Quote: Anyone who has ever been to Japan has probably fallen under the spell of a soothing cup of sake at one time or another. An encounter with Japan's favorite libation is bound to be memorable.....
Quote: In a land where so much real business takes place off the record, sake is the oil that keeps the wheels of society turning smoothly.
Read the following book for more fun and knowledge:
The Insider's Guide to Sake 　by Philip Harper
http://www.thejapanpage.com/html/book_directory/Detailed/90.shtml
The Buddhist version of Sake is called the Water of Wisdom, Hanya no Mizu, 般若の水, and consumed even by monks and priests at prestigeous temple compounds.

The Origin of Sake
Wet rice cultivation started in Japan nearly 2,500 years ago, and the production of sake seems to have come with it. Initially, it was produced by chewing up and spitting rice into a large bowl to ferment. This "kuchikami" sake was replaced many centuries later with the discovery of yeast, which also increased the alcoholic content.
Sake also had an important social function. Drinking sake brings the gods among people, assisting them to cooperate and live together, easing relationships within the community. For this reason, sake was not usually drunk alone, but with others. It is also always placed on the grave of dead relatives along with an item of food.

Different types of Sake
Sake is traditionally served hot in the winter from a small earthen-ware bottles (tokkuri) and cups (sakazuki), but special kinds of sake are now brewed for drinking cold or on ice as desired. The varieties of sake are determined by the quality of ingredients used and standards set by law. The three main types of sake are:

Ginjo-shu （吟醸酒）
Premium sake made from choice ingredients where rice is not polished to more than 60% of its weight-using the pure starch center of the grain. The enhanced aromatic fragrance and potent flavour can resemble the taste of some western wines and is consumed mainly with sashimi or as an after-dinner drink.

Junmai-shu （純米酒）
A 'pure' sake brewed from only water and koji rice which is not polished by more than 70%. Its features are the distinctively full-bodied flavour and aroma, and is most commonly served in izakaya bars.

Honjozo-shu （本醸造酒）
Used with the same ingredients as Junmaishu yet has brewing alcohol added to help produce a mild taste and fragrant aroma. When mixed with Ginjoshu, the resulting sake is known to be the most delicious, refined and expensive of all.

http://www.pref.saga.jp/soumu/kokusai/sagasaga/archives/saga9803.htm
http://www.imaiya.co.jp/english/menu/sake.html

The religious use of sake, (o-miki お神酒) is described on the following HP.
http://www.esake.com/Knowledge/Newsletter/JT/JT2001/jt2001_2.html
Have a look at the many barrels of sake donated to temples and shrines.
酒樽も整然と並ぶとおもしろいフォルムとなり、見慣れたものでも美しいものです。
http://cgif.nifty.com/fworld/j_fgal/photoall.cgi?ap004_20

The first drink of sake during the New Year Celebrations (o-toso 御屠蘇) is described on the following HP.
http://www.esake.com/Knowledge/Newsletter/JT/JT2001/jt2001_25.html
http://www.just-time.co.jp/catalog/2757.html

You might want to have a look to visit the Sake Museum.
Located in Handa City, to the west of Okazaki, the Kunizakari Sake Museum is the ideal place to learn about the history, preparation, and drinking of sake or "nihonshu".
お酒の博物館が有ります。 http://www.yamasa.org/acjs/network/english/newsletter/japan_guide_05.html
http://www.yamasa.org/japan/english/destinations/aichi/kunizakari_brewing.html

There is even a dictionary of Sake in Japanese, where you find answers to most of your questions.
日本語のお酒の雑学辞典もあります。
http://www.japansake.gr.jp/zatsugaku/index.html
http://www.alpha-net.ne.jp/users2/negotoya/gosyu.htm

Now let us check out some ricewine labels with connections to our Daruma san.

Niwa no Uguisu Daruma Label 庭のうぐいす　だるまラベル
Here is the expert voice of John Gauntner about this Sake. By the way, it was through this article in the Japan Times that I came to know about this brand. Now many empty bottles decorate the entrance gatehouse of our premises.

