June 2022
It was during the time when I had graduated from nursing school and was working as a nurse in a rehabilitation ward. One of the few hobbies I had back then was buying a bottle of alcohol from a liquor store in my neighborhood, going home after work or on my days off, and watching a movie while drinking it.
For most of my life, the alcohol I drank was basically Chamisul and beer. I occasionally drank wine as well, but whenever I went out with friends, I would just pick up whatever wine seemed right for the occasion. When I drank alone, I sometimes asked for recommendations, but nothing really left an impression on me. My entire impression was simply, “This tastes good.”
Then, one day, a bottle of Dassai 45 that I bought at a liquor store changed the course of my life.
At the time, I had never really thought about food pairing. I had simply made a roasted sweet potato to fill my stomach and ate it alongside the sake. But I was surprised by how beautifully the sake complemented and brought out the flavor of the sweet potato. The changes in flavor depending on the temperature were so significant that I could have believed I was drinking completely different kinds of sake.
The easy, smooth finish, combined with just the right amount of sweetness and alcohol, created a harmony I had never experienced with any of the drinks I had tasted before. In just a few sips, I was able to experience something completely new.
It paired not only with the food, but also with the environment, the atmosphere, and even the movie I was watching, making that particular moment feel even more special. And somehow, that experience naturally led me to one thought: “Quit nursing and pursue the path of sake.”
From that point on, for the first time in my life, I began studying Japanese and Japanese culture, and I started seriously learning about nihonshu.
I also became convinced that the feelings I had experienced that day were something other people could experience as well. I wanted to create a platform—and a medium—that could help make that possible.
And that is how the Sakagura Miyamoto YouTube channel and website were born.
I started making videos because I believe video can more easily convey to people the power, emotion, and stories that nihonshu holds.
I created the website to go deeper—to write about more detailed, more in-depth, and more honest aspects of nihonshu in a concrete way.
About four years later — August 2026
Even today, four years later, I can vividly remember the moment when I decided to take the path of sake.
The movie I was watching at the time, the atmosphere of my room, the thoughts I had that day—all of it still comes back to me so clearly.
Without the medium that made those memories possible to recall so vividly—nihonshu—that day would probably have become just another ordinary day from four years ago, like so many others that I have already forgotten.
But because I encountered nihonshu, and more specifically, Dassai, that day was able to become something special. And thanks to nihonshu, I have since been fortunate enough to meet so many people who have become meaningful connections in my life.
The purpose of Sakagura Miyamoto is to help you turn what I have experienced into something of your own—to create your own experiences through nihonshu.
I sincerely hope that, through nihonshu, you will have experiences that are just as special as mine, or perhaps even more special—experiences that are deeply personal, meaningful, and unforgettable.
