When you think of wine, you probably think of it as something from overseas, like France or Italy. But actually, authentic wine is made in Japan, too. If you watch this movie, you'll understand why.
I see! Now that I think about it, I didn't know anything about Japanese wine. But Japanese movies make it seem more familiar to me.
This time, I would like to introduce a film called "Usuke Boys," which is based on a true story and depicts the revolution in wine making in Japan.
Until a few years ago, the general view was that Japan's climate and soil were not suitable for growing grapes for wine, and it was said that "Japan cannot produce authentic wine that can be used worldwide."
However, one man named Usuke Asai changed that perception. This film tells the story of a group of young people who look up to Asai as their mentor and call themselves the "Usuke Boys" as they carry on his legacy. They single-mindedly pursued the creation of high-quality wine, and revolutionized Japanese wine.[Characters in this article]
- Mika is 35 years old and works at an apparel company. She is getting into wine and is really interested in wine glasses.
- Iwasu is a sommelier who oversees this website. He runs a bar in Nagoya that stocks a wide range of New Zealand wines.
Details of the movie "Usuke Boys"
The movie Usuke Boys is based on the non-fiction novel "Usuke Boys: The Revolutionary Children of Japanese Wine" (Shogakukan) by Kaori Kawai . It won numerous awards in Europe, including the Madrid International Film Festival.
| Production year/country | 2018/Japan |
| time | 102 minutes |
| director | Yuji Kakizaki |
| Official website | http://usukeboys.jp/ |
Character Introduction
The characters are based on real people.Hidefumi Okamura: Dai Watanabe
The model is Hidefumi Okamoto from BEAU PAYSAGE .
Masato Shiroyama (Naito): Masayuki Deai
The model is Akito Kido of Kido Winery .
Yoshihiko Takayama: Kenta Uchino
The model is Soga Akihiko of Obuse Winery .
Role of Usuke Asai: Isao Hashizume
The model is wine consultant Usuke Asai.
story
Source: Official website of the movie "Usuke Boys"
One night, they got into an argument about the lack of Japanese wines that could compete with French wines, and decided to do a blind tasting of "Japanese" vs. "French" wines .
Contrary to expectations, the one that came out on top was "Kikyougahara Merlot."
The members got to know the man who created it , Usuke Asai , and gradually came to admire him. After graduating from graduate school, they each went their own way, but through a series of coincidences, they were given the opportunity to learn directly from Asai about the ideas and philosophy of wine.
Moved by Asai's attitude towards winemaking, each of them decides to make their own wine. However, it is a series of difficulties. Various problems stand in their way, such as a rift with friends, financial difficulties, and grape diseases.
Even in such circumstances, they continue to believe in Asai's words, support each other, and pursue the creation of wine that only they can make.
Highlights of this movie
There are many interesting scenes for wine lovers. Here are some highlights.Many famous quotes by Usuke Asai
In the movie, there are many scenes where Usuke Asai talks to the "Usuke Boys" about his philosophy on winemaking.
"Tear up your textbooks"
"Terroir is created by people"
You can hear the valuable messages that Asai entrusted to young people, such as:
Asai taught the young people his philosophy of winemaking and continued to encourage them as they faced numerous difficulties. As a result, the young people who inherited his will have a major impact on Japanese wine.
The details of winemaking are recorded
Be sure to also take a look at the realistic wine-making scenes depicted in this film.
First of all, the vineyards. The "vineyards" of the three main characters are completely different. I read the original novel and confirmed it, but the characteristics of each vineyard are beautifully reproduced in the movie.
Each field had a different appearance, including fields using the trellis cultivation method that has been practiced in Japan for a long time, fields using the hedge cultivation method that is mainstream in Europe, and fields where weeds are deliberately allowed to grow.
Trellis-grown vineyards
Hedge-grown vineyards
In addition, in the scene showing the wine brewing process, the popping sound of the grapes during the fermentation process is also recorded vividly.
One of the attractions of this film is that it gives viewers a glimpse into the wine-making process, something that we don't usually get a chance to see.
My impressions after watching the movie
The film focuses on three people who are members of the "Wine Friends Club."
Their winemaking methods are diverse, and we found that each person's individual philosophy is reflected in their winemaking, such as some who grow grapes with a stoic attitude, avoiding the addition of sulfites and using pesticides to the maximum extent possible, and others who grow grapes in a flexible manner while cherishing the families they share their lives with.
I realized that even though the term "winemaking" is used in general terms, there are many different ways to grow grapes and brew wine.
When members of the "Wine Friends Club" met Asai for the first time, they were asked for their opinions on wine and Asai only gave negative comments. The scene where Asai asked them why they were so negative was also impressive. I loved his words , "Every wine has its good points."
The fact that we can now drink delicious Japanese wine is thanks to those who tried to change Japanese wine.
That's right. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to see high-quality wines in Japan that are on par with those from overseas, but that's thanks to Usuke Asai, a great figure in the Japanese wine world, and the young people who were mentored by him.
I think the film does a good job of depicting how these people have competed with each other and made efforts to raise the level of Japanese wine.
