Liquid: Ogre of Sake the Miraculous Warehouse

Hokuto Dairy?

It's a mid-level long standing business.

The position of Deputy Administration Manager is waiting for you there.

Toyo Daiichi Bank Tokyo Main Office

It's a borrower that's giving our Sapporo Branch trouble.

It's your job to promptly dispose of the bad loan.

- What's so funny? - Nothing.

I was just thinking that I, myself, was like a bad loan that's being disposed of.

Is that supposed to be a joke?

Anyway, I want your answer by the end of the month.

You're only giving me 1 week to decide?

You don't have to discuss it with your family, right?

That's what I heard.

Your performance as a loan screening department chief is outstanding, but...

you got too deeply involved in the top's power struggle.

That's a superfluous matter for a banker.

That's all I have to say.

Hello. This is Sagara.

Kanazawa Medical Center

Excuse me. Where is the Cardiovascular Ward?

She had a heart attack, but

she was treated promptly, so her condition is stable now.

Her condition should improve with cardiac catheterization. However...

"However..." what?

Just to be sure, we took a CT and found that

she has a very serious malignant liver tumor.

Is it cancer?

It has spread to the surrounding area and there's nothing more we can do.

At this rate, she has 3 months to live at the most...

You know... I don't have much longer to live.

Don't say such a thing.

There's something I want you do to for me.

I want you to shut down the kura (sake brewery).

For 5 years after your father passed away,

I barely managed to keep it going, leaving everything to the workers.

But I think it's about time now.

I haven't told you, but...

there's no more financial resources to keep the kura going.

The money we borrowed from the bank has to be paid back too.

But don't worry. If we sell the property and the building of the kura,

we can pay back everything.

Why didn't you tell me sooner?

There's nothing I can leave behind for you.

Yusaku-san, if you want to join your hands in prayer for Dad,

you can come here anytime.

I told the foreman everything I know about the kura.

You can continue to make the same sake.

Are you still upset over Ishikawamon*?

I believe our kura has to continue making

classical sake that we refined just as we've always done.

That brewer's rice carries a lot of risk.

I'll take that dream with me to the other world.

Liquid

"Kagaryu" Todoroki Sake Brewery

The Ogre's Sake, the Miraculous Kura

Episode 1 Return of the Ogre

Welcome home.

Thank you for your many years of hard work.

The doctor says you shouldn't, but

you can have just one, since it's a celebration.

It's so quiet.

It almost feels lonely.

It's not...that lonely.

I'm used to it now.

Can't you still...

forgive me?

I know you're not the only one to be blamed.

"Yuki Otome" Sagara Sake Brewery

Good bye, Grandma.

Thanks for you help with everything.

I only did the natural thing.

Idiot.

Go wait in the cab.

Are you selling the place after all?

I'll keep the house, but I'm selling the kura.

Aina was sad.

She loved the kura.

When are you going to Hokkaido?

I'm planning to move by sometime next week.

If possible, I want to submit the divorce registration to the ward office before you move.

It's been 6 months already since we separated.

"When it rains, it pours," huh?

I've forgotten what you look like when you smile.

You don't expect me to smile at a time like this, do you?

It feels like you haven't smiled for years now.

For Aina or me.

I can tell the machinery and tools have been used with care.

They're a bit old, but

I think a small kura might be interested in taking them off your hand.

I'd appreciate that.

But still, it's truly regrettable.

Your father was a good brewer.

I was a big fan of Yuki Otome (lit. Snow Maiden, name of sake) too.

Sorry...that was unnecessary.

I realize that it's inevitable for sake breweries to close down because of changing times.

But there are still many young folks who'd like to

take over old-time facilities like this and try their hand at brewing sake.

I believe it's our duty to be the bridge to people who have a passion like that.

Taneda-san?

Oh...

I just came to pick up my personal belongings.

What's the deal on the brew for next year?

I'm in the process of making arrangements for everything. Please wait a little longer.

Please call me as soon as you can. I have to plan for my future too.

