11th November 2011

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When In Doubt, Put Some Wine Out (The Drops of God)

“Wine does not live in a vac­uum and it is sampled and savoured in the con­text of our life experiences.”

While shonen manga is the mainstream genre of manga, there’s one manga that has gone beyond mainstream & plays a direct effect on reality itself. The trio of Tadashi Agi (the pen name for the brother & sister duo, Yuko and Shin Kibayashi) & Shu Okimoto have created a title that can decide the fate of one of the oldest drinks known to man, wine. The Drops of God (“Kami no Shizuku” in Japan or “Les Gouttes de Dieu” in French) has been a mainstay in the wine world since its debut in Kodansha’s Weekly Morning back in 2002. The manga is a great example of how wine plays a huge effect on the people who are enthusiastic about it.

The story of this fascinating tale revolves around a young man named Shizuku Kanzaki, who is trying to gain the inheritance of his late father, Yutaka Kanzaki. In order to do so, Shizuku has to find & name thirteen different wines that are of great significance. The first 12 wines are known simply as the “Twelve Apostles”, while the 13th wine is the Holy Grail, the “Drops of God”. Standing in Shizuku’s way is Issei Tomine, a popular wine critic who just happens to be a second “son” to Yutaka. Shizuku is not a wine drinker, but goes forth in exploring the world of wine & using his great senses to become the “god” of the Kanzaki family. You can say that The Drops of God is a “wine battle manga”. Naruto vs. Sasuke has nothing on Shizuku vs. Issei.

Out of all the alcoholic drinks out there, wine seems to be the one drink that truly brings people together. Wine stimulates conversations and enriches your soul. It is also noted that wine can spark creativity. The manga even notes that the original purpose of wine is for it to be shared with others during meals. All of these benefits can lead to improved social status in reality. The health benefits cannot be ignored as well as wine can be considered a form of medicine. 

Even though wine is such a powerful tool for networking, it seems that American young adult culture is still quite fascinated with other alcoholic drinks. The manga has grabbed hold of the Asian & European wine markets, which has led to a new wave of young wine enthusiasts. In America, a majority of young adults are caught up with beer, gin, whiskey, vodka, etc. Even if they do drink wine, it is mostly due to it being associated with a celebrity. Perhaps it’s the grown-up & sophisticated image that wine portrays. With regards to the character of Shizuku, he is young and sells beer for a living. Shizuku was at first very reluctant to try wine, but his father trained him during childhood relentlessly to be a wine enthusiast (much to Shizuku’s displeasure). Maybe it would help if there were some more great, yet casual, education about the intricacies of wine towards young people. Or better yet, show them the manga. 

Possible poster boy for young wine enthusiasts everywhere?

There are a couple of things that I appreciate the series is trying to educate people on: the sense of taste & smell. Your senses can be taken for granted at times. They help to experience mindfulness and can make you feel very alive. Treasure the pleasant aroma that travels through your nasal passages and savor the amazing flavors in your mouth. You never know what good things could come when you pay attention to your senses.

“The Drops of God” has a great chance of being a big hit in North America and hopefully encourage more young adults to enjoy wine. So much passion & effort goes into making wine and winemakers’ efforts can be reflected in their products. It’s similar to a Japanese swordmaker making a blade that reflects its potential user’s soul.

Wine is truly one of the gems that has BOTH style & substance, wouldn’t you agree? 

Tagged: Kami no ShizukuKodansha PublishingLes Gouttes de DieuShu OkimotoTadashi AgiThe Drops of GodVertical Inc.manga psychologypsychology of wineseinen mangawine culture