For Summer Drinking, Your Body Comes Before Being a “Connoisseur” — A Recommendation for Cold Alcohol and Yawaragi-mizu
2026-10-21
By Ryuji Takahashi
Around the world, I have heard that there are relatively few countries where people drink their alcohol cold. I don't know whether that is actually true, but some people even say that there are more countries where beer is not served chilled than countries where it is.
Certainly, even in Japan, there are people who enjoy drinking beer at room temperature. When it comes to Yebisu Beer in particular, I get the impression that quite a few people prefer it that way. Perhaps they believe that you have to drink Yebisu at room temperature to fully appreciate its deep, rich flavor. As someone who is firmly on the side of Asahi Super Dry, I simply cannot understand that way of enjoying beer. Especially in summer, I love that ultimate moment when I come home covered in sweat, take a bath, and then sit down with an ice-cold beer. The moment that cold beer flows down the back of my throat, I think to myself, “This is what I work for.”
When it comes to sake, I also want to drink it as cold as possible during the summer.
However, there is a long-standing belief that a true sake connoisseur should drink hot sake even in the summer. And I don't think this is a good thing.
One of our regular customers, a gentleman in his late sixties who enjoys sake and works outdoors, once came into our restaurant after work and ordered hot sake. The heat that had built up in his body during the day, combined with the hot sake, triggered symptoms similar to heatstroke, and he became unable to move. Since then, whenever sake lovers visit our restaurant during the summer, I tell them, “Don't try too hard to act like a connoisseur. You could put your life at risk.”
It is already a brutally hot summer, and even the Summer Koshien baseball tournament has been adjusting its schedule as a measure against heatstroke. Of course, drinking nothing but cold things is not necessarily good for the body either. It is important to take in moderately warm or hot foods and drinks from time to time. But if your body is clearly rejecting something, or you don't even want to consume something hot and are only forcing yourself to do so to prove how tough you are, I think you should stop. Moderation is important in everything. We should consume the things that truly make our bodies feel revived.
And it is not just about alcohol. Staying hydrated is also extremely important. So why not take this opportunity to develop the habit of drinking water while you drink alcohol?
According to research announced by a university in Oita, drinking water while consuming alcohol does not necessarily prevent a hangover if you end up drinking the same amount of alcohol as someone who does not drink water. Apparently, people tend to mistakenly believe that water prevents hangovers simply because, when drinking for the same amount of time, they end up consuming less alcohol because some of what they drink is water.
In other words, mizuwari—or, more specifically in the world of sake, yawaragi-mizu, the water served alongside sake—does not magically prevent drunkenness or hangovers. But because it helps reduce the amount of alcohol you consume, it is certainly kinder to your wallet.
And during the summer, it also helps with hydration.
So, forget about strange notions of what a “true connoisseur” should do. Cool yourself down, drink plenty of water, and enjoy your sake properly.
Certainly, even in Japan, there are people who enjoy drinking beer at room temperature. When it comes to Yebisu Beer in particular, I get the impression that quite a few people prefer it that way. Perhaps they believe that you have to drink Yebisu at room temperature to fully appreciate its deep, rich flavor. As someone who is firmly on the side of Asahi Super Dry, I simply cannot understand that way of enjoying beer. Especially in summer, I love that ultimate moment when I come home covered in sweat, take a bath, and then sit down with an ice-cold beer. The moment that cold beer flows down the back of my throat, I think to myself, “This is what I work for.”
When it comes to sake, I also want to drink it as cold as possible during the summer.
However, there is a long-standing belief that a true sake connoisseur should drink hot sake even in the summer. And I don't think this is a good thing.
One of our regular customers, a gentleman in his late sixties who enjoys sake and works outdoors, once came into our restaurant after work and ordered hot sake. The heat that had built up in his body during the day, combined with the hot sake, triggered symptoms similar to heatstroke, and he became unable to move. Since then, whenever sake lovers visit our restaurant during the summer, I tell them, “Don't try too hard to act like a connoisseur. You could put your life at risk.”
