Sake Brands
in Iwate

One of Tenpyo's brand lineup, characterized by a brand name evocative of a clear blue sky. Although it is no longer produced, it is recorded as part of the history of Iwate's sake culture.

Using "Shamrock," meaning the three-leaf clover which is the national flower of Ireland, as the brand name, it is loved as a sake that brings good luck. As one of Kikuzakari Shuzo's diverse lineups, it features unique naming and reliable sake quality.

"Rizovino," meaning "Rice Wine" in Italian, is a brand that reinterprets sake from a new perspective. Aiming for a sake quality that can be enjoyed like wine, it features product development that approaches sake beginners and younger generations.

The first brand launched after the 5th generation owner Takuya Fujimura took office, symbolizing the dawn of a new era for Kikuzakari Shuzo. Featuring an impactful name and highly artistic label design, it is developed as a highly rare product as a Junmai Daiginjo Genshu brewed in a limited quantity of one tank. With creative naming combining Buddhist terms and the modernity of electricity, it expresses the fusion of tradition and innovation.

A representative brand of Kikuzakari Shuzo, named after the masterpiece movie "Taxi Driver" starring Robert De Niro. Created through a collaboration with film magazine art director Yoshiki Takahashi, it attracted national attention with its impactful label design and reliable sake quality. Using Iwate Prefecture's edible rice "Kakehashi," it features a firm body and sharp taste. The sake quality is designed based on the concept of "sake delicious as warm sake," and the umami of rice stands out even more when warmed. Through a new approach of fusing subculture and sake, it is broadly supported by people other than traditional sake fans, and has become a main product supporting the reconstruction and development of Kikuzakari Shuzo.

A traditional brand bearing the name of the brewery, a sake that has been loved for a long time in the land of Kitakami. With a taste that matches the local food culture, it has the versatility to be enjoyed widely from daily dining tables to special occasions.

Using the traditional performing art "Onikenbai" handed down in Kitakami City, Iwate Prefecture, as the brand name, it expresses the culture and history of the region. It is a brand containing specific respect for the region and a powerful taste reminiscent of the brave dance.

A sake that expressed Iwate's literary climate by using Kenji Miyazawa's masterpiece "Kaze no Matasaburo" (Matasaburo of the Wind) as the brand name. By being brewed in Hanamaki, Kenji's hometown, it was loved as a brand linking the world of his works and regional characteristics.

A brand bearing the brewery's name, characterized by a name evoking the image of Iwate's clear sky and clouds. Through sake brewing rooted in the region, it was loved by many people.

A brand name imaging the figure of plovers flocking on the Rikuchu Coast, it is a sake nurtured by the nature of the Sanriku sea and Kitakami Mountains. Using underground water from Mt. Sennin in the Kitakami Mountains as brewing water, it features a gentle mouthfeel unique to soft water and a smooth drinking mouth. Centering on Iwate Prefecture's sake brewing rice "Yuinoka" and "Gin Ginga," they also use Yamada Nishiki and Miyama Nishiki, finishing with a well-balanced taste. Due to the sharp sweetness and sake quality that does not assert itself too much, it has excellent compatibility with fresh Sanriku seafood, especially sashimi and sushi. The "Yumehonami" series, which uses 100% "Gin Ginga" from the adjacent Otsuchi Town, is reputed to match fresh fish dishes with its crisp drinking mouth and faintly sweet scent. Loved as a true local sake with 90% of production consumed within Iwate Prefecture due to community-based sake brewing.

A series using "Sennin Hisui" (Hermit's Secret Water) gushing from 600m underground in the Kamaishi Mine, characterized by its mysterious name. The clear water pumped up from deep underground excels in mineral balance and brews a unique taste. It is a brand expressing mysticism and local history and culture by using the water of deep mountains where the legend that hermits live remains. Among Hamachidori's diverse lineups, it is positioned as a product showing a commitment to special water.