Niwa no Uguisu (The Nightingale of the Garden) is brewed at a tiny firm known for putting great care into their brewing. This "Daruma" sake, of which there is also a daiginjo version, bears the image of the founder of Zen.
Daruma is dry and narrow in flavor, clean but with a soft pull to the recesses. There is a slight essence of dried autumnal fruit to the fragrance and flavor, backed and delivered by a nice standing acidity. Although it may be hard to find at just any old liquor shop, Niwa no Uguisu Daruma is comparatively easy to find at good sake pubs.
http://www.sake-world.com/JT_Archives/2000-JT/2000-jt_20.html
Here is the HP of John, just in case you want to know more about Sake in general.
http://www.sake-world.com/Consulting_Services/consulting_services.htm
http://www.esake.com/

This brand is easy to order online now, just have a look at some samples.
http://www.fukuoka-sake.org/kuramoto/yamagutisyuzou/yamaguti_syuzou.htm
http://www.sakin21.com/catalogue/niwanouguisu/01.html
http://plaza9.mbn.or.jp/~espoa/kyusyu/niwano.html
http://www.fuku-1.com/meishu/016_yamaguchi.html

The picture of Daruma on the label was taken from an old hanging scroll in the posession of the Yamaguchi Sake Company. When the American artist Bob Womack visited the winecellars and saw this scroll, he said: "This guy looks quite cunning, but also sad, he has such an expressive face! You should put him on your label!" And that is where we find him now. Thanks, Bob! You can stare at Daruma and have him staring back at you while you sip your evening drink. And you could talk to him, as he looks like being ready to have a little conversation, does he not? Well, how about it, have a Daruma Drink tonight?
福岡県三井郡にある山口酒造場から発売されている「庭の鶯 だるまラベル」は、とても個性的なラベルにつつまれたお酒です。蔵元に伝わる掛け軸に描かれただるまを見た、米国人美術家B・ウォマック氏が「にらんでいるようでもあるし、かなしんでもいるようだ。この表情豊かな顔をラベルにしたら」といわれたのがきっかけでこのお酒が出来たそうです。晩酌をしながら、だるまとにらめっこするのもいいでしょう。また時には、話し相手にもなってくれそうな哀愁に満ちた表情がなんともいえません。今宵、あなたも一緒にいかがですか？
http://www.umaisake.net/kura/other/025niwanouguisu/order.htm
http://www.theamericanartisan.com/womack.html

This Daruma Sake also got some stars at Sake competitions.
達磨酒が優勝を貰ったHPです。
http://www.hi-net.ne.jp/aoba/nihonshu/52kai.htm
http://www.hi-net.ne.jp/aoba/nihonshu/24comp.htm

Daruma Masamune Sake 　達磨正宗酒
Daruma Masamune Koshu Aged Rice Sake
"Dramatic! This complex sake is blended from pure rice Sakes from 1972, 1982, 1984 and 1989 vintages. Its sweet aroma and full flavor come from the most carefully chosen and highest quality sake rice. Daruma Masamune is renowned for high quality, traditionally aged sake characteristics."
You can order this and other delicious ricewines from Sherry Lehmann in America! Cheers!
アメリカでも売っている達磨正宗酒。
http://www.sherry-lehmann.com/wines.asp?category=63

http://www.daruma-masamune.co.jp/item.html
http://www.chu6.co.jp/koshu.shtml
If you are lucky, you might even be served Daruma Masamune at a JAL flight to Japan.
JALの飛行機にも達磨正宗があります。
http://www.jal.com.br/zoom.asp?id_cat=66

Daruma for Good Luck 　Fuku Daruma　福達磨
There is a special sake called "Daruma for Good Luck" from the vicinity of the famous Daruma Temple Shoorin-zan; the brewery is in Anchuu, Gunma Prefecture.
少林山ゆかりの地酒、福達磨。群馬県安中市
Under the Label FUKU DARUMA you find different types of Sake, even a brand without sugar and additives.
無糖無添加の福達磨酒もあります。群馬酒造株式会社。

http://www2.syutoken.com/gsk/order.html
http://www2.syutoken.com/gsk/index.html
http://gunmasyuzou.co.jp/

Cold Sake for the Summer Season - Reishu Yuki Daruma from Fukumusume
夏だけの冷酒　福娘の雪だるま
http://www.sakeno-mail.com/shohin-fukumusume.html

A Pottery Snowman as container for normal Sake 雪国のだるま
可愛い雪だるまの陶器に入った、キレの良い飲み口のスッキリした普通酒.
http://www.kinteki.co.jp/cgi/webstore102/cargo.cgi?frame=on

While we are at the snowman story, there are two made of glass to hang on a wall. You might see four if you try too much of the good sake mentioned above.
雪だるまの壁掛けもありました。

http://www.kitaichiglass.co.jp/11gatu/gallery/kingaku/kingaku.html

Shochu (Shoochuu), the famous Japanese Schnaps and Daruma 　焼酎とダルマ
One company to produce this is beverage is Chugoku Jozo Co., Ltd.
http://www.enjoy.ne.jp/~hatsukan/jiten/html/mp48.html
Daruma Shochu or distilled clear liquor, the German Schnaps.