The appeal of the book version of "Usuke Boys"
As mentioned at the beginning, the film is based on "Usuke Boys: The Revolutionary Children of Japanese Wine" by Kaori Kawai .
The original work goes into more detail about the Usuke Boys' winemaking.
Learn about winemaking in a real way
This book is the result of long-term interviews with a group of people influenced by Asai who call themselves "Usuke Boys."
Rather than being a list of fragmented information, the book describes how Japanese wine has changed over time, along with the real feelings of the main characters who are serious about winemaking.
We can also learn very abstract things such as "what is winemaking" from Asai's words and the main characters.
In addition, the book also includes an analysis of Asai's book and touches on the reality of winemaking, so it is not only a book that teaches you about winemaking, but also a book that you can enjoy reading.
What is the New Zealand wine "Providence" that appears in the original work?
Unfortunately, it doesn't appear in the movie, but in the original novel, a New Zealand wine is mentioned many times as an important key. The wine is called "Providence" .
Asai was impressed when he tasted Providence wine, which was made without the addition of sulfites, a rare product at the time. He realized that even in a region with a short history compared to France and other countries, it was possible to make wine with minimal human intervention by taking advantage of the climate and soil to produce excellent grapes.
Asai actually visited the Providence winery and saw the wine-making process with his own eyes. He also repeatedly talks about Providence wine to young winemakers, including Okamoto.
Providence received worldwide acclaim immediately after its release and is known as the "Cinderella Wine."
Marlborough wines are also introduced with the message, "Believe in the potential of the land."
So New Zealand wine has had a significant influence on winemaking in Japan today.
Who is Usuke Asai, the father of modern Japanese wine?
"Asai Usuke" is the pen name of Asai Shogo.
Shogo Asai (1930-2002) is known as the man who built the foundations of modern Japanese wine. He played a leading role in Japanese winemaking, serving as the factory manager of Chateau Mercian Katsunuma Winery and chairman of the Yamanashi Wine and Sake Makers Association, and in his later years he also worked as a wine consultant.
For a long time, Japanese wine was often made using grapes for eating, such as Kyoho and Delaware, and it was thought that cultivating the European wine grape variety, known as Vitis vinifera, was difficult.
Also, in Europe, it is traditional for one winery to handle everything from grape cultivation to winemaking, but this style was almost unheard of in Japan. "Grape cultivation" and "wine brewing" were completely separate businesses. Naturally, the idea of improving the quality of grapes, the raw material for winemaking, with one's own hands was not yet common.
Usuke Asai was the one who raised his voice and started researching ways to break away from this traditional Japanese winemaking. Asai believed that "grapes are the most important element in winemaking," and he focused his efforts on cultivating them. He succeeded in cultivating Merlot that rivaled those grown overseas in Kikyogahara, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture , proving that high-quality wine could be made in Japan.
Asai also always cared about and encouraged young people aspiring to become wine makers in Japan. He generously shared his "sur lie" technique, which is effective in producing Koshu wine, with rival wineries, and passed on his knowledge to the next generation in a number of well-known books, including "The Philosophy of Winemaking" and "The Four Seasons of Winemaking."
One memorable scene in the film was when he gives advice to young people about winemaking even after being told he has only a short time left to live due to cancer.
What happened to the Usuke Boys?
Finally, we will briefly introduce the current state of the "Usuke Boys," who carry on Asai's legacy.Hidefumi Okamoto
Mr. Okamoto, who is the model for the main character, makes wine in Tsugane, Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture.
The winery "BEAU PAYSAGE" , run by Okamoto himself, means "beautiful scenery" in French. He makes his wine entirely by hand, without using any pesticides or sulfites, and in harmony with nature.
Akito Kido
Kido and his family of three run a small winery called "Kido Winery" in Soga, Shiojiri City, Nagano Prefecture.
In grape cultivation, they use a trellis cultivation method called the "Smart Mayorgar System," in which the grape branches grow in one direction from south to north, in order to pursue the wine of their dreams.
Akihiko Soga
Mr. Soga makes wine in Obuse, Takai District, Nagano Prefecture.
Obuse Winery/Domaine Soga, run by Mr. Soga, is a small winery that takes pride in the wine it makes from 100% grapes grown in its own vineyards.
We produce our wines using organic farming techniques, without using any chemicals, and in a way that is as close to nature as possible.
Unfortunately, all of the wines they make are difficult to obtain... But if you can get your hands on them, be sure to try them and remember this movie and the original novel!
summary
"Usuke Boys" depicts the lives of young people who are passionate about winemaking.
This film is based on a true story and tells the story of young people influenced by Usuke Asai, an important figure in the Japanese wine industry, and how they created a new type of Japanese wine. You can feel the passion of these young people who want to create a Japanese wine that can be proud of the world.
Another attraction of the film is that real vineyards and wineries were used as filming locations, making the actual wine-making process feel very realistic.
After watching this movie, you'll definitely want to drink some Japanese wine.
I urge everyone to try some Japanese wine.
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