Love is "something that takes shape through persistence" - Chikara Hashira, Tsukiya Liquor Store

Tsukiya Saketen is located in Kyodo, Tokyo.

Deep within the orderly rows of bottles, there is an atmosphere that suggests the presence of those who have embraced the creators' intentions.

At the center of it all is the proprietor, Chikara Hashira.

Wanting to convey the warmth of the creator in my own words

What makes Chikara-san so captivating is that he hands you the entire "background" that lies behind the sake.

Who made it, in what kind of land, and with what kind of thoughts?

By knowing these things, a single bottle of sake suddenly becomes "something with a life of its own."

"I want the things people consume to be safe to drink. That's why I want to trace everything back to the producer."

Sparked by concerns for his family's health, choosing natural, provenance-rich items became the foundation of his life, and that approach carried over directly into his philosophy as a liquor store owner.

To him, sake is not just a "finished product," but a baton entrusted to him by the creator.

The "Love of Exploration" that dwells in warm mead

One of the hallmarks of Tsukiya Saketen is the warm mead that Chikara-san continues to study.

When you raise the temperature, the aroma opens up. The way the acidity emerges changes. The sweetness might vanish, or a different profile might appear.

His demeanor as he expresses surprise at each new transformation, carefully explaining, "It turned out with this scent today," is another "form of love." The act of facing it repeatedly and putting its charm into words.

The insights that can only be gained through persistence dwell there.

Love means "to continue"

When asked what love means to him, Chikara-san answered quietly, though not without some hesitation.

"I think love is... to continue."

To keep chasing, to keep learning, to keep conveying. By continuing, one’s own words are polished, the way of conveying changes, and the relationship with customers deepens.

That is an attitude that applies to relationships with people, relationships with sake, and work itself.

"Once isn't enough to make it love. I feel like it only takes shape through accumulation and continuation."

Today, too, with the same warmth

Chikara-san's love is not a loud, boisterous passion, but something like a small light placed within the everyday.

Watching the temperature, listening to the background stories, and continuing to convey them honestly.

Tsukiya Saketen is filled with a "love that can only be born from continuing."