Sake Brands
in Ibaraki

"Yawara Sanmangoku" is a community-based Junmai sake born from a regional cooperation project with Tsukubamirai City (formerly Yawara Village). Using 100% sake rice "Gohyakumangoku" nurtured in the rich earth of Tsukubamirai City, Takemura Shuzoten brewed it with sincerity. It features a plump and rich taste where the umami of rice can be felt firmly. As a local specialty, it is loved by locals and is also popular as a return gift for hometown tax donation.

"Fujiryu" is the oldest traditional brand that has walked with the history of Takemura Shuzoten. The 7th head of the family named it by combining "Mt. Fuji," the symbol of Japan, and "Dragon," the symbol of strength. It has been familiar for many years as a daily evening drink centered on local Joso City. It features a refreshing taste that you will never tire of drinking, utilizing the original umami of rice. While staying close to changes in the times, it is a sake that can be said to be the origin of Takemura Shuzoten, continuing to protect the unchanging traditional taste.

"Kyo no Yume" is the flagship brand representing Takemura Shuzoten. It is an elegant brand with a literary origin, named from the essay "Kyo no Yume Osaka no Yume" after the 8th head of the family consulted with the great writer Junichiro Tanizaki. Expanding widely from Junmai sake to Daiginjo sake, it is brewed carefully using high-quality sake rice and water. It features an elegant mouthfeel where a rich scent and a deep taste harmonize even while being light and smooth. As a brand loved by sake fans widely as well as in local Ibaraki, it carries the signboard of Takemura Shuzoten.

"Ruri" is a premium brand newly established in 1991 (Heisei 3) that pursues particularly high quality among Takemura Shuzoten products. It was named after the gemstone Lapis Lazuli (Ruri). It is brewed without sparing time and effort, such as highly polishing carefully selected sake rice and fermenting slowly at low temperature. It features a gorgeous and elegant scent and a transparent and sophisticated taste. It is also popular as a gift, and is attracting attention as a sake that colors special days and as a brand symbolizing the new challenge of Takemura Shuzoten.

"Judai" is a brand that Aoki Shuzo brews for local Koga. While "Gokeiji" is a special sake suitable for celebratory occasions, it was named with the aim of being a sake that can be enjoyed more on a daily basis. It features a refreshing taste that you will never tire of drinking, close to the daily evening drinks of the locals. As a brewery rooted in the region, it is a simple and warm local sake that has walked with the food culture and life of Koga.

"Nisai no Kamoshi" is a project brand launched in 2014 by Chisa Aoki, Managing Director and Master Brewer of "Aoki Shuzo," with the desire to "convey the charm of sake to young people in their 20s." The brand name is derived from "Nisai (Two-year-old fish)," which is a success fish of the blue fish "Mullet," and contains the wish that young people will grow and succeed. Every year, young people in their 20s participate in sake brewing, creating a unique taste for that year. The fresh and juicy taste characterized by acidity is a sake quality that is easy to get close to for sake beginners and the younger generation.

"Shuroku" is a brand that was once brewed by Otsuka Shuzo. Meaning "excellent green," it was familiar as a sake nurtured in the nature-rich land of Bando. Currently, it remains as the name of a tourist facility, honoring its historical value and contribution to the region. Also, thanks to local enthusiasm, a reprinted version is brewed by Raifuku Shuzo, making it a rare brand that continues to be loved by people in the region even after the closure.

"Tsumugi Musume" is a traditional brand of Yuki Shuzo that has been loved for many years in the land of Yuki, known for Yuki Tsumugi. It is light and easy to drink, and is loved as a local sake essential for the evening drinks of local people. Overcoming the damage caused by the fire, they are currently protecting its taste through consignment brewing and other means. It features a delicate and warm taste like Yuki Tsumugi.

"Sakuragawa" is a brand that was once brewed by Horikawa Shuzoten. It was named after the cherry blossoms of Sakuragawa, which is also known as the stage for Noh songs and Kabuki. Using local rice and water, it was familiar as a sake that reflected the climate of this land. Although it has now become a phantom brand, its name has been handed down along with the history of Sakuragawa City.

"Tokai" is the representative brand of Muto Shurui Jozo that has been loved in the land of Kasama since the Edo period. It was named with the image of the rising morning sun vigorously, like "Kyokujitsu Shoten (Rising Sun)." Currently, the traditional taste is protected by consignment brewing at Meiri Shurui. Also known as the sacred sake (Omiki) of Kasama Inari Shrine, it features a taste where you can feel the umami of rice even in a refreshing dry taste.

"Futabasan Matsumidori" is the representative brand of Sasame Sobe Shoten, also known as the sacred sake of Kasama Inari Shrine. It is an auspicious name derived from Mount Futaba, located in the mountain range connecting the Nikko mountain range and Mount Tsukuba, and the lush green pines. Using the underground water of Mount Sashiro, it features "Harmony of Five Tastes" where sweetness, dryness, acidity, bitterness, and astringency are harmonious. It is a local sake with a deep taste that you will never tire of drinking, making you feel the history and tradition of Kasama.

