「About Sake Making Program ２０２４, please visit here」
We are now accepting applications for the Sake Making program at the Gakkogura 2022 !
We will have people who want to experience the most essential part of making sake with us.
●Gakkogura was certificated as the first case of Special Zone of Japanese Sake.
The Gakkogura is a previously abandoned school on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, that has been rehabilitated as a sake brewery. Sake is brewed in cool conditions during the summer. The raw ingredients are produced on Sado Island. As an energy source, Sado Island produced renewable energy is used.
Here, we offer the “Gakkogura Sake Making Program” for those who want to learn how to brew sake.
This year, in addition to a One Week Course, we have introduced a 20 Day Course for a longer and more authentic learning experience.
If you are interested in this program, please check the following information below and apply.
*For more information about Gakkogura, please click here.
*On-site accommodation rooms and a café will be newly established from summer 2022.
*The Gakkogura was certificated as the first so-called Special Zone of Japanese Sake.
●Contents of Sake Making Program
The Sake Making Program includes an "One Week Course" that focuses on koji making and three-stage fermentation mash preparation, and a "20 Day Course" that covers everything from the fermentation starter making to koji making and three-stage fermentation mashing process.
《1 Week Course》Sake Making Program
【Contents of the experience】
The duration of the program is set at one week so that participants can experience the processes from koji making to three-stage brewing, which is the core of sake production. In addition to the washing the rice, soaking, steaming, koji making, and brewing, there will also be a visit to the rice field to understand local circulation, an orientation to understand the meaning of each work, and a sake tasting session to experience professional sensory testing.
You will also experience one night of koji making. On that occasion, you will stay overnight in a newly built accommodation room at the Gakkogura.
《Specifics are as follows.》
- Day 1
- Orientation, Steaming rice, Koji making
- Day 2
- Koji making, Rice washing, Soaking, Rice field tour
＊Koji making at night (with reception & overnight stay), potentially on day 2 or 4 - Day 3
- Steaming, Koji making, Washing, Soaking
- Day 4
- Steaming, Soe-shikomi, Koji making
- Day 5
- Odori,rice washing, soaking, Sake tasting
- Day 6
- Steaming rice, Naka-jikomi, Washing rice, Soaking rice.
- Day 7
- Steaming rice, Soe-shikomi, Graduation ceremony
＊The basic schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. (may vary daily).
＊The last day ends around noon.
＊Schedule is subject to change.
＊Other activities and optional tours are also available.
【SCHEDULE】
| Class 1 | Closed Applications 30th May～5th June |
| Class 2 | Closed Applications 13th June～19th June |
| Class 3 | Collaborate with a company |
| Class 4 | Closed Applications 11th July～17th July |
| Class 5 | Closed Applications 25th July～31th July |
| Class 6 | Closed Applications 15th August～21st August |
【Details 】
| The Participation fee： | 80,000yen ( tax included ). Includes the cost of work clothes, a sake tasting seminar, aroma samples, lodging for one night, and one reception parties. |
| Number of applicants: | About 4 |
| Eligibility: | Healthy people over 20 years old |
| Location: | Mainly at the Gakkogura (1871 Nishimikawa, Sado City) |
| Preparation: | Comfortable clothing |
| Conditions: | In principle, participants must be able to participate for the entire week. |
【How to apply 】
Please apply using the application form below. We will examine your application carefully and we will contact you.
《20 Days Course》Sake Making Program
【Contents of the experience 】
In 20 days, participants will experience the sake production flow, from making the fermentation starter, making koji, which is the core of the sake production, to the preparation of the three-stage fermentation mash.
During the program, participants will not only experience rice washing, soaking, steaming, koji making, and mashing, but also visit the local sake rice fields to understand the regional cycle. You will also receive an orientation session to understand the meaning of the whole production process, and experience a guided sake tasting session.
You will also experience two evenings making koji, on which you stay overnight in a newly built room at the Gakkogura. Optionally the processes from fermentation mash management to pressing can be added.
