Sake Brands
in Ibaraki

"Raifuku" is the representative brand of Raifuku Shuzo, which has been in business for over 300 years. The brand name has the auspicious meaning of "good fortune comes," and contains the wish to deliver happiness to those who drink it. The biggest feature is the use of natural flower yeasts isolated and cultured in-house. By combining flower yeasts such as rambling rose, begonia, and Dianthus superbus with carefully selected suitable rice, they realize gorgeous scents and unique, deep tastes not found in conventional sake. It is highly popular for celebratory occasions and as gifts, and has won many awards in domestic and international liquor competitions due to its high quality. It is an evolving sake that always continues to challenge new possibilities.

"Fuji Taikan" is a traditional brand of Morishima Shuzo known for being loved by Yokoyama Taikan, a master of modern Japanese painting. It was named "Taikan" in 1953 because the painter had a friendship with the brewery when he lived in Izura. On the occasion of the 150th anniversary of its founding, the name was renewed to "Fuji Taikan" because Taikan liked to paint Mt. Fuji and it is a symbol of being the best in Japan. Overlapping the artistry of the painter and Japanese aesthetics with sake, it features a dignified aroma and a rich taste. It is one of the brands representing Ibaraki, conveying tradition and prestige created by more than 150 years of history.

"Shiragiku" is a traditional representative brand that has protected Hirose Shoten since its founding in the second year of Bunka (1805). It is brewed utilizing the high-quality brewing water of the Mt. Tsukuba water system and the cold climate of the region. Characterized by strong acidity and a rich, mellow taste, it combines umami and body that you will not get tired of drinking. It has been loved for many years as a "versatile sake" that can be enjoyed at any temperature from chilled to hot. With a solid body and firm acidity, it is a brand that continues to pursue the ideal form of sake that accompanies meals and richly colors the daily dining table.

"Kiritsukuba" is the representative brand of Urazato Shuzoten, a local sake brewed in Tsukuba City at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba. The brand name comes from the mist (kiri) that hangs over Mt. Tsukuba, and is deeply rooted in the natural environment of this region. It features a light, dry, and refreshing taste that enhances meals, and is consumed at a very high rate locally, making it a familiar brand rooted in the region. It is a brand fully developed by the 5th generation brewery head, Koji Urazato, and aims for sake brewing that expresses the climate of Tsukuba. Using underground water from Mt. Tsukuba and brewing taking advantage of the local climate, it is known as a "true local sake" with more than 90% consumed within Ibaraki Prefecture. Pursuing ease of drinking as a sake during meals, they finish it with a balanced sake quality that allows you to feel the original umami of rice while enhancing the taste of the dish. As a brand that walks with Tsukuba's food culture, it continues to be loved by locals.

"Asahizakura" is the signature brand of Kahoku Shuzo, founded in 1896. It was named after the beauty of cherry blossoms blooming along the Asahi River, which used to flow near the brewery, shining in the morning sun. It use the fresh underground water of the Kuji River in Daigo-machi, famous for "Fukuroda Falls," one of Japan's three major waterfalls. The drastic temperature difference unique to the basin brings deep flavor and sharpness to the sake. While it is crisp and dry (Danrei Karakuchi), it features a fruity umami and good balance nurtured by aging. It is a handmade masterpiece full of passion, nurtured by the rich nature of Okukuji and more than 100 years of history.

"Gokeiji" is the representative brand of Aoki Shuzo, meaning "the greatest joy" just as the name implies. It was named by the 3rd head of the family in commemoration of the wedding of Emperor Taisho. While inheriting the tradition since its establishment, they incorporate modern technology and pursue high-quality sake brewing. Junmai Ginjo using Ibaraki's sake brewing suitable rice "Hitachi Nishiki" has received high praise for its gorgeous scent and plump taste. It is familiar not only as a sake that colors the seat of celebration but also as a sake during meals that enhances the meal.

"Buyu" is the only brand of Buyu that continues to be loved in the land of Yuki. Beyond the framework of dry and clear (Tanrei Karakuchi), it features a sake quality that emphasizes umami and richness due to aging. They practice careful brewing by hand, such as highly polishing carefully selected sake brewing suitable rice and using the box koji method (Hako Koji Ho) for koji making. From the taste that is clear when chilled to the mellow umami that spreads when warmed, it is a sake during meals that you will never tire of drinking, showing various expressions depending on the temperature range.

