Sake Brands
in Kagawa

Kinryo is the representative brand of Nishino Kinryo continuing from the Edo period, a historic name derived from the ancient capital of China, Nanjing (Kinryo). With the concept of 'Sake that matches Sanuki food', they pursue a gentle aroma, a light drinking mouth, and a sharp aftertaste. It is characterized by sake quality design that considers compatibility with local food culture first, such as Sanuki udon and fresh seafood of Setouchi. Fusing traditional techniques cultivated over a long history and modern quality control, they continue to provide stable high-quality sake. It is a brand of peace of mind and trust that continues to be widely loved locally in Kagawa Prefecture and can be enjoyed in a wide range of scenes from daily drinking to gifts.

Kin Ebisu is a Honjozo sake manufactured by Nishino Kinryo, filled with the wish to be a friendly sake that brings good fortune like Ebisu (God of Fortune). As a daily sake that can be enjoyed at an affordable price, it is familiar locally in Kagawa Prefecture. With a refreshing Tanrei Karakuchi (light and dry) taste, it can be enjoyed in a wide range of temperatures from cold sake to hot sake. Especially when heated, the umami of rice stands out, and compatibility with dishes becomes even better. It is a standard bottle that supports local dining tables with a taste that you will not get tired of drinking, nestling close to daily evening drinks, and friendly pricing.

Homare Gaijin is a prestigious brand manufactured by Maruo Honten combining 'Homare' (honor/glory) and 'Gaijin'. By adding 'Homare' to 'Gaijin', which was named to commemorate the victory of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars, it expresses a more honorable victory. It is brewed with a thoroughly particular manufacturing method of small production using traditional Japanese cauldrons and wooden steamers, all-volume non-filtration, and carbon-free filtration. Representative Director Tadaoki Maruo himself serves as the master brewer, expressing the characteristics of Gaijin, such as rich and heavy taste, strong acidity, and sharp aftertaste, in a more sophisticated form. As a high-grade product such as Junmai Ginjo, it is positioned as a particularly prestigious brand in the Gaijin series. It is a brand where the philosophy of Maruo Honten, which sticks to traditional manufacturing methods and tools and carries out uncompromising sake brewing, is expressed in the highest dimension.

Yorokobi Gaijin is the main brand of Maruo Honten, a historic brand expressing the joy of victory in the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars, combining 'Yorokobi' (joy) and 'Gaijin'. At the time of its founding in 1885 (Meiji 18), it was named when the Maruo family inherited the sake brewing business from Sataro Hasegawa, who rebuilt the large embankment of Sanuki Manno-ike Pond at his own expense. Small production of 400-500 koku per year is carried out carefully with traditional Japanese cauldrons and wooden steamers, and they stick to a thorough commitment to all-volume non-filtration and carbon-free filtration. More than 70% of the production volume is unfiltered unpasteurized sake, characterized by a rich and heavy taste, strong acidity, and a sharp aftertaste. Due to the thorough commitment to using only one type of rice for one tank, it produces a unique and powerful taste. Representative Director Tadaoki Maruo himself serves as the master brewer, directing small production while protecting traditional manufacturing methods. Due to limited production, it is difficult to obtain and boasts high popularity both inside and outside the prefecture. Surrounded by the historic town of Kotohira and cultural heritages such as Kotohira-gu Shrine and Kanamaru-za, it is a unique brand representing Kagawa Prefecture that continues to stick to traditional manufacturing methods and tools.

Gaijin is a brand symbolizing the sake brewing of Maruo Honten, named 'Gaijin' (army returning in victory) to commemorate the victory of the Sino-Japanese and Russo-Japanese Wars. Used as an abbreviation for 'Yorokobi Gaijin' or as a brand name referring to the entire series, it embodies the philosophy of sake brewing of Maruo Honten. The characteristics of the Gaijin series, such as small production using traditional Japanese cauldrons and wooden steamers, thorough commitment to all-volume non-filtration and carbon-free filtration, and rich and heavy taste, are condensed. Using only one type of rice for one tank, it produces a unique and powerful taste with strong acidity and sharp aftertaste. It is a symbolic brand of uncompromising sake brewing where Representative Director Tadaoki Maruo himself serves as the master brewer and directs small production while protecting traditional manufacturing methods. It is a brand that expresses the identity of Maruo Honten, where the historical background of the victory in the Meiji era, the cultural town of Kotohira, and the commitment to traditional manufacturing methods act in unison.

Kotohiki Masamune is a brand manufactured by Kawatsuru Shuzo, derived from 'Kotohiki Park', a scenic spot in Kanonji City. Kotohiki Park has Kotohiki Hachiman-gu Shrine, famous for the sand painting of 'Kanei Tsuho', and is known as a tourist attraction representing Kanonji City. By combining 'Kotohiki', an elegant name, with 'Masamune', it expresses regional characteristics and the traditional status of sake. Using the underground underflow water of the Saita River and high-quality Sanuki rice from Kagawa Prefecture, they practice sake brewing rooted in Kanonji City. By crowning the brand name with a local scenic spot, it expresses pride and attachment to the land of Kanonji City and is a brand that fuses local culture and sake culture. It is a brand symbolizing Kawatsuru Shuzo's community-based sake brewing, loved by Kanonji citizens for many years and embodying local history and culture.

