Why 4 Tbsp. Of The World's Most Expensive Soy Sauce Costs $125 | So Expensive | Insider Business

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  • Опубліковано 15 тра 2024
  • Kamebishi's 20-year-aged soy sauce is the most expensive soy sauce in the world, sometimes selling for $125 for less than 4 tablespoons. The soy sauce has been made using the same family recipe since 1753 and follows the traditional mushiro koji method, in which each step takes years to complete. For comparison, most popular soy sauces can cost less than a bottle of water, and other aged artisanal soy sauces generally cost around $40. In 2001, Kaori Okada, the 18th-generation owner of Kamebishi, left her career in the travel industry to save her family's struggling company using a combination of traditional methods and new innovations. Here's why Kamebishi's 20-year-aged soy sauce is so expensive.
    Editor's Note: At 0:24, an image of Kamebishi's 5-year-old soy sauce is shown while the voiceover speaks about its 20-year-old soy sauce, and at 2:13, an image of wheat is shown while the voiceover refers to soybeans. In both cases, the voiceover remains factually correct. At 4:10, the video misstates how the steamed soybeans are tossed with the koji and barley. They are tossed together by machine, not by hand.
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    0:00 Intro
    1:14 Bean steaming
    3:29 Koji preparation
    4:33 Mushiro koji method
    6:25 Moromi aging
    9:15 Pressing
    10:40 Future of Kamebishi
    ------------------------------------------------------
    #soysauce #soexpensive #insiderbusiness
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    Why 4 Tbsp. Of The World's Most Expensive Soy Sauce Costs $125 | So Expensive | Insider Business

КОМЕНТАРІ • 1,1 тис.

  • @missourimongoose8858
    @missourimongoose8858 9 місяців тому +2473

    My dad was given a bottle of this stuff for a business deal he did with some Japanese folks but he doesn't really eat rice or knew how special it was until my brothers friend who's half Japanese came over and got all googley eyed lol so my dad gave it to him and he had us over for a big Japanese feast, it was amazing

    • @chaytonhurlow840
      @chaytonhurlow840 9 місяців тому +34

      What exactly Is its flavor profile like?

    • @missourimongoose8858
      @missourimongoose8858 9 місяців тому +139

      @@chaytonhurlow840 it's basically a way more concentrated version than the stuff ur used to so u don't need alot

    • @chaytonhurlow840
      @chaytonhurlow840 9 місяців тому +29

      I thought the same.
      But I must ask, do the favors go acidic, pungent soy, fermented (wine) soy, mild salt?
      If it is what I imagined, I definitely will buy at some point.

    • @chaytonhurlow840
      @chaytonhurlow840 9 місяців тому +2

      *flavors

    • @shad0wCh8ser
      @shad0wCh8ser 9 місяців тому +14

      @@chaytonhurlow840 I think it would be all of the above plus umami that's why it's special.

  • @schizo8923
    @schizo8923 9 місяців тому +506

    Funny how if you worked there and prepared everything for aging, they wouldn't know if you did a good job till 20 years later.

    • @Mrtheunnameable
      @Mrtheunnameable 9 місяців тому +24

      What about the 41 year old soy sauce that is older than the person working on it?

    • @ChillingOut247
      @ChillingOut247 9 місяців тому +17

      That would *suck*. I'm pretty sure they must taste-test weekly though. I figure if it somehow "went bad", they'd just toss it out or use it for another purpose somehow before wasting more time.

    • @schizo8923
      @schizo8923 9 місяців тому +39

      @@Mrtheunnameable yeah, they open it up and be like "Damn, the bastard put a handful of Froot Loops in here right before it was sealed!" Greatest 40 year prank ever.

    • @dassaseda8905
      @dassaseda8905 9 місяців тому

      ​@@schizo8923LMAO

    • @giovanimontoya4517
      @giovanimontoya4517 9 місяців тому +17

      American mentality

  • @Sutangy
    @Sutangy 9 місяців тому +1046

    I was really impressed by their method of extraction for anything aged over 10 years, that was genius.

    • @guyfawkes8873
      @guyfawkes8873 9 місяців тому +35

      It’s not technically ‘their’ method, it’s the default method since way back in soy sauce production. Similar but not identical methods are used for fish sauce and other liquids that need separation from solid content.

    • @mohamaditani6160
      @mohamaditani6160 9 місяців тому +4

      my though is why wouldnt they re add water, since its extremely dry. imo, it would ferment better and yield more.

    • @greatmacaron5779
      @greatmacaron5779 9 місяців тому +11

      @@mohamaditani6160 maybe for the taste ? They'd know if they decided to not that, no ?

    • @haryanwar1263
      @haryanwar1263 9 місяців тому +16

      @@greatmacaron5779 1. If the final product doesn't have a high temperature problem they can use water or ethanol then distillate it.
      2. If the final product have temperature sensitivity, a vacuum extraction can be the alternative.
      3. They can also make a grade for it. with a low grade using re-dehydrate method for a waste of non re-dehydrate method, so there is no waste and more profit

    • @sonomacalendar9949
      @sonomacalendar9949 8 місяців тому +7

      I am really impressed how good they are in taking suckers for a ride!!! Sheer brilliance ! ! ! 20-year ageing - you Bet! why not 100 year and a nice story to corroborate it !

  • @alexl.8748
    @alexl.8748 9 місяців тому +480

    i had bought a bottle before this, the most expensive one at 220 pounds (38 years of aging process), and i must say, the flavor is out of this world. Very smooth sweet taste but the after taste leaves your mouth with a very tangy salty flavor followed by slight notes of earthy wine, its a powerful aromatic i can only describe as rich and dark. Amazing soy sauce.

    • @escapetarkov3838
      @escapetarkov3838 4 місяці тому +5

      Kinko's is better.

    • @Shiftarus
      @Shiftarus 4 місяці тому

      @@escapetarkov3838 next time you are thinking of escaping tarkov, just stay

    • @bennybeeeee
      @bennybeeeee Місяць тому +1

      I like La Choy

    • @jordanpearce3237
      @jordanpearce3237 Місяць тому

      if i pay 220 for soy sauce commit me to the asylum@@bennybeeeee

    • @yaneznayoui1597
      @yaneznayoui1597 Місяць тому

      I like the cheap soy sauce made in a lab

  • @VictorRochaGaming
    @VictorRochaGaming 9 місяців тому +804

    The attention to detail, the wooden room, the fiber rings on the barrels, everything about the process is respect for tradition. Beautiful.