《Specifics are as follows》
- Day 1
- Orientation, Steaming rice, Koji making (Fermentation starter koji)
- Day 2
- Koji making, Rice washing, Soaking, Koji making at night (with reception & overnight stay)
- Day 3
- Steaming Rice, Shubo-shikomi
- Day 4-Day 13
- Fermentation starter preparation
- Day 14
- Orientations, Steaming rice, Koji Making (Soe Koji, Naka Koji)
- Day 15
- Koji making, Rice washing, Soaking, Rice field tour
＊Koji making at night (with reception & overnight stay), potentially on day 17. - Day 16
- Steaming, Koji making , Washing, Soaking
- Day 17
- Steaming, Soe-shikomi, Koji making
- Day 18
- Odori, Rice washing, Soaking, Sake tasting
- Day 19
- Steaming rice, Naka-jikomi, Washing rice, Soaking rice
- Day 20
- Steaming rice, Tome-koji, Graduation ceremony
＊The basic schedule is 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but depending on the day,
＊The last day ends around noon.
＊Schedule is subject to change.
＊Other activities and optional tours are also available.
＊Please note that there will be extremely little work on days 4 through 13, during which the fermentation starter is prepared.
ImageDepending on the number of applicants, there is a possibility that the last week of your program overlaps with participants of the 1-week sake brewing experience.
【Schedule】
| Class A-1 | Closed Applications 17th May～5th June |
【Details 】
| Participation Fee: | 150,000 yen (tax included) Includes the cost of work clothes, a sake tasting seminar, aroma samples, lodging for two nights, and two reception parties. |
| Number of applicants: | About 4 |
| Eligibility: | Healthy people over 20 years old |
| Location: | Mainly at the Gakkogura (1871 Nishimikawa, Sado City) |
| Preparation: | Comfortable clothing |
| Conditions: | In principle, participants must be able to participate for the entire 20 days. |
【How to apply 】
Please apply using the application form below. We will examine your application carefully and we will contact you.
【APPLICATION CLOSED】
Thank you for your interests on this program.
We are sorry but we close applications.
《Precautions》
All applicants are required to agree to the following terms and conditions:
- The purpose of this program is to experience first hand Sake Making with the brewers and to acquire deeper knowledge of sake and its terroir.
- We prioritize experience rather than the common way of learning.
- The purpose of this program is to gain a deeper understanding of sake and the area where it is produced through hands-on sake brewing with brewers. The focus is on practical experience rather than classical classroom learning.
- Those coming from outside of Sado Island will need to pay separately for meals, transportation, and lodging (apart from included one/two nights of lodging and the reception party).
- There are cases in which the schedule is changed without prior notice.
- The schedule may vary from day to day. During free time, you may do as you please.
- Basically, participants are supposed to attend the whole program.
- Participants are strongly recommended to follow brewer’s directions all the time to avoid any problems.
- Please wear clean, comfortable clothing. Note that some work will be done in cold and hot environments.
- Perfume, nail polish and smoking are prohibited at Gakkogura.
- If participant have fever not lower than 37.5 and/or severe coughing, participants must refrain from participating.
- Participants must provide and are required to wear masks.
- In case you don’t have a car/ rental car, transportation is provided from Obata Shuzo ( our main brewery) to Gakkogura and vice versa only. We recommend you stay in a hotel/ryokan which is easy aceessible to Obata Shuzo(address: 449, Manoshinmachi, Sado-city) expect the day of staying at Gakkogura .
- One night of lodging at the Gakkogura is included in the participation fee (two nights for the 20-day course). If you wish to stay overnight (at additional charge) on other days, please contact us.
- Pictures will be taken and videos will be shot during the program for promotion purposes and participants are supposed to be part of the pictures and videos.
- Depending on the social situation, you may be asked to submit a PCR test report at your own expense.
- You will be expected to submit a report after the program.
- There is no interpreter
＊You will be notified 2 weeks prior to the starting day of each batch in case of cancellation. But there will be still possibilities we should make sudden cancellations due to the Corona virus situation even just before starting day. I appreciate your understanding and cooperation.
＊Please note that your transportation, accommodation will not be covered if a cancellation occurs.
≪What happens next? ≫
- We will examine your application carefully and inform you about your application results.
- f you are selected as one of the participants, your participation will be officially confirmed upon payment of the participation fee and submission of your photo ID.
- We will contact the participants with further details.