A representative brand brewed by the only brewery in Miyako City, featuring a clear taste using spring water that has been protected for 150 years. The clear sake quality without off-flavors has excellent compatibility with Sanriku seafood, especially coastal cuisine. It has a diverse lineup such as Junmai Sake, Yamahai Moto Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Ginjo, each brewed with careful sake brewing. Through the techniques of Toji Katsutoshi Tsujimura, who was selected as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman," sake brewing fusing traditional manufacturing methods and modern quality control is carried out. The history of achieving reconstruction from the Great East Japan Earthquake and rebuilding the brewery at the same location tells of strong feelings for the region and passion for sake culture. It is a sake representing Sanriku, walking together with the sea of Miyako.

A brand using water from Ryusendo Cave, one of Japan's three major limestone caves, where the clear water of the underground lake boasting world-class transparency is the core of sake brewing. The water gushing out through limestone layers has been selected as one of Japan's 100 Best Waters and brews a unique taste with excellent mineral balance. Special Junmai sake stored and aged for one year inside Ryusendo Cave finishes with a mellow yet sharp taste due to the environment of a constant temperature of about 10 degrees throughout the year. Its versatility to match widely from sashimi to rich meat dishes is attractive. Junmai Daiginjo "Yuinoka" has received high international acclaim, including winning the Gold Medal at the French sake competition "Kura Master." It is a sake representing Iwaizumi Town, where the mystery of nature called Ryusendo Cave and Iwate's sake brewing technology are fused.

A region-limited brand loved in the land of Tono since its founding, it is a sake expressing the climate of Tono, the home of folklore. "Kokka no Kaori" Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki has received high international acclaim, winning a Trophy at IWC 2020 and receiving an award at the U.S. National Sake Appraisal. Using Tono's clear water and Iwate Prefecture's sake brewing rice, it features a deep taste brewed by Nanbu Toji traditional techniques. Through community-based sake brewing, it is loved as a brand that harmonizes with Tono's food culture and the worldview of folklore.

A brand expressing the feminine gentleness of Tono, characterized by a soft mouthfeel and gentle taste. It is loved in the region as a sake nurtured by Tono's nature and culture.

A brand with the motif of the Kappa legend appearing in "Tono Monogatari" (Tales of Tono), expressing Tono's folklore culture with sake. Commercializing the old tale that a Kappa stole and drank human's sake, it is also popular with tourists as a sake with a story nature typical of Tono. It is a brand rich in regional characteristics where the cultural background of Tono, the home of folklore, and the sake brewing technology of Kamihei Shuzo are fused.

An unfiltered, unpasteurized raw Doburoku brewed only with water, rice, and rice koji, utilizing "Tono No. 1" rice (a variety with Kameno-o as a parent variety) cultivated without pesticides suited to Tono's climate. The White Label features strong sparkling properties and a refreshing, sharp aftertaste, while the Black Label allows enjoyment of rich body and deep taste through aging. It is a rare Doburoku handmade in a small-scale facility called a Minshuku (Guest House), embodying Tono's nature and food culture. It matches well with Tono's local cuisine enjoyed at the sunken hearth, and sake brewing integrated with the local food culture is attractive.

A raw Doburoku with 14% alcohol content using Koshihikari from Tochigi Prefecture, it is a standard product of Minshuku Tono. The brand name contains the meaning of "Promote (Shinko) the hometown and exhaust the luxury (Zei) of agriculture (No)," expressing thoughts for the region and respect for agriculture. It is loved by visitors as a Doburoku where you can feel the warmth of handmade and the climate of Tono.

A brand bearing the brewery's name, characterized by a name evoking the mountains of Iwate. It was loved through sake brewing rooted in the region, but it is currently not produced.

A brand bearing the name of the founder, Yoemon Kawamura, it is a brand newly launched by the current generation. With a lineup centered on Junmai sake, it takes the form of limited distribution restricted to special contract stores. Characterized by a powerful taste and good sharpness due to Nanbu Toji traditional manufacturing methods, it is loved in the region as local sake of Ishidoriya. The rarity that only Wakaba Saketen handles it within Hanamaki City is also one of its attractions.