    • @Dr.Kay_R
      @Dr.Kay_R 9 місяців тому

      Nah. Japan is overrated. They use this publicity to sell their product. They are expensive only because labour wages are expensive in Japan.

    • @NoNORADon911
      @NoNORADon911 9 місяців тому +5

      I am fascinated and perhaps a little grossed out, not sure lol.
      Good thing they pasteurize it before selling.

    • @NoNORADon911
      @NoNORADon911 9 місяців тому +11

      I wonder how many pounds of human skin flakes in that special sauce?

    • @tllgestalt1942
      @tllgestalt1942 9 місяців тому +12

      Omg, unnecessarily tedious thing, japan

    • @tm-dp9pq
      @tm-dp9pq 9 місяців тому +7

      8:47

  • @cathoderay305
    @cathoderay305 9 місяців тому +283

    I have great respect for the Okada family and their tradition. I hope that more people will see this video and help this company to be more profitable and long-lasting.

    • @Phlegethon
      @Phlegethon 9 місяців тому +21

      Hope more people will see the dead mice at 8:48

    • @cathoderay305
      @cathoderay305 9 місяців тому +2

      @@Phlegethon I wonder... If that's what is was... makes sense though, any rodents falling in wouldn't be able to climb the sheer sides of the tank and the contents would rapidly cause them to dehydrate, die, and desiccate...

    • @Vivinski7
      @Vivinski7 7 місяців тому +5

      @@Phlegethon bacterias from dead mices wont do much to the pulp due to its salt and acidity content.
      Whats more baffling is their 40+year old "soy sauce", it cannot be a thing or be profitable whatsoever, person in the video compares this to vinnegar but it cannot be compared since its open fermentation compaerd to vinnegar jugs, this soy sauce will just completely evaporate and the idea itself is wrong and cannot be sustainable.

    • @GuitarAndFuckAllElse
      @GuitarAndFuckAllElse 7 місяців тому

      Looks like they're selling a 38 year option for £275/ 55g already@@Vivinski7

    • @Napalm_Candy
      @Napalm_Candy 4 місяці тому +1

      @@Phlegethon Whoa...you'd think they'd at least pick them out, WTF.

  • @silverwolf2332
    @silverwolf2332 9 місяців тому +88

    I love the 2 dead mice in the moromi at 8:48 . thank god this stuff is pasteurized and filtered

    • @kleber_sodre
      @kleber_sodre Місяць тому +12

      Extra tangy and salty flavour

    • @AtilioEscobar
      @AtilioEscobar Місяць тому

      Secret ingredient leaked.

    • @thomasp2963
      @thomasp2963 Місяць тому +6

      flavor enhancers lol

    • @jascaf1503
      @jascaf1503 Місяць тому +5

      umamicey

    • @Yoroiful
      @Yoroiful Місяць тому +6

      I honestly think that's just oddly shaped mold.

  • @kunogi09midori
    @kunogi09midori 9 місяців тому +183

    I live in Higashikagawa and seen the surroundings of this soy sauce factory and the museum. I haven’t tasted the actual product but the smell of the soy sauce from the factory was so good! The town of Hiketa in Higashikagawa is very rural but people visit this town for some fun events like Hinamatsuri doll display (spring), Fireworks display (summer), and gloves fair (autumn). Long ago Higashikagawa produced salt from Seto inland sea until glove production began. Gloves production is also another highlight in Higashikagawa so I highly recommend giving my town a visit!

    • @inquisitorwalmarius6650
      @inquisitorwalmarius6650 2 місяці тому

      soo, you are saying you could, set up a salt shop around seto and make money? like the danish shore salt shops do?

    • @kunogi09midori
      @kunogi09midori 2 місяці тому +3

      @@inquisitorwalmarius6650 That was long ago. At least in Hiketa it’s not famous for salt making anymore. However Salt-Lemon flavored delicacies are famous around the Seto sea region.

    • @inquisitorwalmarius6650
      @inquisitorwalmarius6650 2 місяці тому

      @@kunogi09midori that is interesting. Really.

    • @jiahaotan696
      @jiahaotan696 Місяць тому

      How could you live so near and not ever bought soy sauce from them? I'd have gone back time and time again...

    • @kunogi09midori
      @kunogi09midori Місяць тому +2

      @@jiahaotan696 Because it’s very expensive T_T Instead I buy Shodoshima island’s soy sauce which is just across the inland sea.

  • @reubenconducts5792
    @reubenconducts5792 9 місяців тому +157

    The narrator of these So Expensive videos always sounds like every detail is the most impressive and unbelievable thing they've ever heard

    • @Atylonisus
      @Atylonisus 9 місяців тому +140

      Narrator: "before the soy sauce can even begin to be created, workers must first enter the building. This first step is crucial to the decades-old tradition: step too far to the left, and they'll miss the door completely. If they don't turn the doorknob far enough, the door won't open, and the soybeans will never be cooked. It has taken Miyataro-shinsaki 300 years to master this art. Let's hear his advice for the younger generation."
      M: "my father wouldn't even let me step on the foundation without first practicing my stepping-technique. He had me place my right foot on a single grain of rice for 60 years, every day, until my heels were bloodied, before I could think of attempting both feet. Only by attuning the soles of your feet with the ground that the soybeans rest on, can you attune your soul to the soy sauce-making process."
      Narrator: "this explains the extraordinary pricetag to the soy sauce -- $0.75 for 6 gallons. But will tradition alone be enough to preserve this cherished industry? Only time will tell."

    • @pius_xiv
      @pius_xiv 9 місяців тому +7

      @@Atylonisus😂😂😂

    • @sebastianbothe1228
      @sebastianbothe1228 9 місяців тому +23

      ​@@Atylonisusthis is genius. I read this in the narrators voice

    • @kingburger6
      @kingburger6 9 місяців тому +5

      @@Atylonisus This is so true 😂😂😂😂

    • @chiangweytan5937
      @chiangweytan5937 9 місяців тому +3

      @@Atylonisus 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

  • @phranerphamily
    @phranerphamily 9 місяців тому +236

    They highlighted another aged soy sauce last year and I bought a bottle. It's amazing. I bet this one is worth every penny.

