Interview with Rumiko Mori-San from Moriki Shuzo

When I met Rumiko Mori-san, I was impressed by her kindness and inner strength. The one who took over her father's Maison did it under difficult conditions and yet she never gave up. Her story echoes the manga Natsuko no Sake, as if the author was inspired by her. Not only does she create precise and delicious sakés, but she has also brought together women from the world of saké within an association: the Kura Women Summit. There are many words that can define this woman, but “unifier” is the one that comes to my mind first. We need people who federate to get things done, that's the story of her life.

1) Can you introduce yourself?

My name is Rumiko Moriki and I have been the manager of Maison Moriki in Mie Prefecture for thirty-five years. I do have many tasks: I produce the saké with my husband, I am in charge of the koji, I also take care of the administration and accounting... and I even cook for the team! We also have a particularity: in front of the Kura, we grow our own organic Yamadanishiki rice which we need to take care of… Add to that that I am also a part-time pharmacist! It's in my nature to work hard (Laughs)!!

2) What is your connection with the Natsuko no Sake manga?

I am not at the origin of this project, nor did I inspire his author, Mr. Oze Akira. By reading his book by chance, I totally recognized myself in his heroine! The similarities are incredible. I too came back because my father had health problems and the Kura was about to close. I decided to take over this heritage and integrate myself into the team. Unfortunately, the situation did not improve and when I discovered Natsuko no Sake, it gave me hope, strength. This manga inspired me, encouraged me to try to produce good saké: it was like a rebirth. I decided to write to Oze Akira: a relationship was born, he became my mentor. I asked him if I could baptize one of my cuvées Rumiko-no-Sake: he accepted and in 1992, this cuvée was born and Oze Akira designed the labels!

3) How many types of saké do you produce?

We have several cuvées and we specialize in junmai-shu. I indeed met Mr. Ogawahara Yoshimasa from the Shinkame Shuzo Brewery in Saitama. He also became my mentor: he was the first to do junmai. We also created and promoted the value of junmai-shu.

For the Rumiko-no-sake cuvée, we use three types of yeast and four different sakamai, including our organic Yamadanishiki.

The Hanabusa cuvée uses 100% organic Yamadanishiki: I like to say that it is a cuvée in homage to my husband! So, it makes sense that the quality is higher (Laughs)!!

4) Did you face any difficulties when you took over the Kura 35 years ago?

It was not easy indeed. It was so rare to find a woman in the world of saké and even less on the production side... I was not recognized, and the other producers did not like the idea that a woman makes saké. When the saké community was meeting, I was entitled to reflections, for example: why did you come? It was more about obstacles than abuse...

Six or seven years after the publication of Natsuko-no-sake, (about 28 years ago), I noticed that there were more and more articles on women in the world of sake. It’s how I discovered the existence of another woman in Fukushima. At the time, there was no internet, so I wrote to her. For the first time, I could identify with someone, make a connection!

This is how the Kura Women Summit was born 22 years ago.

The Brewing Society of Japan has also initiated seminars just for women: I was the first speaker. I really wanted to share my experience and it brought me a lot.

5) What does Japanese saké represent for you?

For me, saké is nothing special: it's something essential in everyday life, it's liquid rice...

When you want to relax, this is what you need, and it is also great with food. It's a magic drink: if you can't drink it, then half your life is wasted!

I worked several methods to produce saké: kimoto, yamahai, other approaches… It is a coincidence to grow rice which is also necessary for the production of saké. Every day is a new experience because there is no routine in saké. I find that man often thinks that he controls Nature but in reality, we do not control anything and that is what makes the experience even more exciting! I cannot stop! I will never retire (Laughs)!

6) What advice would you give to a young woman who wants to start producing saké?

Today, it is easier for a woman to embark on this path than thirty years ago, but there are fewer and fewer saké drinkers and producers... We must find a solution and women are this solution! So, touch the rice! Taste some sake! Try! Get interested! Do not hesitate! Discover your talent!

Three magnificent women, three voices, three paths… I hope they have inspired you and that you will be impatient to discover their sakés and saké in general…

Read related arcticles;

Vol1. Shigeri Shiraki-san from Daruma Masamune

https://sakeist.com/article/detail.html?id=19

Vol2. Miho Imada-san from Fukucho

https://sakeist.com/article/detail.html?id=20