Shun! Come here.

Don't drink it, okay? Just smell the fragrance.

What does it smell like?

It smells like melon.

He has a good nose.

He's going to be a fine 3rd generation brewer.

I'm not going to carry on the business. I'm going to Tokyo.

- What are you going to be in Tokyo? - Salaryman.

That's awfully down-to-earth.

You be whatever you want to be.

But

don't forget this smell.

It's the smell of our sake.

Letter of Resignation

I wish you had turned it in sooner.

You're causing inconvenience to the company.

I decided to carry on the family business.

- The severance pay will be put to good use. - Is that right?

At any rate, good luck to you.

I've signed and affixed my seal to it.

I agree to the child support payment for Aina as you requested.

Thanks.

I decided to go home.

Surely you're not taking over the kura, are you?

A kura that doesn't make sake will die.

Any sign of the people who worked there will disappear too.

I don't want that to happen.

Tell Aina for me.

That Grandpa's kura that she loves won't go away.

Your heart is stable, but your diabetes isn't doing so well.

Your blood sugar level is up from last year.

We have to keep a close watch.

Ishikawa Prefecture Brewery Owners' Gathering

Hello. How's it going?

Todoroki-san. There's someone I want you to meet.

This is Todoroki-san, the owner of the kura that makes Kagaryu.

Pleased to meet you.

- This is the 3rd generation owner of Sagara Brewery. - Sagara-san?

- Ah, the Yuki Otome. - I've heard a lot about you.

When did you take over?

- As I recall, your father... - My father passed away 5 years ago

and my mother was operating the kura on a very small scale.

I was in Tokyo, so I'm a complete novice when it comes to sake making.

In that case, we'll be happy to support you.

It's our duty to back up young successors too.

That's great.

Having the owner of the No. 1 kura in Hokuriku as adviser will certainly give you peace of mind.

But Kagaryu-san, it must be hard on you

- now that Washio-san retired. - Well, no doubt, since

he was the mainstay of our brewery for many years.

He's a prominent figure not only in Noto, but also in the Japan Sake Brewers Association.

After all, his nickname is Ogre, you know.

He's the beast who was awarded the gold prize 29 times by the National Research Institute of Brewing

during the 35 years he served as toji (master brewer) for Kagaryu.

- 29 times? - It just goes to show you that

even an ogre can't overcome age and sickness.

Is Washio-san sick?

He has a heart problem... and he's diabetic too.

Is that right...

From now on, it's up to our generation to work hard together and

continue to energize Ishikawa's sake industry.

Well then, if you'll excuse me now.

All this talk about Washio just makes me sick.

They talk as if Kagaryu owes its success to that old geezer.

Now, now, why get all worked up over it? He's no longer around anyway.

Washio Yusaku's method is outdated.

We don't need a dictator in the kura.

May I have a taste of the sake Washio-san made?

Oh! Well, let's see...

Oh, this Yamahai (brewing process) junmai (sake with no additives) will be a good one.

This sake has such a clean delicate taste, it's hard to imagine it was made by a man called Ogre.

Even though it has a gentle taste like that of

spring water from the mountain,

the aroma of rice that spreads in your mouth is surprising, isn't it?

That's the skill of a master who has perfect control over the fermentation process.

Washio-san doesn't have the educational background, but

he was one of the first ones to bring into the kura

the practice of zymology that he learned on his own.

Together with the former president of Kagaryu,

he changed the outdated sake of the Showa era.

He's a revolutionary who changed the idea

of imbibing sake simply to get drunk to imbibing sake to enjoy the flavor and fragrance.

It's a shame to let him retire so soon.

15,000 yen?!

Washio

Why is the 3rd generation owner of Yuki Otome here to see me?

Well...

how should I say, uh... I came to pay my respect.

Respect?

Yes.

That was the most wonderful sake I ever had.

I was blown away.

Thank you.

...so?

At the risk of being rude, I have a request.

Won't you please take on the job of toji for our Yuki Otome?