    • @experimenter19
      @experimenter19 9 місяців тому +5

      i was just about to say that

    • @greenteagod
      @greenteagod 9 місяців тому +3

      @@experimenter19 same!

    • @MethaneHorizon
      @MethaneHorizon 9 місяців тому +12

      My boyfriend bought me one and I am now an addict. Wood barrel aging or bust!

    • @C-c-c34
      @C-c-c34 9 місяців тому +1

      It’s been in my wish list lol

    • @MethaneHorizon
      @MethaneHorizon 9 місяців тому

      @@gc2236 Yamaroku traditional wood-barrel aged soy sauce. About 45$ a bottle tho.

  • @thebluetsss
    @thebluetsss 9 місяців тому +94

    The sauce is very thick and condensed which genuinely tells its quality and texture as well as the efforts people put into the process

    • @secondarycontainment4727
      @secondarycontainment4727 9 місяців тому +9

      I can condense and make a grocery store bought soy sauce by simply heating it to evaporate the water content. EFFORT PROCESS!

    • @crusher9z9
      @crusher9z9 5 місяців тому +4

      Except the dead rats at 8:48

  • @snakepl1skin
    @snakepl1skin 8 місяців тому +8

    man I really hope they can keep this up, a tradition stemming from so many centuries needs to keep going!

  • @NumberLegend
    @NumberLegend 9 місяців тому +46

    I love the videos it shows so many details of the making process and why it is so expensive. The so expensive series is my personal favorite.

  • @MoonLitChild
    @MoonLitChild 8 місяців тому +11

    The "3D" category was great and I'm going to start using that going forward. Also the producer asking "what would happen if I jumped in?" was fantastic. Really out there representing people like me...

  • @vincer7824
    @vincer7824 8 місяців тому +21

    May the Kamebishi soy sauce company remain in the hands of the Okada family for another 18 generations without sacrificing the quality.
    Admittedly this is quite unlikely for many reasons, however one can hope.

    • @KarleneE
      @KarleneE 4 місяці тому +2

      I second this blessing!

  • @IanHannaBlacksmith
    @IanHannaBlacksmith 9 місяців тому +105

    8:48 no one going to mention that?

    • @Llimark
      @Llimark 9 місяців тому +25

      Glad I'm not the only one to see those 2 dead mice.

    • @almendratlilkouatl
      @almendratlilkouatl 9 місяців тому +1

      Itsa tru o m g

    • @halbschwabe
      @halbschwabe 9 місяців тому +4

      probably died from the mold next to it...

    • @almendratlilkouatl
      @almendratlilkouatl 9 місяців тому +1

      @@halbschwabe maybe they were jus cuddling and they decided to take a quick nap there

    • @caseyimiller
      @caseyimiller 9 місяців тому +6

      Crazy how this is ‘so expensive.’ Imagine what everything else’s standards are. This is why I have trust issues because I know other people out there be slacking since it’s just easier

  • @dustfeatherandco
    @dustfeatherandco 9 місяців тому +155

    Recently bought myself a bottle of Yamaroku Soy Sauce (aged 4 years) because of one of Insider's videos. I was just curious about comparing it to Kikkoman and it blows cheap soy sauce out of the water. Such complexity of flavor and richness. Can't imagine how much better soy sauce aged for 20 years would taste.

    • @LaDonnaBella27
      @LaDonnaBella27 9 місяців тому +12

      You’re selling pitch is perfect for me to make this adult purchase. 😊

    • @Phlegethon
      @Phlegethon 9 місяців тому +42

      It probably tastes like more mice like 8:48

    • @Zeno362
      @Zeno362 9 місяців тому +7

      @@Phlegethon 🐭

    • @Joker-yd7me
      @Joker-yd7me 9 місяців тому +5

      ​@@Phlegethondamnnn. i need to pause and look carefully to see the mouse. haha

    • @robwithanr5685
      @robwithanr5685 9 місяців тому

      😂

  • @kendobc
    @kendobc 9 місяців тому +22

    I live in Japan just north of the area where they make it. I ordered some of their soy sauce, I stopped at the 5 year bottle. It was 200ml for 13USD, which is expensive considering you can get a normal 1 litre bottle for like 1.40USD. Different from the normal supermarket soy sauce for sure. Not sure if I will ever get the 20 year old stuff. Maybe as christmas present one year. (= These are definitely a finishing product. I wouldn't use it to make fried rice or something like that.

  • @jerkfudgewater147
    @jerkfudgewater147 8 місяців тому +27

    11:50 when someone says that it’s hard to get “the younger generation” to do this work, what they mean is: “we are no longer paying a decent wage to our loyal staff.”

    • @user-xp8rh5yt5k
      @user-xp8rh5yt5k 4 місяці тому +1

      legit LMAO

    • @CRneu
      @CRneu 4 місяці тому +2

      Eh, yes and no. Basically any job could pay more and attract more applicants. That's not what they're talking about. What a lot of places I've worked at have trouble with is finding employees with an attention to detail and a passion for what they're doing. Soy sauce isn't a hot item, people aren't interested in it as a process, so that really limits the applicant pool. You can still find people that are interested but it's tough to get them to come to a rural town for a process that hasn't changed in centuries. No amount of pay will attract people to that type of work.

    • @jerkfudgewater147
      @jerkfudgewater147 4 місяці тому +3

      @@CRneu people get paid $90k to be a gastric nurse and dig through stranger’s poop… somehow they manage to staff that position… you could be right that people just wanted to deal with diseased stranger poo but my money is on the solid pay check.

    • @timmorton8918
      @timmorton8918 4 місяці тому +7

      My favorite part is at 8:48 where they literally left 2 dead rats in the sauce. Shes not even inspecting her product

    • @juancastro5742
      @juancastro5742 4 місяці тому

      holy shit wtffff

  • @mcsuchnsuch
    @mcsuchnsuch 9 місяців тому

    Such a great piece, very informative and interesting to watch. I’m glad I clicked on it.