"Fukushogun" is the representative brand of Meiri Shurui, named after Tokugawa Mitsukuni, popularly known as Mito Komon. It is brewed with the skills of Nanbu Toji, using "Ogawa Yeast" originated from Meiri Shurui and carefully selected brewing rice. Characterized by a gorgeous aroma and a light taste, it is a talented sake that has won numerous gold medals at appraisals.

"Wataribune" is a representative and innovative brand of Fuchu Homare, brewed by reviving the phantom sake rice "Tankan Wataribune." This rice, which is the parent line of "Yamada Nishiki," had once ceased cultivation, but the brewery revived it from a few seeds. It features a multi-layered and rich taste unique to this rice and a gorgeous aroma like fruit. Highly evaluated both in Japan and overseas, it is a one-and-only gem that makes you feel the historical romance and terroir of sake.

"Inasato" is a brand used since the founding, derived from the place name "Inada" where the brewery is located. "Inada" is named after the fact that it was originally called "Ina no Sato (Village of Rice)." It is a brand that embodies "Sake that tastes and smells like rice, sake that is like sake" aimed by Isokura Shuzo. As sake that accompanies the daily lives of local people, it continues to be loved during festivals and at the daily dining table.

"Ippin" is the representative brand of Yoshikubo Shuzo, brewed with famous water related to the Mito domain. As the name suggests, it was named with the aim of being an "Ippin (One Item/Masterpiece)" sticking to quality. The dry and clear refreshing taste goes perfectly with local dishes. It has been highly evaluated in domestic and international competitions and is widely familiar as a local sake representing Mito.

"Fukugokoro" is a brand with a history of more than 140 years, brewed by Shiina Shuzoten, founded in 1877 (10th year of Meiji). In an environment surrounded by the mountains of Okukuji in Juo-machi Takahara, Hitachi City, they continue careful handmade brewing through small-scale production. The brand name was coined by taking one character each from the names of the founder, Tomizo, and the mother of the 4th generation, Wakuri, with the wish for "sake brewed with heart (Gokoro)." The philosophy of sake brewing with family bonds and sincerity resides in the name. Using fresh spring water that gushes from the brewery's premises as brewing water, it features a fruity aroma, the umami of rice, and a delicate and simple taste. It is a rare local sake that has been carefully nurtured by local people, with almost all production consumed within Ibaraki Prefecture.

"Kuji no Yama" is a brand that symbolizes history and tradition, brewed for over 400 years by Nemoto Shuzo, founded in 1603. The name embodies respect for the grand nature of Okukuji and the wish for unwavering quality. It is created through the trinity of the "Goshinsui" (sacred water) of Komagata Shrine, which is famous as excellent water, carefully selected sake rice nurtured by the fertile land, and the skills of master brewers. Featuring a crisp mouthfeel with rich umami spreading through (Danrei Karakuchi), it has colored the banquets and daily moments of local people for many years. It is a masterpiece with tradition and prestige that tells the history of sake brewing in Ibaraki.

"Yui" is a brand launched by Michiko Urasato, a young female master brewer of Yuki Shuzo. Just as the character implies connecting "Good Fortune (Kichi)" with "Thread (Ito)," it contains the wish to connect people with people and the region with people through sake. Although they suffered the difficulty of the brewery being destroyed by fire in 2022, they are currently continuing sake brewing with the cooperation of Michizakura Shuzo in Hokkaido and Raifuku Shuzo in Ibaraki Prefecture. It features a plump taste and beautiful acidity, and is a sake of hope that continues to evolve even in adversity.

"Taiheikai (Pacific Ocean)" is a brand brewed by Fuchu Homare with the theme of cuddling up to Japan's four seasons. It expresses both the blessings of the sea of Ibaraki facing the Pacific Ocean and the rich fruits of the inland areas. It has a lineup that values seasonal tastes, such as sparkling in summer, origarami (cloudy) in spring, and unfiltered in winter. Considering the compatibility with seasonal ingredients first, the gentle and sharp sake quality that does not make you tired of drinking as a sake during meals is attractive.

