information on nihonshu:
- Natsuko no sake: this is the sake manga par excellence. Akira Oze creates a masterpiece where the heroine, Natsuko, takes over the sake house following the death of her brother. This fictional heroine is very endearing because we discover her story, her sacrifices, her difficulties, her dreams… However, Rumiko-san read the work when she was in a complicated situation. This woman had to rush back to take back her house, Moriki Shuzo, because her father had a health problem. When she read the manga, her story resonated with Natsuko’s. She decided to contact the mangaka and he offered to make a special vintage with a label created by him: Rumiko no sake.
- Moyashimon: the hero, Tadayasu Sawaki, is at the University of Tokyo and studies agriculture. He has an incredible and unique gift: he can see microorganisms like yeast or koji! His family has a sake house and although nihonshu is not the main theme of the manga, we learn a lot about fermentation and sake by extension!
- Nihonshu in Koishite: the love of sake in a manga. Hanako Mejiro highlights all the passion of Marie Chiba, Saké Samourai and sommelier in Tokyo at the Gem by Moto restaurant. She devotes her life to nihonshu and gastronomic pairings without forgetting that she is the author of the book Sake Pairing. In this manga, we learn a lot about the sake industry, the choice of glassware, the different serving temperatures… It’s a beautiful work that highlights sake in different facets.
- Wakako Zake: this manga was born in 2011 and is still being written. The adventures of Wakako, the heroine who loves food, don’t stop yet. But who says eating, also says drinking! And that’s what we appreciate in this mind-blowing manga which offers us ideas for combining sake and gastronomy. But be careful, this manga is not to be read if you are on a diet or if you are hungry: you risk devouring it!
2. And just for fun, some manga images where sake can be seen:
- Evangelion
- Takunomi
- Your Name
- Sake to Koi ni wa Yotte Sarubeki (Tipsy in sake and love)
You now know what you have to do: perhaps go to Mollat to order some of these works and to Otsukimi to find a good bottle of sake to sip (in moderation) while discovering these nuggets!
#France Bleu Gironde broadcast from September 26, 2023: click on the link to listen to the replay more easily!
