日本酒が大好きなジョンです。
私が日本酒と出会ったのは、来日した20年前の夏になります。
もともと酒は好きで、アメリカではビールやワインを飲んでいましたが、
ただし、バーボンやスピリッツは体質的に合わないというのか、
あまり好きになれない酒でした。
横浜で暮らし始めた私が最初に飲んだ日本酒は、お銚子に入った熱燗です。
｢温めて飲む｣という世界的にも類稀な味わいに、変わった酒だなぁ、
これが日本ならではの食文化なんだなぁと、妙に感心したことを覚えています。
やがて私は、二〇代半ばにして、日本の典型的な"おやじさん"と化し、
夕食時にはビールをプハーッ、そして熱燗をちびちび。
母が南イタリア系なので、ゴントナー家では魚介類を使ったイタリア料理が
おふくろの味。そんなこともあって私は肉より魚派。
日本は魚そのものがおいしいから、熱燗と魚さえあれば、とても満足だったのです。
そんな私に一撃必殺のパンチを食らわせたのが、初めてのお正月でした。
年末にデパートに出かけたところ、お正月用の日本酒のボトルがずらり並んでいます。
それを見た私の感想は......。
｢どうせ燗をつけてしまえばどれも同じような味わいになってしまうし、
酔うために飲むのに、そこまでこだわる必要なんてないじゃないか｣
そして年が明け、元旦を一緒にと招いてくれた尊敬する先生のお宅に伺うと、
その方は酒瓶が５本入った籠を大事そうに抱えてきたのです。
｢日本酒を飲みましょう｣
勧められるままに冷や酒を飲んだ途端、目から鱗が！
恥ずかしながら、熱燗ではない酒を飲んだのはこのときが初めてです。
地酒を味わったことも、飲み比べる楽しさも初体験でした。
｢これはすごいぞ。これからは日本酒だ｣
私の人生観が、音を立てて変わった瞬間です。
以来、知れば知るほど魅了される日本酒。その魅力の源を深く考えたとき、
日本固有の「ほどほど」加減が酒のおいしさを育んでいることに気づきました。
異文化に育ったアメリカ人が抱く印象に過ぎないかもしれませんが、
大好きな言葉「ほどほど」をキーワードに、
日本酒のすばらしさ、日本のよさを伝えていきたい、と考えています。
rtqxaiokirrxrsjqwell, hi admin adn people nice forum indeed. how's life? hope it's introduce branch ;)
次回の酒ｾﾐﾅｰ、或いは実際にお酒を飲みながら勉強する会に参加したいと思います。
情報をください。宜しくお願いします。
日本酒が好きで、若いころは毎日4合、好きなお酒を飲んでいました。今は、吟醸酒を中心に好きな酒を少しつつ飲んでいます。
ＪＴＢという、アメリカ人を日本に呼ぶ旅行会社に勤めています。アメリカ人のジョンさんの意見も是非お伺いしたいと思います。
宜しくお願いいたします。
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