Self-service booze in the Far East!

It's  no secret that I enjoy an occasional alcoholic beverage, as does most of Japan, a country not being burdened by the cultural/religious baggage hauled to north america by Puritan fundamentalists. That being said, I enjoy exploring our new area in quest of old favorites and new experiences in the bacchanalian millieu.

Yesterday when we were out I spotted a rather large liquor shop near the Bullet Train Station in Shimonoseki. I entered with doubts since the last 2 weeks had turned up nothing of consequence. My fears were rapidly quelled by a view that reminded me of a "Liquor Barn" I used to frequent in Pacific Grove, California, on a much smaller scale of course.

I was quite pleased to find that they not only carried my favorite solera rum "Zacapa", but a wide variety of other imports. in fact the best selection I've seen in Japan to date.

Heading to the cash register with the last bottle of "Santa Teresa 1796" solera rum, I notice two very large earthenware casks against the wall. As you can see from the picture they provide the customer with a choice of either sweet potato(left) or wheat(right) spirits called shochu in Japanese. They provide the customer with self-service "hooch" in varying sized plastic bottles. I'm not clear on re-cycling the bottles, but they supply bottles in four different sizes.
Purist claim that the shochu from these casks tastes better as it continues the aging process until the time of purchase, thus making it better than the already bottled booze.
I contented myself with the previously mentioned rum and took some pictures while my mother-in-law commented that I took photos of everything, needless to say, but I will anyway, I'll be heading back there once my bicycle situation gets settled for a small bottle of each; just to see if the purists are right and to spin the Puritans in their graves.

It's been 2 weeks since we moved here from the mouth of Tokyo Bay and we've seen almost nothing but rain. Not having a car really cramped our style there because of the lack of public transportation and crap taxi service. Here we have bus, train, and convenient taxis which don't charge you just to come pick you up. 
If and when the rainy season ends, I'm looking forward to getting a bus pass that allows me to ride all that I please for 3 months; plus I can ride the highway bus to Fukuoka for 1/2 price.
Last night we ordered in very reasonable sushi, which we never did in the previous place because it was "nutso" expensive. The same delivery service also brings a variety of pizzas and other "tsumami", drinking snacks.
The picture here shows how rainy it gets, but what it doesn't show is that this picture was impossible from our other house in minami boso area because, for some strange reason, they seem to insist on frosted windows that you can't see out of without opening to the elements. It's representative of how closed off they are there, personally and geographically.