At Yotsuya Mitani, sake is another star alongside sushi.It’s not just about pairing Japanese sake or wine as an afterthought.With each piece of sushi, the chef carefully assesses the fat content of the fish, the acidity of the rice, the strength of the aroma, and the length of the aftertaste to select the perfect drink that enhances the flavor.You can savor the sushi while sipping the sake, or you might choose to taste the sake first before enjoying the sushi.Depending on the order, hidden sweetness and umami can emerge, altering the contours of the aroma.It’s not just the choice of sake that is calculated.Temperature, quantity, timing of service, and the interval before moving on to the next piece—all of these elements are meticulously orchestrated as a cohesive flow.Collecting expensive and rare sake is different from creating excellent pairings.What’s needed goes beyond just knowledge of sake.It requires the ability to discern the condition of the fish, understand the changes brought by cooking, and imagine how it overlaps with the rice before making the final decision on the drink.Some sakes amplify the umami of the sushi, while others soften the richness of the fat and lighten the aftertaste.They seamlessly connect the lingering aroma in your mouth to the next piece of sushi.Typical pairings seek compatibility between food and drink.However, what Mitani aims for goes beyond that.It’s not about completing sushi and sake separately; it’s designed so that the moment they overlap, a singular flavor is achieved.The pairing at Mitani, regarded as one of the best in Japan, is not about showcasing the opulence of the sake.Its essence lies in opening up the realm of flavors that a single piece could not reach, fully realizing the potential of the sushi.
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