Sanbi is a limited planning sake with the meaning of 'praising Sanuki beautifully' manufactured by Kawatsuru Shuzo in cooperation with 12 liquor stores in Kagawa Prefecture. This project, which started in 2000 AD, is attracting attention as a good example of community-based sake brewing where local liquor stores and breweries cooperate, sticking consistently from rice growing to brewing and sales. From the brewing of the 2014 fiscal year, they use Yamada Nishiki made by contract farmers in the Tanono district, a mountainous area of Kanonji, and stick to locally grown rice. Manufactured as unfiltered unpasteurized sake, it is characterized by a powerful sake quality maximizing the umami of rice. By the combination of the underground underflow water of the Saita River and locally contract-cultivated Yamada Nishiki, they realize a taste expressing the natural features of Sanuki. It is a brand embodying community-cooperative sake brewing, expressing the beauty of Sanuki with sake throughout the region by the brewery and local liquor stores cooperating and being involved consistently from rice making to sales.

Bishu Waraku is a brand manufactured by Kawatsuru Shuzo with the meaning of 'Enjoying peacefully with beautiful sake'. With the concept of sake for people to enjoy peacefully, it aims to deepen the bonds between people through sake and share a fun time. Using the underground underflow water of the Saita River and high-quality Sanuki rice from Kagawa Prefecture, it is finished with an easy-to-drink and friendly sake quality. The word 'Bishu' (Beautiful Sake) contains confidence in quality, and 'Waraku' (Peaceful and Fun) contains the wish for the smiles of people enjoying sake and a peaceful atmosphere. It is a brand where the philosophy of sake brewing 'Maximize the characteristics of rice', which Kawatsuru Shuzo cherishes, and the essence of Japanese sake culture 'Enjoy peacefully' are fused. It is a friendly brand that directs a peaceful time in various scenes from daily meals to special banquets.

Ooseto is a brand using 100% prefectural rice, adopting the sake rice 'Ooseto' from Kagawa Prefecture manufactured by Kawatsuru Shuzo as the brand name. Ooseto is a sake brewing suitable rice that has been used in Kagawa Prefecture since 1980, and is a sake rice representing Kagawa Prefecture characterized by a mellow aroma and refreshing sharpness. Deployed as a special Junmai limited unpasteurized sake, they use the underground underflow water of the Saita River and carry out careful brewing to maximize the characteristics of Ooseto. Ooseto is a sake rice that is difficult to handle, but with the technology of Kawatsuru Shuzo, they realize a sake quality where mellow aroma, refreshing sharpness, and umami of rice are harmonized. By using the name of the sake rice as the brand name as it is, they clearly express their commitment and pride in Kagawa Prefecture rice and show respect for local rice making. As a limited unpasteurized sake, it is a brand expressing the natural features of Kagawa Prefecture where you can enjoy fresh taste and powerful umami of rice.

Kawatsuru is a representative brand of Kawatsuru Shuzo, named after the first generation Seizo Kawahito dreamed of a magnificent crane landing on the Saita River flowing behind the brewery at the time of its founding in 1891 (Meiji 24). It is an auspicious brand name combining the river (Saita River) and the crane (symbol of good omen), containing the wish for the blessing of water and happiness. Using the underground underflow water of the Saita River where fireflies fly as brewing water, they practice sake brewing that maximizes the characteristics of rice while being grateful for the abundant water of 'Saita River bringing treasure to wealth'. Actively utilizing high-quality Sanuki rice from Kagawa Prefecture, especially prefectural sake rice such as Ooseto and Sanuki Yoimai, they maximize local bounty. They also develop innovative products such as 'KAWATSURU Olive Junmai Ginjo' using Sanuki olive yeast and 'Setouchi KAWATSURU Junmai Ginjo', fusing tradition and innovation. Olive yeast brewing characterized by a gorgeous muscat-like aroma and refreshing and sharp acidity goes well with Western food and Setouchi ingredients, expressing regional characteristics. Developing a wide lineup such as Junmai, Junmai Ginjo, and Junmai Daiginjo, it has diversity to meet various needs. As a signboard brand of Kawatsuru Shuzo with a history of more than 130 years, it is one of the local sakes representing Western Kagawa Prefecture.

Yorokobi no Tsukasa is a brand manufactured by Kimura Nakata Shuzo with the meaning of 'Presiding over joy', and it contains the brewery's thought of delivering joy to people through sake. 'Yorokobi' (Joy) means joy, and 'Tsukasa' (Official/Ruler) means a supervisor or a presider, expressing the philosophy that sake presides over the place of people's joy and directs a happy time. Developing specific name sake such as Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Daiginjo, and having products using Omachi rice, it can be seen that they are practicing authentic sake brewing utilizing the characteristics of sake rice. It is also deployed under the brand 'Kimura-style Miracle Sake', expressing their own philosophy and technology of sake brewing. In the scenic area of Tsuda-cho, Sanuki City, surrounded by the Sanuki Mountains and the Seto Inland Sea, they are brewing sake utilizing the rich natural environment. It is a brand loved by the region as a sake that snuggles up to the moments of people's joy and directs a happy time.

Kimura-style Miracle Sake is a brand brewed by Kimura Nakata Shuzo using Omachi rice from Okayama Prefecture grown by 'Kimura-style Natural Cultivation', maximizing the blessings of nature. 'Kimura-style Natural Cultivation' is a farming method that grows crops utilizing the power of the earth without using pesticides or fertilizers, and rice grown by this farming method is full of vitality. By using this rice, they realize a pure taste where you can feel the original umami of rice in a refreshing taste without miscellaneous tastes. Sake brewed reasonably following the providence of the natural world is characterized by a drinking comfort that permeates the body gently. Embodying Kimura Nakata Shuzo's philosophy of 'Sake brewing living in harmony with nature', it is supported by people who value food safety and consideration for the environment. It is a brand that resonates with the mind and body, worthy of being called a 'miracle', born from the fusion of the power of nature and human skills.