Mukaide Shoyu Assortment, 6 Bottles (向出醤油醸造元 詰合せ)

The story behind it

A short walk from the Tegaimon gate of Todaiji temple toward Narazaka stands a black-walled house with wooden lattices. This is Mukaide Shoyu, founded in 1879. The building is also one of Nara's small street museums, which show the tools and trades of the old town.

Today the fifth-generation owner handles everything alone: choosing the wheat and soybeans, preparing them, making the koji, tending the moromi, and bottling. Because soy sauce cannot be made without microbes, he takes particular care over the koji.

This set is a furusato nozei (hometown tax donation) gift from Nara City. It holds two bottles of dark soy sauce and one of light soy sauce, each aged two years, plus a one-year tamari, ponzu, and dashi soy sauce. The brewery itself takes orders only by phone, fax, or email, so this gift is the way to order online. Furusato nozei is available to Japanese taxpayers.