Official
Introduction of Komin Kawamoto, the first beer brewery in Japan at Kayabacho 1-chome.
According to the Dutch scholar Komin Kawamoto (Komin Kawamoto), Komin Kawamoto is famous as a universal scientist who opened the door to modern times. Komin Kawamoto encountered so many fires that joke when the fire chased when he built a new house, moved to Hatchobori Daikanyashiki in 1846. It is said that the Kawamoto family moved more than a dozen times, including temporary housing. I will explain the place where my home was later, but this house was Kayabacho 1-chome.
In 1853, the year after the arrival of Kurofune, "Enseikijutsu" was published. Tonishi is a book that means "West" and becomes a monument that shines brightly in the history of science in Japan. Satsuma domain builds Japan's first warship, the Shohei Maru, which was manufactured based on the description of Western drifting techniques in the Tosei Kiseki. This book has become a bestseller.
Komin produced various things by himself, but one of the famous ones is "beer".
Beer brewed by Komin Kawamoto
The Japanese seemed to know the existence of beer through the Netherlands, and Genpaku Sugita and Seian Takebe were in the "Waran Medical Questions and Answers".
"I wish to see the barber, but it's a bad thing, and there's nothing wrong with Gozasoro. My name is Bile and I am referring to it. It is imagined that beer that came from the Netherlands after a long journey had no exhilaration at present because its flavor is impaired and it is not cold.
It is said that in 1853, Yukimin boarded the Sasuke Hana, where Admiral Perry boarded as an interpreter, and met beer at a banquet after the meeting. Yukimin, who read the Dutch version of the "School of Science" written by German agricultural scholar Schtechardt (it seemed to be familiar with Dutch, but could not speak German) was impressed by the explanation related to beer brewing method. I decided on a trial brewing. Yukimin seemed to like the whole content of this book, including the beer brewing method, and translated it into a book. This became his masterpiece, Chemistry Shinsho. By the way, the beer brewing method is stored in Volume 13.
Beer brewing theory by Yukimin
Depending on the yeast used, there are two types of beer brewing methods: "top fermentation" and "bottom fermentation". At that time, Komin was divided by the translations of "Kamibujo method" and "Shimobujo method", and understood the differences. The Shimobujo method is a low-temperature brewing method compared to the Kamibujo method, and while it takes time to prepare, it is suitable for making beer (so-called lager beer) that can withstand long-term storage. It would be natural that Yukimin, who was an unrivaled liquor lover, came up with a test brewing when he understood the brewing method in detail.
Komin built a furnace in his home garden and test-brewed beer. It is written that a tasting party was held at Sogenji Temple (known as Kappa-ji Temple) in Matsubacho, Asakusa (now Matsugaya, Taito-ku), but the record was burned down due to the fierce air raid in Pacific War and the materials are not present. Nevertheless, Komin Kawamoto's name has been handed down as "the founder of beer." The home where this beer trial brewing was held was Minami Kayabacho, near the current Kayabacho 1-chome intersection.
Expectations for the revival of "Komin Beer" made by Kayabacho!
About 10 years ago, "Konishi Shuzo" (famous for sake white snow), which is located in the same town as "Komin Kawamoto" and still has a white snow Edo store at 1-chome Kayabacho, reproduced Komin beer and some people tasted it. It is said that You will not be able to drink late Tokugawa shogunate's "Komin Beer", but I would like you to take the lead at the Chuo-ku Tourism Association to launch the "Reprint Komin Beer" project and provide me with the opportunity to taste it.
*** References ***
1) Orchid scholar Komin Kawamoto, a PHP Institute by Yasutoshi Kita 2) Picture Book Edo Souvenir Shigenaga Nishimura and Harunobu Suzuki 3) Edo Castle Transition Picture Book 7 (Ofunai History Book) Hara Shobo 4) Honhachicho Horibeno picture Kojimachi 10 Kingodo 5) Chuo-ku chronological table Meiji culture edition 6) Chuo-ku History Map Book published by Kyobashi Library
[Thank you to Kyobashi Library Regional Archives]
Even in writing this blog, I was very grateful to the people of the Kyobashi Library's Regional Archives (2F underground). In addition to simply using materials, we hope that staff surveys will continue in the new library.
Thank you very much for your continued support. Thank you very much.