Nagareyama - A cup of green tea at Issa's salon

"Issa", meaning "Cup-of-tea", one of the greatest Haiku poet

Issa Kobayashi, as known as "Issa", his pen name meaning "Cup-of-tea", is one of greatest Haiku poet in Japan. Issa's Haiku style is so honestly and naturalistic to scenes from villages, children, birds, and so on, or his mind. 

For example, 

"A thin frog! Don't lose this wrestling game .Here I am."

 and

"The snow has melted, the village has come alive children everywhere."

are too popular Haiku poem.

Sazaemon Akimoto 5th,as known as his Haiku pen name "Soju", Rich man in Mirin brewing in Nagareyama and Issa's patron, from who's who about Haiku poet published in 1871.

Soju's house in old town of Nagareyama, Issa came time and time again
(C)JAPAN a while ago

Entrance of Akimoto "Mirin" brewery, Soju established
(C)JAPAN a while ago

Issa went Nagareyama City time and time again, over 50 times in 15 years, where is the other side of the river from Edo he lived in. the Main purpose of his frequent travel was to see Sazaemon Akimoto 5th, his patron, rich brewer, and  as Haiku poet "Soju".

Akimoto Mirin brewery in 1922, from an art book about Chiba Pref.

5400L class Mirin tank, used in Nagareyama
(C)JAPAN a while ago

A signboard of Akimoto Mirin brewery and their Mirin brand "Appare"
(C)JAPAN a while ago

The Akimotos in Nagareyama brew "Mirin", one kind of sweated rice wine which using for condiment in general, for generations scince 1782 by Sazaemon "Soju" Akimoto 5th. He grew Mirin business as richest as his rival "Manjo", part of today's KIKKOMAN CORPORATION, in Nagareyama.

Soju's house, the salon of Issa and Soju in Today
(C)JAPAN a while ago

After the 200 years, sometimes owner changing, Akimoto Mirin brewery and those brand "Appare (meaning "Great!")"  discontinued. But even today, there are still in existence Soju's house, the salon of Issa and Soju.

Garden view from old "Shoin", used as tea room in today
(C)JAPAN a while ago

Today, Soju's house redecorated as museum "Issa Soju memorial hall" and small tea room. We can taste a cup of green tea in "Shoin", Japanes traditional study room, as Issa did!

A monument in the garden, carving Issa's Haiku "Evening moon coming, there are grasshopper survived from the flood"
(C)JAPAN a while ago