  • @adityapatil325
    @adityapatil325 9 місяців тому +27

    Ingredients: Soy, Wheat, Barley and Mice. 8:48

    • @bruellwitz
      @bruellwitz 9 місяців тому +4

      Extra protein for more umami flavour!

    • @jmoss10403
      @jmoss10403 4 місяці тому +4

      HA! I didn't see those two mice the first time. For all the people saying attention to detail you would think that the mice would've been removed before the cameras came in.

    • @inkajoo
      @inkajoo Місяць тому

      Japanese mice. They know a good soy sauce.

  • @JohnJones-oy3md
    @JohnJones-oy3md 9 місяців тому +37

    8:45 - Those dead mice laying on top of the 50 year old soy sauce add just that extra little bit of kick to the flavor profile.

    • @JohnDoeTheTroll
      @JohnDoeTheTroll 9 місяців тому +10

      Yea, I think that guy with the pole was smashing them 🤣🤣

    • @The1stDukeDroklar
      @The1stDukeDroklar 4 місяці тому +3

      WTF?

    • @mattw5840
      @mattw5840 4 місяці тому +5

      How many mice must be in the tanks that are full of liquid soy sauce, i bet there's a lot of bones at the bottom

    • @The1stDukeDroklar
      @The1stDukeDroklar 4 місяці тому +1

      @@mattw5840 Yikes. However, it is kind of amusing that people with more dollars than sense (cents get it lol) are swilling it down with their pinky stuck out thinking "I'm so special". 🤣

    • @americanmuscleup2497
      @americanmuscleup2497 3 місяці тому +1

      Damn that’s wild

  • @willcookmakeup
    @willcookmakeup 9 місяців тому +1

    One of my favorite episodes to date. Deff want to make sure I try this when I go to Japan

    • @alfiebarrett2485
      @alfiebarrett2485 9 місяців тому

      When ya do tell me how them mice taste skip to 8.47.

  • @liqidvenom
    @liqidvenom 9 місяців тому +53

    Crazy how foods get invented, "let's take some beans and wait till they go bad and look like toddler diarrhea. Then it's going to be tasty"

    • @ElysetheEevee
      @ElysetheEevee 9 місяців тому +5

      Haha, mmm, toddler diarrhea. My favorite. The bits of animal cracker and celery with oeanut butter give the product this uniquely umami flavor.

    • @unwired
      @unwired 9 місяців тому +7

      Somebody forgot a wine barrel and turned out to be good vinegar after 75+ years.

    • @eddapultstab2078
      @eddapultstab2078 9 місяців тому +1

      You could say the same for beer

    • @acanthafiore
      @acanthafiore 9 місяців тому

      Once people got the gist of the science behind fermentation and other methods of food preservation, aged beans is an inevitable byproduct of humans evolved understanding of food science. I doubt people actually immediately thought that aging all these products was a good idea, it was trial and error.

  • @azalor3223
    @azalor3223 9 місяців тому +4

    I would absolutely love to use this, looks wonderful.
    I will try getting it in the future 😊

    • @timmorton8918
      @timmorton8918 4 місяці тому +2

      Before you do, notice the, at least 2, dead rats at 8:48! IN THE SAUCE VATS

  • @jesseamaya4594
    @jesseamaya4594 4 місяці тому +11

    We need to hold on to our traditions worldwide, I believe that is one of the things that makes us human. Much respect to the Okada family for keeping such a labor intensive production method alive.

  • @hanh.7521
    @hanh.7521 9 місяців тому +2

    08:00 Daam Producer was asking the question as I was thinking it at the same time. Good video flow

  • @shad0wCh8ser
    @shad0wCh8ser 9 місяців тому +27

    Make it into a "luxury good" and it will have the hype and will be sold out. That way the business can keep going on. I think the biggest issues is that ppl would not know how to use it so it can't be fully appreciated thus less ppl would be less inclinded to buy or try. You would need to get a master chef to pair it with the most amazing dish and ppl would go for it.

    • @solconnection2
      @solconnection2 8 місяців тому +9

      much better marketing idea than soy sauce pizzas

    • @shad0wCh8ser
      @shad0wCh8ser 8 місяців тому

      @@solconnection2 They need to partner up with high-end restaurants to make a signature dish with the item or with one of those "craft" type boutique eateries that will sell smaller bottle of it at a lower price, preferable a tourist trap area. I do this professionally btw, -marketing essentially, but more on the creative side. Lol. And by experience, you don't need a good product to sell it. Look at Temu, everyone know what that is. Most business go out bc they don't want to spend on marketing but it works. I learned that in my business/econ. class which mostly entailed studying failed businesses and identifying what went wrong.

  • @imashaaark
    @imashaaark 6 місяців тому +6

    At 2:14 That's wheat, not soybeans. Its purpose is to add another layer of aroma and increase the sugar content of the mixture to help the fermentation process and to give the final product a thicker feel.

  • @Hothwaa
    @Hothwaa 8 місяців тому +15

    No one mentioning the 2 dead mice at 8:47 lol
    looks good though

  • @HoRS
    @HoRS 8 місяців тому

    all the respect and cheers for best, amazing work you do :)

  • @missdenisebee
    @missdenisebee 9 місяців тому +34

    Everytime a new video about some expensive, rare food item comes out, I’m furiously tryna find out if I can buy it online, absolutely ready to spend $100+ for some soy sauce lol

    • @alfiebarrett2485
      @alfiebarrett2485 9 місяців тому +5

      Good luck there's dead mice in there soy sauce, how did you miss it? 8.30 watch.

    • @cvspvr
      @cvspvr 9 місяців тому +1

      ​@@alfiebarrett2485yeah, it's extra flavour

    • @cvspvr
      @cvspvr 9 місяців тому +1

      go for it! they had another aged soy sauce video. i bought a bottle, and it was really good!

    • @alfiebarrett2485
      @alfiebarrett2485 9 місяців тому +2

      Do you wanna buy some dead mice?

    • @shhamat-sw4po
      @shhamat-sw4po 9 місяців тому

      @@alfiebarrett2485 why you too negative .. let them do whatever they want with their money

  • @engineeringresponse4406
    @engineeringresponse4406 9 місяців тому +16

    02:15 , it's not soybean. It's wheat grain.

