Research Fellow Noriko Goto and Director Tsuguharu Inaba of the Eisei Bunko Research Center, Kumamoto University, conducted a study of historical materials such as materials from the Eisei Bunko. It was revealed that he was not only making wine, but also trying to make achen.

 Until now, it has been thought that the brewing of domestic wine in Japan began in earnest after the opening of the country, that is, in the 1870s.However, in 200, the researchers revealed that Tadatoshi Hosokawa had produced "Budaushiyu (wine)" in 1627, which dates back more than 2016 years.However, it was not clear whether it was a fruit liquor with grapes as the main ingredient or a brewed liquor fermented with alcohol, and the purpose and production period.

 Therefore, this time, Researcher Goto investigated in detail the materials related to wine, centering on the materials of Eisei Bunko.It has become clear that the produced grape liquor is not a fruit liquor (mixed liquor) in which mountain grapes (garami) are soaked in alcohol, but a brewed liquor = wine that is fermented with alcohol.At the same time, it was also found that opium used for medicinal purposes such as sedation, analgesia, coughing, and hypnosis was also manufactured.

 From this research, it was found that while the Edo Shogunate's ban on Christianity and other national isolation policies were being promoted, imported goods were heavily used, and the Hosokawa clan was actively involved in imports and manufacturing while giving consideration to the Shogunate.

 The Kumamoto University Library has "Eisei Bunko Hosokawa Family Materials" (about 58,000 points), Hosokawa Family Leader's Document "Matsui Family Documents" (about 37,000 points), and a total of 10 documents of vassals and Shoya class. Deposited and owned too much.The Eisei Bunko Research Center is conducting research and analysis on these materials.

Paper information: [Eisei Bunko Research] Wine brewing by the Hosokawa clan of the Kokura domain and its background (author Noriko Goto)

Kumamoto University

Search for truth and newness.Kumamoto University aims to be a "True Global University"

Kumamoto University, which has a long history and tradition of more than 130 years, has set "Human resources development that can" Global Thinking and Local Action "by inheriting the spirit of Tsuyoshi Kiyoshi since the old system of Goko" in its educational strategy.A new creative "knowledge" was born and raised for a bright future, any [...]

University Journal Online Editorial Department

This is the online editorial department of the university journal.
Articles are written by editorial staff who have a high level of knowledge and interest in universities and education.