Series: Wa-kyo Wa-raku | Part 37: Cherishing the 'Wa, Wa, Sho, Ga, Rin' (Harmony, Talk, Laughter, Self, Circle) with Brewers and Drinkers at Mochizuki Shoten
Cherishing the "Wa, Wa, Sho, Ga, Rin" with Brewers and Drinkers
Sharing Moments of Delicious Sake Together at Mochizuki Shoten
Atsugi City, located in the center of Kanagawa Prefecture, borders six cities, two towns, and one village, with mountainous terrain spreading across its western part. This area has long been a vital transportation hub and flourished as a post town. Today, it remains a key point where the Tomei Expressway, Odawara-Atsugi Road, National Route 129, and National Route 246 intersect, serving as a logistics center for the central Kanagawa region. It is also situated at the midpoint of the Odakyu Line, which connects Shinjuku and Odawara.
From our shop, Mochizuki Shoten, a 30-minute drive north leads to the mountains, and a 30-minute drive west brings you to the shores of Shonan. We run a sake shop in Atsugi, a place rich in nature and smiles, surrounded by both mountains and sea.
Text and Photos by Wajo Waraku
Atsugi's "Delicious" Town Revitalization
"Shiro-koro Horumon"
Atsugi City became widely known throughout Japan thanks to the B-1 Grand Prix.
This competition, held annually since 2006, aims to determine the best "B-class gourmet" – affordable, delicious local specialties and regional dishes loved by residents. At the 3rd competition, Atsugi City's "Shiro-koro Horumon" brilliantly won the Grand Prix.
Subsequently, it gained attention through TV and magazine features. Last year's B-1 Championship was held in Atsugi, attracting approximately 460,000 visitors, making it a massive event.
When you visit Atsugi, please be sure to give it a try.
Our shop thrives on fostering connections and bonds with numerous excellent sake breweries nationwide, fellow merchants, and sake enthusiasts. We aim to cultivate culture while creating enjoyable spaces and moments through "sake," operating with energy and cheerfulness.
For those seeking delicious and carefully selected sake, let's talk in depth.
If you're interested in sake but feel hesitant to ask questions, please feel free to approach us.
For those who wish to choose sake that pairs with their meal, let's discuss it thoroughly.
For those looking to purchase a gift for a special someone, we will put our best effort into helping you choose.
Everyone starts as a beginner!
Don't Miss Our Events!
"An Evening of Rakugo, Cuisine, and Sake"
"An Evening of Rakugo, Cuisine, and Sake"
We invite a rakugo storyteller acquaintance to perform live rakugo, followed by an event enjoying food and sake. This collaboration of sake and rakugo is something we wish to preserve as Japanese culture. Participation from younger generations is increasing each year.
"An Evening of Orchestra and Ten-sei"
Enjoy a string quintet performance by members of the Tokyo Philharmonic Orchestra, paired with cuisine and sake at a restaurant managed by Kumazawa Shuzo, the brewery behind the Kanagawa local sake 'Ten-sei.' Many couples, groups of friends, and parent-child pairs attend these events.
"An Evening of Orchestra and Ten-sei"
We look forward to continuing to create and imagine enjoyable scenes for drinking delicious sake. Please stop by if you find yourself in the neighborhood.
Mochizuki Shoten
Established: June, Taisho 8 (1919)
3-17-27 Asahi-cho, Atsugi City, Kanagawa Prefecture
Tel. 046-228-2567
Fax. 046-229-0959
http://www.motimoti.com/