    • @Mushroomonalog
      @Mushroomonalog 7 місяців тому +2

      I caught that too and was looking for this comment. 😂

  • @Seedkevin
    @Seedkevin 9 місяців тому +33

    THE DEDICATION THEY PUT ON WHAT THEY DO IS JUST MINDBLOWING. I WISH ONE DAY I WILL FIND MY CALLING AND BE AS DEDICATED AS THIS PEOPLE.

    • @chiangweytan5937
      @chiangweytan5937 9 місяців тому +12

      YOU WILL AS LONG AS YOU STOP COMMENTING AT THE TOP OF YOUR VOICE!

    • @DoraEmon-xf8br
      @DoraEmon-xf8br 9 місяців тому +3

      SO FOUR DAYS LATER, DID YOU FIND YOUR CALLING?

    • @chiangweytan5937
      @chiangweytan5937 9 місяців тому +4

      @@DoraEmon-xf8br I HAVEN'T SEEN A LOWER-CAPS RESPONSE TO MY REPLY SO I ASSUME HE IS STILL SEARCHING. I'M SURE HE WILL FIND IT SOON.

    • @stopitstopitstopit12
      @stopitstopitstopit12 6 місяців тому +4

      IF ONLY THEY WERE A TINY BIT MORE DEDICATED THEY COULD HAVE PICKED ALL THE DEAD RODENTS OUT BEFORE THE FILM CREW SHOWED UP

  • @StimParavane
    @StimParavane 4 місяці тому

    Fascinating. Beautifully narrated too.

  • @idee7896
    @idee7896 9 місяців тому +2

    It’s amazing the extent of patience for sake of excellence.

  • @Phlegethon
    @Phlegethon 9 місяців тому +11

    9:10 guy wears a face mask 8:48 just dead mice casually laying there in your traditional Japanese sauce

  • @MishuuuTheWah
    @MishuuuTheWah 9 місяців тому +12

    This whole video hits different after noticing the two dead mice in one vat. @8:47

  • @jayveeangeles1965
    @jayveeangeles1965 9 місяців тому +1

    Very complicated process but the outcome is very impressive and excellent

  • @jaromir_kovar
    @jaromir_kovar 6 місяців тому +25

    I don't know whether the surface material in those aging vats will get into the final product and probably it won't, but I have to say that if those are dead mice at 8:47 it is more than just a bit off-putting.
    But I love the process, the obvious rarity of the sauce and the magic of waiting this long and then be blown away.

    • @finnisnotafish
      @finnisnotafish Місяць тому

      They probably dried out by now and are not a health risk from the sheer amount of salt at least

  • @voided5788
    @voided5788 9 місяців тому +40

    8:48 the 50 year soy sauce must really be something else with all the dead mice in it...

    • @alkaliaurange
      @alkaliaurange 9 місяців тому +1

      No shot... is that really mice hahaa

    • @chiangweytan5937
      @chiangweytan5937 9 місяців тому +1

      If you look hard enough, you'll see Christ in there as well... Holy Sauce...

    • @Nicc93
      @Nicc93 9 місяців тому +1

      just down the road you can buy dog for dinner aswell :)

    • @JoJo-ke5yz
      @JoJo-ke5yz 9 місяців тому +2

      Had to pause and go back to look. Those are for sure dead mice in there.

  • @DecrepitBiden
    @DecrepitBiden 9 місяців тому +41

    And here I thought Maggi soy sauce was expensive.😆

    • @blu0065
      @blu0065 9 місяців тому +7

      It's technically not soy based either. The Swiss sauce is supposed to be some kind of meat extract with herb flavoring.
      It's still very good and can be used in similar applications.

  • @justinelvisjr
    @justinelvisjr 9 місяців тому

    I was really impressed with the extraction method 👍👍👍

  • @Alster763
    @Alster763 3 місяці тому

    How incredible this is, I hope they can keep the company going longer.

  • @The_CIA
    @The_CIA 9 місяців тому +5

    *8:46** - There are dead mice on top.*

    • @tnlable
      @tnlable 9 місяців тому

      that makes the Jap sauce very expensive.

  • @EmmaBGames
    @EmmaBGames 9 місяців тому +4

    Wow, all this amazing hard work for a product that you have to believe the methodology of based on the people who did it before you and wrote it down!
    Imagine you spend 50 years of your life making soy sauce that you just have to hope will be the best.
    I have the utmost respect for crafts like this, such belief in tradition and honest hard work.

    • @barry1122
      @barry1122 2 місяці тому

      😂andd mice?? 8:48

  • @justanawkwarddude9035
    @justanawkwarddude9035 9 місяців тому +1

    I like how this guy asks the question on everyone’s mind “what would happen if I jumped in?”

  • @ChairmanMeow1
    @ChairmanMeow1 Місяць тому

    I love any artisnal product. Its so cool to watch the process, and people totally master a craft.

  • @tungrid
    @tungrid 9 місяців тому +3

    i'm might be wrong, but are those mices on top of the aged soy sauces at 8:47 ?

  • @Hugobside
    @Hugobside 4 місяці тому +6

    8:47 Those dead mice

  • @chlorineismyperfume
    @chlorineismyperfume 6 місяців тому

    That process is really amazing 👏 👏👏

  • @HermeticDawn17
    @HermeticDawn17 9 місяців тому +4

    Must be the mouses at 8:48 that gives it the unique flavoring 😂😅

  • @Phlegethon
    @Phlegethon 8 місяців тому +6

    Just because you spent a long time on it doesn't make it good. Also the 8:48 dead mouse in the sauce I can do without.

  • @SupraSav
    @SupraSav 6 місяців тому

    A little piece of Japanese history. I'm glad she decided to try and keep the family business going.

  • @yankeesharf
    @yankeesharf 8 місяців тому +2

    8:47 couple mice sacrificed themselves for that extra umami

  • @redline1916
    @redline1916 9 місяців тому +4

    8:47 we just gonna gloss over the fact there's just dead mice marinating releasing all that juicy flavor in there okay

  • @nerd26373
    @nerd26373 9 місяців тому +160

    Kamebishi is quite rare, which explains its hefty price tag. The whole process behind that may have costed a lot more that usual with making soy sauce.