創業時は、「虎」､｢七福｣､｢天狗｣｡｢ダルマ」等の銘柄で焼酎を販売していましたが、大正8年に七転び八起きの縁起の良い銘柄「ダルマ焼酎」が主銘柄となりました。
Have a look at more of the funny lables at the following HP.
http://www.chugoku-jozo.co.jp/shohin/shochu3.htm
http://www.hitec.city.hiroshima.jp/ne/level7/ne903151001.html

Overview of some Daruma Shoochuu Brands. They have been produced for over 80 years now.
ダルマ焼酎ブランドいろいろ
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/asano/435473/435526/436632/

Daruma Menpeki Kunen 面壁九年
Daruma has been gazing at the wall for nien years and this liquor has been maturing for nine years.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/asano/435473/435526/436632/436690/
http://www.chugoku-jozo.co.jp/shohin/shochu1.htm
Daruma Suu-San　嵩山
Daruma has been practising meditation at the Shaolin Temple at Suu-san in China.
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/asano/435473/435526/436632/436689/
Five different brands of Daruma Shochu
http://www.rakuten.co.jp/asano/435473/435526/436632/436690/

This is the label of an old Daruma Shochu bottle. The Japanese reads from right top to left bottom, so it must be quite old.
ダルマ焼酎のラベル写真。

http://www.asterisk-web.com/syocyu_fight/label_gallery1.html

Somebody even found some old shop signs worth taking a photo of. Chek out the following HP for some old signs, our Daruma Liquor is the second from the bottom.
正宗やはこさけ一代などでお馴染みの中国醸造も、清酒の製造を始める以前は焼酎や味噌・味醂などを製造していました。なかでも「ダルマ焼酎(甲類)」は超有名な銘柄で、６月になると梅酒を漬ける容器と並んでダルマ焼酎の姿をあちこちで見ることが出来ます。
http://www.urban.ne.jp/home/hourou98/kanban/daruma.html

More shop signs for Daruma Shochu and Mirin Sweetened Sake.
ダルマ焼酎と味醂の看板。
http://www.mars.dti.ne.jp/~koichiro/kanban/beer/daruma.jpg
http://www.darmax.co.jp/kanban/sanyo-sanin/sanyo-sanin.htm
http://www2s.biglobe.ne.jp/~kazu-n/colle-4ho-2f.mypage.htm

Here you find Shochu types from all around Japan.
全国の焼酎情報がこちら。
http://www.shochu.or.jp/all/ta.html

I hope you found your favorite brand and are now ready for some serious Daruma research.
ご自分に合うだるまラベルが見つかったでしょうか？これからもうすこしまじめな達磨研究にしましょう。

Daruma buying Sake Sake-kai Daruma 　酒買いだるま
This is a charming Daruma papermachee doll from Hamamatsu. He has arms and legs, which is very unusual for such a doll, but he needs his arms to carry a bottle of Sake and a Fish to go with it for his dinner. These nice dolls were made by the Miwa family in Hamamatsu, which has been producing papermachee dolls for four generations. We will hear in detail about them in the Hamamatsu Story.
酒買いだるまは浜松張子の仲間です。手足もちゃんとついて徳利とおつまみの魚を持っています。
He is also mentioned on the following HP, but no picture, so we have to use the black and white one of the the yearly magazine Nr. 3 of the Daruma Association.
だるま会報3号にも白黒の写真しかありません。
http://plaza.across.or.jp/~sahara/reikai/001203.htm

浜松張子初代三輪永保（ひさやす）・二代三輪永智（ひさとも）・三代二橋志乃・四代二橋加代子の作品があります。
http://plaza.across.or.jp/~sahara/event/021005/hakubutukan.htm

Finally a piece of my collection.
私のお酒器のだるまも紹介します。
This is a metal container for Sake in the form of Daruma. At his back there is a pipe to poor the sake. It is 21 high and made of metal. On both sides the Chinese characters for "Safety of the family (kanai anzen 家内安全)" are painted in golden letters. On the belly there is the character for Long life (ju 寿) and the name of the sake brand, Taki no Kawa 瀧乃川　清酒. So it is full of auspicious symbols.
Unfortunately this sake is not sold any more. If you have any hint as to the origin of this vessel, please let me know.
このだるまは酒の器です。その由来をご存知なら、ぜひ教えてください。

Desert
Here is a man having a sake cup in his hand and a Daruma doll on his lap. This charming netsuke is from the 18th century, about 3 cm high and signed: Tomimitsu.
デザートにお酒を飲みましょう。この根付は18世紀作です。杯を持ち、達磨さんも抱えている男性です。乾杯！

http://www.asiaartcollection.com/Item.asp?ItemID=303