Snowy beer party

Saturday, March 7th. The temperature was 6°C. In the pouring rain mixed with snow, about 200 runners led by Osako Suguru returned.  After a light jog around Futako Tamagawa, beer flows one after the other into their dry throats. That beer is the hero of this party. “Hashiru Ale” is a craft beer that the Saltz team developed in collaboration with Yellow Monkey Brewing. It took about a year to conceive and develop based on the concept of “a beer that runners want to drink after a run.” Fermented and aged using only wine yeast, it has a fruity aroma but also a refreshing, clean aftertaste. It has a refreshing and clean aftertaste, making it the perfect drink to have after a run. (Even though it is easy to drink, be careful not to drink too much.)

Running, beer and music session

As we were enjoying a healthy and delicious meal of Hasiru Ale and tens., suddenly the deep, deep sounds of a up-light bass started to play. A live performance by a jazz band consisting of three people on bass, drums, and keyboard began. They usually perform in a band called SAI, and their swinging performance makes the runners’ shoulders shake whether they like it or not.Rapper NAGANSARVER then joined in for a special session just for that day. During an impromptu microphone performance, the lyrics that came out of his mouth, “I think there is my own rhythm when I run, so cherish that rhythm,” connected runners and music as one.

After the jazz band finishes their performance, a young man with an acoustic guitar takes to the stage. He is singer-songwriter,  Furudate Yutaro.As he strummed his guitar and sang at the top of his lungs, the runners who had been chatting away held their breath and listened intently.At one point, Hiroki Goto (ex. andymori) joined in on cajon and chorus, and Saltz member Kohei Adachi joined in on bass, which naturally got the audience’s heart rates rising.

A heated rock-paper-scissors tournament

Once the runners’ bodies had warmed up from the beer and music session, an unscheduled rock-paper-scissors tournament began.The prize is the hoodie that Osako was wearing.However, an unexpected incident occurred in which Osako defeated the remaining three with one blow.Once again, Osako showed his competitive spirit, and the crowd became more excited than ever that day.

The beer that keeps updating

Finally, the party concluded with these words from Suguru Osako

“This time’s Hashiru Ale is prototype 1. We plan to continue updating it from now on.

See you next time with prototype 2.” This beer is truly one that overlaps with his competitive career, in which he strives to reach new heights while engaging in sessions with his teammates.

As I left the venue, clutching a souvenir beer and listening to DJ Sudo play Bakufu Slump’s Runner, I noticed that it was suddenly snowing heavily outside.

Text: Chino Yamaguchi

Photo: Shota Matsumoto