    • @HowTheGodzChill
      @HowTheGodzChill 9 місяців тому +30

      Thanks, captain obvious

    • @yeuxdal
      @yeuxdal 9 місяців тому +13

      I’m sure that seemed smart in your head, before you watched the video and realized that’s what it explains. Obviously.

    • @bad3032
      @bad3032 9 місяців тому +1

      Einstein...

    • @ElysetheEevee
      @ElysetheEevee 9 місяців тому +3

      The video didn't explicitly state that the process costs more than the final product, people (to the dummies replying to this comment, specifically). The rarity is assumed given these videos' usual fare. Jesus, I swear there are so many "geniuses" here. 😒

    • @NoNORADon911
      @NoNORADon911 9 місяців тому +1

      Human skin flake sauce is not cheap.

  • @blackmamba3427
    @blackmamba3427 9 місяців тому

    Awesome video ❤

  • @jimmytam4600
    @jimmytam4600 Місяць тому

    This is just amazing. And my mind is blown. How do they come up with these processes in the first place? Just wow 😯

  • @YOURACHODEFACE
    @YOURACHODEFACE 3 місяці тому +5

    Did anyone notice the dead mice in the soy tank at 8:47 ?

    • @lenger1234
      @lenger1234 3 місяці тому +1

      Flavor enhancers

  • @ArthropodJay
    @ArthropodJay 9 місяців тому +4

    0:02 me after eating gluten

  • @slowbro1337
    @slowbro1337 3 місяці тому

    I wouldn't mind working a shift at KAMEBISHI its the kind of labor I enjoy for a product I love.

  • @genericasianperson6405
    @genericasianperson6405 9 місяців тому +2

    Intrusive thoughts almost won with that question of jumping into the soysauce

  • @knylande
    @knylande 9 місяців тому +6

    8:47 they even have plans to do a 50 year batch, and then pan to the batch that has at least 2 floating dead rats in it. Why leave them in there?!?!

    • @NativeAsElizabethWarren
      @NativeAsElizabethWarren 9 місяців тому +1

      Flavor 🤤

    • @goncalotavanez
      @goncalotavanez 9 місяців тому +1

      Because that's part of the natural process. The fermentation will catch up to the carcasses.
      Plus, that batch isn't going to be pressed, so it should be fine

    • @rosemiller417
      @rosemiller417 9 місяців тому

      Honesty Level 💯!
      But still, you know they gonna Film so just pick them out like others do!
      On such Occasions...
      Still Safe because Saltcontent and Heat after Bottling but still.😂

  • @LEECUDDIHY
    @LEECUDDIHY 9 місяців тому +3

    8:47 those are two dead mice on top of the fermented product, it in the same room as the guy stirring the soy, how did nobody catch this.

  • @nirajanrajbanshi823
    @nirajanrajbanshi823 9 місяців тому

    Finally her voiceover is back again 🤌

  • @moonectric5417
    @moonectric5417 9 місяців тому

    its amazing to think that people learned to make this stuff almost 300 years ago to today

    • @barry1122
      @barry1122 2 місяці тому +1

      😂300yrs.. 90% of food has been around that long.. 300 yrs is 1724.. France, Italy, China, Middle east, african, all long established..

  • @laurenlance8960
    @laurenlance8960 9 місяців тому +12

    I love how my soy sauce in the cupboard has a best by date that is about 1 year from the purchase date. In the meantime, they are purposely aging it for 20 years in open vats. I guess mine is just gaining value the longer it sits!

    • @iedaabdullah5743
      @iedaabdullah5743 9 місяців тому +4

      I don't think that would be the case as the fermentation already stopped

    • @MA-mh1vs
      @MA-mh1vs 9 місяців тому +4

      That soy sauce will last a lot longer than a year. I have some on the shelf that is about 7 yrs old.
      It is my emergency stash Lol and it is stout after so long. There is definitely some type of aging going on. It is very dark, you can't see through even a small amount in a bowl. It is thicker than the newer stuff (not as thick as the stuff in the video) and the flavor profile is completely different. It has a really rich umami flavor, far less salty with fruity notes and just a little hint of bitter. It is not like any soy sauce I have ever purchased.
      I seriously recommend sitting on a bottle for a few years. There should be no need to refrigerate it or anything, at least I have not done anything with mine but sit it on a shelf. So long as it does not grow mold you're good. I wish I could tell you exactly the point the flavor changed but I think about 2-3yrs and it just kept intensifying over time.

    • @mattia_carciola
      @mattia_carciola 9 місяців тому +1

      @@MA-mh1vs Ok, this bugged me for a few days, it's enough, I need answers:
      -Was it light soy sauce? Dark soy sauce? Another different kind?
      -Was it still sealed with the thinghy that you throw away when the bottle is opened or already opened and then just closed?
      -What brand was it?
      -Did it reduce over time?
      I'm seriously evaluating buying like 2-3 500ml bottles just for that purpose, maybe trying to see if something will change, what, how... 2-3? Maybe even more, damn, I could totally picture myself going insane over it and like trying different products, buying 1 bottle each every year for a while. After all 500ml is like 1.5-4€, so that would be like a no more than 20€/year dangerously interesting experiment. I can already picture myself in like 5 years, at the end of my PhD, with 25 different bottles.

    • @MA-mh1vs
      @MA-mh1vs 9 місяців тому +3

      @@mattia_carciola It is just the normal Kikkoman soy sauce. I got it from where I worked at the time, they got it in bulk so I transferred it into clean plastic bottles. Those bottles are like the ones the 16oz milks are in but I transferred a few into this bigger container that is a thicker opaque plastic that once had oil in it.
      I will note that the gallon of dark soy I bought came in an opaque plastic jug rather than a clear one. Since sunlight can degrade soy sauce I expect that is why the larger quantity was not in clear plastic. So using opaque plastic might be advisable as it may not give the same effect in clear plastic unless you keep it out of the light. Maybe try some in both.
      Based on what I have read with the soy sauce being unsealed and in plastic does allow for oxidation to occur and some degree of evaporation can occur through the plastic. In addition an online search says pasteurization of Kikkoman soy sauce kills 'most' of the vegetative cells. Those are the bacterium used in fermenting and most is not all. So I believe I am correct that some fermentation is also occurring in my soy sauce.

