Tokyo Weekender - February 2016

NAKATA | FEATURE | 15
According to Nakata one of the biggest
obstacles producers face is the perception
that consumers have about sake. It’s seen as
a drink that must be consumed shortly after
purchase and therefore loses value. Last
month the ex-Roma and Bolton midfielder
introduced his solution to the problem: sake
cellars.
“Without wine cellars the wine industry
would never have flourished the way it has,”
he tells us. “The longer you can keep something
the more it’s worth. People think they
have to throw sake away if it hasn’t been
drunk after a month or so, but that’s not
true. At the right temperature and humidity
it can be kept for years, but that can only be
achieved if you have a cellar. It’s a necessary
item for this industry and that’s why we’re
confident it’ll be successful.”
Listening to Nakata speak it’s obvious
how much it all means to him. This is not
some ex-sports player investing some of his
money into a side venture; sake is now his
passion. He drinks at least one glass every
other night and has tried hundreds of
brands over the past few years, but the
problem he says is that none of them are
well known around the globe. He’s hoping
the smartphone app he helped set up last
year will start to change that. Known as
“Sakenomy,” it recommends specific labels
based on a user’s taste and preference. The
information given includes alcohol content,
temperature, ingredients and details
about the taste.
“Domestic sales are down, but with
so many Japanese restaurants around
I have some great memories that I will always
keep, but I don’t like to look back. There is so much I
want to do, but for now my main focus is sake.
the world, overseas interest in sake is
increasing,” Nakata says. “The problem
is many people abroad don’t know what
they’ve ordered because they can’t read
kanji. With Sakenomy they can take a
picture and it will give you the name of
the drink and other relevant information.
For example, if you say like a particular
brand it will tell you the nearest place you
can get it or where they sell it online. I’ve
been told by a number of foreigners that
this is exactly the kind of thing they need.
It’s available in Japanese, English and now
Italian. We’re also working on a French
and Chinese version.”
Determined to transform an industry
he believes has been undervalued, the
two-time Asian Footballer of the Year is on
a mission to educate people about sake:
the best brands, the way to order, the kinds
of food it can be paired with. A common
misconception, he informs me, is that it
only goes well with Japanese cuisine, when
in fact it can be enjoyed with all kinds of
dishes, including French and Italian. This
is a point he’s keen to show off at “Craft
Sake Week” in Roppongi Hills this month.
Despite the name, it’s actually a ten-day
event featuring 100 sake companies (10
different ones each day), a number of
restaurants, DJs playing a variety of music
and a sommelier who will be on hand to
answer questions.
“The best sake comes out in winter
so we felt this is the best time to have an
event like this, but isn’t just some drinking
festival,” Nakata says. “We want people to
get to know the various brands properly
and that is why we are only having 10 companies
each day. Along with their drinks
guests can try some amazing dishes from
establishments I personally selected where
it is usually really difficult to book a table.
There’s a Michelin-starred restaurant, my
favorite yakitori and oden shops, an amazing
French eatery and in my opinion the
best place to eat Italian in all of Japan. We
want people to come and enjoy the whole
experience, from the alcohol to the plates
and glasses, many of which we designed
ourselves.”
Constantly searching for ways to
improve and revitalize the sake industry as
well as looking to introduce Japanese crafts
around the world, Nakata admits he is now
busier than he ever was as a footballer. It’s
been almost 10 years since his final match
as a professional when he lay in the center
circle of Dortmund’s Westfalenstadion after
Japan had crashed out at the 2006 World
Cup. Since then he has gone on to travel the
globe, take a pilgrimage in his homeland
and start his own business. Looking back,
does the man who won 77 caps for his
country have any regrets about quitting the
game at just 29?
“None whatsoever,” he answers bullishly.
“I have some great memories that I will
always keep, but I don’t like to look back. I
don’t take photographs or collect memorabilia.
I prefer to face ahead and take on
new challenges. There is so much I want to
do, but for now my main focus is sake.”
www.tokyoweekender.com FEBRUARY 2016