"Matsuzakari" is a traditional brand representing Okabe Gomei. It was named with the wish that "the family business will prosper for generations to come, just as pine trees grow thick and lush." Its quality is highly evaluated, having won the gold medal many times at the National New Sake Appraising and Deliberating Fair. It is one of the famous sakes representing Ibaraki, where a rich aroma and deep umami of rice are in harmony.

"Aiyu" is a traditional brand bearing the name of the brewery, inheriting the spirit since its founding. As taught by "Shikai-kai-kyodai," it contains the wish to expand the circle of friendship through sake. It features a refreshing dry taste that utilizes the blessings of Kashima's water and earth. It is a sake ideal for daily evening drinks that you never get tired of drinking and easy to match with any dish.

"Morishima" is a new brand launched in 2019 (the first year of Reiwa) by Morishima Shuzo, founded in 1869. Bearing the name of the 6th generation owner, Shoichiro Morishima, it is brewed in a seaside brewery just steps from the Pacific Ocean with the motto of "Fresh, Light, and Transparent." It features a beautiful transparency that complements meals, a moderate acidity that resets the palate, and a refreshing sharpness with sweetness suppressed to the limit. As a "sake of the sea" that harmonizes perfectly with the rich seafood of Hitachi, it is a brand that pursues a new standard for sake and is attracting great attention both in Japan and overseas.

"Tsumugibijin" is the representative brand of Nomura Jozo, and has been loved in the local Joso City since its founding in 1897. The brand name was named after the image of a beautiful woman who looks good in a kimono made of "Yuki Tsumugi," a local specialty of this region. Using rich soft water from the Kinugawa River and carefully selected high-quality rice, they insist on careful hand-made methods. It features a plump scent and a soft mouthfeel with a sharp taste, realizing a sake quality that you will never get tired of drinking. It is highly evaluated internationally, such as winning a gold medal at "Kura Master" in France. It goes well with meals and is familiar as a sake that colors the daily dining table.

"Toku Masamune" is a local sake that has been loved by people in the region since its establishment in Ansei 2 as the representative brand of Hagiwara Shuzo. It was named after "Sake Toku" in a Chinese historical event. Using the mellow water of the Tone River system as brewing water, it is brewed with rice from local Ibaraki and traditional skills. It features a rich scent and a rich taste where the umami of rice can be felt firmly. As a sake that accompanies various scenes of life from daily evening drinks to sunny days, it is rooted in the food culture of Sakai Town.

"SEN" is an innovative brand by Hirose Shoten that embodies the concept of "Ippo Isshu" (one field, one sake). It is an initiative that pursues the terroir of the land to the limit by using only rice harvested from a specific single rice field. By sticking to rice from a single farmer and a single field, it purely expresses the climate and soil characteristics of that year. It has received high praise as a new style of enjoying the individuality of the "field" like wine, transcending the conventional concept of sake. It features a fruity and rich taste and sake brewing that maximizes the different expressions of rice each year.

"Kikusakari" is the founding brand of Kiuchi Shuzo. Its name was given by Fujita Toko, a Confucian scholar of the Mito domain, with the wish that "the country will prosper just as chrysanthemums bloom in full glory." Using carefully selected brewing rice, it is carefully brewed by hand. It is a sake with a gorgeous and mellow taste that symbolizes the history and tradition of Kiuchi Shuzo.

"Shuroku" is a brand revived and inherited by Raifuku Shuzo from the brand of Otsuka Shuzo, which used to be in Bando City. In cooperation with Bando City, they revived the famous sake that disappeared while being regretted by locals to the present day. Its quality is highly evaluated internationally, such as winning the Grand Prix at the U.S. National Sake Appraisal. It features a gorgeous scent using flower yeast and a rich taste utilizing the umami of rice. It is a significant brand that protects regional heritage and connects it to the next generation, and is loved again by people in the region centered on Bando City.

"Fuchu Homare" is a brand that bears the history and pride of the region, brewed by a long-established brewery founded in the first year of Ansei (1854). "Fuchu" is the old name for Ishioka, where the provincial capital of Hitachi was located. In the land of Ishioka, called "Nada of Kanto," it is brewed with high-quality groundwater from the "Fuchu Rokui" system, famous water of Ishioka, protecting traditional tools and methods inherited for generations. It features a full-bodied and fragrant taste, filled with the blessings of nature at the foot of Mt. Tsukuba and the passion of the brewers.