    • @Waghabond
      @Waghabond 4 місяці тому +1

      I've heard that the the expiry date is not the expiry date of the sauce, but rather the point at which the plastic bottle start to breakdown and leech carcinogens into the liquid.

  • @midnightfun1277
    @midnightfun1277 9 місяців тому +6

    This would be insane with sashimi. Considering how many dishes japanese cuisine has that are raw and utilizes soy sauce for flavor.

    • @techtutorial9050
      @techtutorial9050 9 місяців тому +1

      That’s probably what this soy sauce is primarily for

  • @emj602
    @emj602 7 місяців тому

    This reminds me of a Balsamic factory/museum I went to in Modena. Super amazing history and the balsamic we got there is the best balsamic I've ever had.

  • @f1ferrarifan1
    @f1ferrarifan1 3 місяці тому

    this is the most beautiful culinary art form possible. There are many is this is one of them.

  • @GarretGarlinger
    @GarretGarlinger 9 місяців тому +7

    Love it! Keep making the Soy sauce! I think it's amazing you have done it for 18 Generations! I have Great Respect for your family in that! From USA !

    • @barry1122
      @barry1122 2 місяці тому

      😂 the mice too?? 8:48

  • @AwesomeTehPwnder
    @AwesomeTehPwnder 9 місяців тому +102

    I kind of feel sorry for the current owner - in the way that she truly wanted to do something else with her life. I understand that Japanese culture has an emphasis on heritage and the preservation of family businesses, but hopefully she can find someone else to pass this business along to so she could move on to whatever lies next. The look in her eyes and the way her body language speaks is what's giving me this observation. Maybe I'm just talking out of my ass, though.

    • @only1_babybashfanpage
      @only1_babybashfanpage 9 місяців тому

      I hope you prefer investing over saving because investing saves lives

    • @kifacorea
      @kifacorea 9 місяців тому +33

      To be fair she said her father gave a her a clear choice. And she herself made it. Americans and other westerners are plenty "traditional" too.

    • @RandomAsianGuy95
      @RandomAsianGuy95 9 місяців тому +15

      ​@@only1_babybashfanpagewhat does this have to do with what he said?

    • @Aeybiseediy
      @Aeybiseediy 9 місяців тому +11

      She made the smart choice of continuing this ancient family business. Sometimes you have to go against your desire for something more niche and favorable and convenient. She might not even become successful if she pursue other careers due to insane competitive markets nowadays.

    • @stickyoxtail
      @stickyoxtail 9 місяців тому +16

      You extrapolated all that from her body language? Lol. I love UA-cam. Full of expert psychologists.

  • @alpineflauge909
    @alpineflauge909 9 місяців тому

    world class content

  • @crb2222
    @crb2222 Місяць тому

    Some of the music in the transitions reminds me of the great british bakeoff

  • @A.Edlacir
    @A.Edlacir 9 місяців тому +4

    2:18 I wonder if that steam has anti-aging properties akin to rice as a part of geishas’ beauty regimen [Beauty brand: Tatcha]
    If it does then I’d want to have a steamed soybean sauna

    • @iii1429
      @iii1429 9 місяців тому

      yes 8:47

  • @gaveintothedarkness
    @gaveintothedarkness 9 місяців тому +10

    ANYTHING BUSINESS INSIDER JAPAN: "It takes years to master putting the label on the bottle"

  • @ilab2bfit991
    @ilab2bfit991 9 місяців тому

    It's nice to see that the factory has never been affected by an earthquake..

  • @user-hl7ln9iq4t
    @user-hl7ln9iq4t 9 місяців тому +8

    Narrator: Soy sauce starts with its most basic ingredient: soy beans
    Video: shows barley...

    • @spastikman
      @spastikman 9 місяців тому +2

      Thank you, I felt like I was going crazy and couldn't see anyone else in the comments that noticed this

    • @ReimaruArt
      @ReimaruArt 9 місяців тому +1

      At that part of the video I was like "Why do the soybeans look like little coffee beans?"

  • @oamph
    @oamph 9 місяців тому +8

    Narrator's voice is so soothing..

    • @mattfillmore9849
      @mattfillmore9849 9 місяців тому +4

      Shes getting annoying

    • @bogusbits6810
      @bogusbits6810 9 місяців тому +1

      It would seem there is a basic economic reason for low sales. Does 20 year fermentation taste that much better than 10 year fermentation to the average consumer? Maybe there is a marketing strategy that needs review?

    • @anupdev5845
      @anupdev5845 9 місяців тому

      ​@@bogusbits6810Most people are price conscious considering the ridiculous cost of living these days. Anything aged that long will be crazy expensive because the maker has to charge money for all those years of waiting. So naturally there will be very less demand for it unless it's so incredible that it can literally turn turd into honey.

  • @meghalim5848
    @meghalim5848 9 місяців тому +1

    8:01 Producer’s intrusive thoughts begin emerging.

  • @Nick-xc4fy
    @Nick-xc4fy 7 місяців тому +1

    The Japanese have mastered the art of taking something that was fine (not perfect) but fine, and making it really expensive.

  • @SW-lw6mt
    @SW-lw6mt 9 місяців тому +5

    It's sad that our palates have become so homogenised by industrial food processes, most will never have the opportunity or inclination to taste the time it takes to make these wonderful foods.

    • @TheInfectous
      @TheInfectous 8 місяців тому +1

      More people will taste it now as compared to any other time in history. prior this type of stuff would've been reserved to royalty or the insanely rich. Now niche things have dedicated audiences of many thousands and realistically anyone living in a first world country has the ability to purchase it if they really want to.

    • @1000OtherFoxes
      @1000OtherFoxes 7 місяців тому +1

      "Tasting the time" I like that.

  • @cou804ntry6
    @cou804ntry6 9 місяців тому +7

    We gonna talk about how at 2:16 seconds you guys showed wheat barley I trusted business insider’s, but now I trust them less

    • @cheralynschmidt7824
      @cheralynschmidt7824 9 місяців тому

      Noticed that too! Thought it might be wheat since most soy sauce has it but looked pearled like barley. Good eye

    • @wombatillo
      @wombatillo 9 місяців тому

      Wheat and barley are different grains. Those were wheat berries, not barley and definitely not soy beans. I have no idea where the narrator got the idea that barley was anywhere in the factory? Do they actually say barley anywhere in the video in Japanese? The subtitles keep talking about wheat.

