c. 1810

Seven traits of a modern sake drinker: A seven-year cultural journal

The Masuda Tokubei Shoten sake distillery is located on Toba Road, an important link between Kyoto and Osaka which s till retains the atmosphere of the Toba Highway from days long past. At one time, this area suffered from the effects of the historical Battle of Tottori Fushimi. Once an inn that accommodated court nobles traveling from Kyoto to points westward, the distillery has on display a poem composed by an imperial messenger who stayed here on his way to Iwashimizu Hachimangu Shrine: "The moon shadow so clear on Katsura river. Scoop its water every night for the future to flourish" The name "Tsuki no Katsura" (meaning "Katsura Tree of the Moon") finds its origin at the hand of court noble Arinaga Anekoji, who extracted it from an old Chinese legend which explains that a Katsura tree 500 feet tall grows on the moon, where a man continuously trims it.

Illustration: Sanba Shikitei

Wood block print (hanga) on Japanese paper (washi) Size: 520 mm x 360 mm