It is already a brutally hot summer, and even the Summer Koshien baseball tournament has been adjusting its schedule as a measure against heatstroke. Of course, drinking nothing but cold things is not necessarily good for the body either. It is important to take in moderately warm or hot foods and drinks from time to time. But if your body is clearly rejecting something, or you don't even want to consume something hot and are only forcing yourself to do so to prove how tough you are, I think you should stop. Moderation is important in everything. We should consume the things that truly make our bodies feel revived.
And it is not just about alcohol. Staying hydrated is also extremely important. So why not take this opportunity to develop the habit of drinking water while you drink alcohol?
According to research announced by a university in Oita, drinking water while consuming alcohol does not necessarily prevent a hangover if you end up drinking the same amount of alcohol as someone who does not drink water. Apparently, people tend to mistakenly believe that water prevents hangovers simply because, when drinking for the same amount of time, they end up consuming less alcohol because some of what they drink is water.
In other words, mizuwari—or, more specifically in the world of sake, yawaragi-mizu, the water served alongside sake—does not magically prevent drunkenness or hangovers. But because it helps reduce the amount of alcohol you consume, it is certainly kinder to your wallet.
And during the summer, it also helps with hydration.
So, forget about strange notions of what a “true connoisseur” should do. Cool yourself down, drink plenty of water, and enjoy your sake properly.
夏の酒は「通」より「体」――冷たい酒と、やわらぎ水のすすめ
世界的に見て、冷たい酒を飲む国は少ないと聞いたことが有る。本当かどうかは知らないがビールも冷やす国の方が少ないという人もいる。確かに日本でもビールを常温で飲むのが好きな人がいる。特にエビスビールに関しては常温好きが多い気がする。エビスビールの深い味わいを感じるには常温で無ければならないということなのだろう。アサヒスーパードライ派の私には全く理解の出来ない楽しみ方である。特に夏場は汗かいて家まで帰り、風呂に入り、冷たいビールを飲むという至高の時間が大好きである。喉の奥を冷たいビールが流れ込む瞬間に、このために仕事をしているなと感じる。日本酒でも出来るだけ夏は冷たいのを飲みたい。しかしながら、日本酒は夏でもお燗酒で飲むのが通だという風習もある。これが良くない。そんな話を鵜呑みにして、外回りの仕事をされている前期高齢者の当店の常連様が仕事帰りに熱燗を頼み、昼間に体に蓄積した熱と熱燗が引き金となり、熱中症の様な症状を発症して動けなくなったことが有る。その後、当店に来店する日本酒好きのお客様には、無理して通ぶると命が危ないよと夏場は言い聞かせている。夏の甲子園も時間をずらし熱中症対策をしている猛暑の夏である。しかし冷たい物ばかりだと良くないので適度に温い物とか暑い物を体に入れることは大事なのだが、体が拒否反応を示すとか、体に入れたくもないのにヤセ我慢して暑い物を摂取するのは止めた方が良い。何でも適当が大事で自分の体が本当に生き返ると感じる物を摂取するべきである。そして酒ばかりではなく、水分補給も大事なので、この機会に酒を飲みながら、水を飲むという習慣を身につけてみてはどうだろうか。大分の大学が発表した内容では、酒を飲んでいる際に水を飲んでも水を飲んでいない人と同じ酒量であった場合、水を飲んだ人が二日酔いを防げるかというと、そうではないらしい。同じ時間酒を飲んだ場合、水を飲んだ分、酒量が減るので、二日酔いになりにくいと勘違いするそうだ。結果、やわらぎ水は悪酔いや二日酔いになりにくくなる効果がある訳ではないが、酒量が減るので財布にやさしくなるということである。夏場の水分補給にもなるので、変なこだわりは捨てて、クールダウンして水と酒をしっかり飲もう。