  • @sharkylal
    @sharkylal 9 місяців тому

    Good luck. I hope the business stays alive.

  • @VcentChips
    @VcentChips 9 місяців тому +3

    "What if i jump in here"
    Man let his intrusive thoughts win

  • @mistermister1813
    @mistermister1813 9 місяців тому +5

    I have tried a lot of luxury, expensive foods in my time. Most times the quality and taste do not justify the price.

    • @1spicatto
      @1spicatto 9 місяців тому +3

      honestly going from a $4 bottle of soy sauce to a $20 Bin Shoda is way more than enough for most people. Even then its only really meant for sashimi so you're screwed if you want more versatility.

  • @StinkySeaGoat
    @StinkySeaGoat 9 місяців тому

    Tradition is beautiful, especially in this case

  • @Pizzathyme117
    @Pizzathyme117 8 місяців тому +2

    I didn't have this brand, but I got a 20 year aged bottle of soy sauce a while back. Worth the money if you've got a little expendable income. It's not even a comparison to what we see in stores today.

    • @jazzfeline5970
      @jazzfeline5970 8 місяців тому +1

      You're paying to get dead rats in your soy sauce 8:47

    • @caav56
      @caav56 4 місяці тому

      @@jazzfeline5970 "Didn't have this brand"

  • @tonyrobinsonjr4741
    @tonyrobinsonjr4741 9 місяців тому +7

    I would buy a bottle of this to share with my daughter. We both love Japanese food, and I have always loved Japan. I started learning katakana and hiragana when I was 12, although Japanese is a hard language to learn for someone like me.

    • @jazzfeline5970
      @jazzfeline5970 8 місяців тому +1

      Hopefully you like a hint of dead rat flavor in your soy sauce, go to 8:47

  • @xanselmox
    @xanselmox 9 місяців тому +9

    Over the span of those 20 years how many cockroaches and rats drown and die in that mix?

    • @OG_BiggusDickus
      @OG_BiggusDickus 9 місяців тому

      Probably none, cleanliness in facilities like that is taken much more seriously in japan than in other countries, you would need to have a cockroach or rat infestation for any of them to end up in it at all. They're not making it in a nasty trash filled apartment, you probably consume more insects and rat bits.

    • @rozzi574
      @rozzi574 9 місяців тому +8

      8:48

    • @jascrandom9855
      @jascrandom9855 9 місяців тому

      This is Japan, so of course they keep it clean as F.

    • @MrTxalus
      @MrTxalus 9 місяців тому +3

      Shhh.. those are the secret ingredients!

    • @xanselmox
      @xanselmox 9 місяців тому +6

      @@rozzi574 Bro LOL I didn't even make it that far into the video to see that thank you for time stamping it! All these comments about cleanliness, clearly they didn't finish the video either! SEVERAL DEAD RATS LOL

  • @thomasnguyen3925
    @thomasnguyen3925 4 місяці тому +1

    I'm a respiratory therapist. When they mentioned "mold" and they were wearing no masks or regular surgical masks, it terrified me. Fungal infections are the WORST infections you can get.

  • @tuddle7174
    @tuddle7174 Місяць тому

    18 generations is crazy. That’s some true craftsman ship

  • @tyson145
    @tyson145 9 місяців тому +11

    Weird that soy sauce is "tanking" in sales.
    I love it, and in the last few years I've been adding it to soups, stews, pastas, and even marinade for meats.
    Perhaps it's phasing out from one group of people, and being enjoyed by another? Who knows!

    • @vipr1142
      @vipr1142 9 місяців тому +5

      I think people just buy the cheap ones

    • @timon20061995
      @timon20061995 7 місяців тому +4

      More like with this type of expensive soy sauce asian usually buy it for gift. And I don't think younger generation would interested in gifting soy sauce to their friends or co worker when you can get pretty package candy or electric product.

    • @timmorton8918
      @timmorton8918 4 місяці тому

      My guess is the 2 dead rats in the sauce shown at 8:48 left a.... bad taste... in a lot of peoples mouths

  • @MrMackievelli
    @MrMackievelli 9 місяців тому +12

    I saw a bug leg at about 8:06 of course if you are fermenting something in open air you will accumulate quite the collection of insects in your concoction. It probably adds to the complex flavors you get.

    • @halbschwabe
      @halbschwabe 9 місяців тому +11

      Wait another 41 seconds for even more "aroma" ;)

    • @newp0rt
      @newp0rt 9 місяців тому +3

      yeah i thought about that too. 20 years is a lot of random stuff that gets on top. strings, dirt, bugs, etc. but osmosis, heating, and filtering will obviously rid it of those.

    • @johntilghman
      @johntilghman 9 місяців тому +1

      Nope, that was just straw from the mats. But good on you for making me look for them.

    • @MrMackievelli
      @MrMackievelli 9 місяців тому +1

      @@johntilghman No, it's clearly a insect leg. Come on.

    • @rosemiller417
      @rosemiller417 9 місяців тому +4

      And several Mice!😂
      Nothing unusual in open Food production, but usually picked before Filming!
      High Saltcontent and Heat after Bottling making it safe.
      Just a, normally hidden, True.

  • @celianeher7637
    @celianeher7637 9 місяців тому

    The same can be applied to others such as vinegar.

  • @Vziera
    @Vziera 8 місяців тому +2

    8:48 RIP mices, the secret ingredient

  • @codyvanvoorhis6486
    @codyvanvoorhis6486 9 місяців тому +10

    I like that steaming the soy in a cold room will ruin the flavor but the dead mice floating in the vats won’t

  • @Kevin-oj2uo
    @Kevin-oj2uo 9 місяців тому +4

    Its mind blowing to me how they made this not just for profit but for the sake of creating a great product!

    • @glgina6
      @glgina6 8 місяців тому

      being known for having the best of a type of product does come with a kind of security

    • @mattw5840
      @mattw5840 4 місяці тому

      8:47 there's mice in that great product

  • @letsgoo4663
    @letsgoo4663 9 місяців тому

    They sneaked in the same prerecorded theme used by ‘the engineering guy’ at 1:08😄✌️