"Sato no Homare" is the representative brand of Sudo Honke, a Junmai Daiginjo filled with tradition and innovation since its founding. Without carbon filtration, it seals in the fresh flavor just after pressing. It has won numerous awards in global competitions and is used in three-star restaurants overseas, making it a premium sake loved all over the world.

"Takimomiji" is a brand that was once brewed by Takita Shuzojo. With a beautiful name reminiscent of the elegant scene of waterfalls and autumn leaves, it was loved as a local sake of Mito. Although it has now become a phantom brand, its name is remembered along with the culture of Mito.

"Mitsuoogi" is a traditional brand that was once brewed by Takita Shuzojo. It is derived from the auspicious design of three folding fans overlapping, which symbolizes expanding prosperity (Suehirogari). As sake that colored the celebratory seats and daily dining tables of Mito, it was loved for a long time.

"Hyakusai" is a brand of long-aged sake brewed by Yoshikubo Shuzo. As the name suggests, it contains the wish to be "cheerful until 100 years old." It features a mellow taste and a rich aroma due to aging. It is an auspicious sake ideal for gifts on special days and longevity celebrations.

"SABA de SHU" is a sake dedicated to mackerel (Saba), unique to Ibaraki Prefecture, which boasts the largest landing volume of mackerel in Japan. By blending multiple sakes and intentionally increasing acidity and amino acids, it is finished with a taste that enhances umami while washing away mackerel fat. It is a unique and innovative sake where you can enjoy the best marriage with mackerel dishes.

"Ogurayama" is a brand named after the elegant name of "Ogurayama" in Kyoto, a poetic place name (Utamakura) also sung in Hyakunin Isshu. Brewed with Meiri Shurui's traditional skills, it features an elegant taste that you never get tired of drinking. It is a standard sake of Mito loved widely from daily evening drinks to gifts.

"Zuiho Shizan" is a brand with an elegant name that combines the auspicious bird "Zuiho" (Phoenix) and the mountain of "Purple," which is considered a noble color. Reflecting the careful brewing of Meiri Shurui, the elegant taste is attractive. It is a prestigious sake that is appreciated as a cup for celebratory days and also as a gift.

"Suifu Jiman" is a brand that bears the old name of Mito, "Suifu," and contains pride in the local area. Using "No. 10 Yeast (Ogawa Yeast)" developed by Meiri Shurui, it features a refreshing taste with low acidity and high aroma. It is a local sake that has been loved locally, making you feel the history and climate of Mito.

"Yukiyozuki" (Snowy Moon) is an innovative Daiginjo sake jointly developed by Meiri Shurui and "Yukihana Lamy," a VTuber belonging to Hololive. Born from "Lamy's Sake Brewing Project," it uses Meiri Shurui's unique M310 yeast and features a taste that maximizes the sweetness and umami of rice. It is a bottle evaluated worldwide, such as winning a Bronze Medal in the Daiginjo category at the IWC (International Wine Challenge) 2022.

"Kiuchi" is a carefully selected brand bearing the name of Kiuchi Shuzo. It is brewed using traditional skills and carefully selected ingredients. Features a taste that reflects careful sake brewing, which can be said to be the origin of Kiuchi Shuzo. Among Kiuchi Shuzo which develops various alcoholic beverages, it is a bottle that pursues the essence of sake.

"Mitsukuni" is the representative brand of Hiyama Shuzo, bearing the name of Tokugawa Mitsukuni (Mito Komon), who is related to Hitachiota. It is brewed near Seizan-so, where Lord Mitsukuni spent his later years. It features a mellow aroma and a rich and deep taste. It is a popular sake as a gift that makes you feel history and romance.

"Senhime" is a brand named after Senhime, the granddaughter of Tokugawa Ieyasu who lived a turbulent life. It is a sake unique to the place related to Senhime, who rests at Gugyo-ji Temple. Using Ibaraki Prefecture's original brewing rice "Hitachi Nishiki," it is finished with a mellow taste that makes use of the umami of rice. It is a sake with an elegant and gentle mouthfeel that is easy for women to drink.

"Asahi Masamune" is a traditional brand that Hiyama Shuzo has protected for many years. It was named with the wish for the momentum of "Kyokujitsu Shoten (Rising Sun)" and the sharpness like the famous sword "Masamune." It features a refreshing taste that you will never get tired of, which continues to be loved by the people of Hitachiota locally. It is an old-fashioned local sake that accompanies daily evening drinks.

"Hinodetsuru" is the representative brand of Isaka Shuzoten since its founding. It is a sake with a festive name combining "Sunrise" (Hinode) and "Crane" (Tsuru), which are very auspicious words for Japanese people. Sticking to rice and water of the Satomi district, it features a mellow taste that you never get tired of drinking. It is a local sake rooted in the community, indispensable for local people's celebratory seats and daily evening drinks.