Sake Brands
in Nagasaki
Fujitsuru
富士鶴Fujitsuru is one of Omoya Shuzo's traditional shochu brands. It carries on the tradition of Iki shochu, crafted using the rich groundwater of Iki Island, the birthplace of barley shochu. Following the golden ratio characteristic of Iki shochu — two parts barley to one part rice koji — it features a harmonious flavor where the refreshing aroma of barley meets the sweetness of rice.
Umihiko Yamahiko
海彦山彦Umihiko Yamahiko is a shochu brand produced by Omoya Shuzo. Its name, meaning 'Sea Prince and Mountain Prince,' expresses the blessings of both sea and mountain on Iki Island, symbolizing the island's natural abundance. Crafted using the traditional methods of Iki shochu, it features an exquisite balance of barley and rice koji.
Yokoyama
よこやまYokoyama is the flagship brand that emerged when Omoya Shuzo revived its sake brewing, serving as a symbolic representation of sake's return to Iki Island. Guided by Toji Taizo's philosophy of creating 'sake that impresses with the very first sip,' it pursues an elegant sweetness, rich and full body, with a refreshingly crisp finish through well-balanced acidity. Fresh and fruity in character, it aims for a sake quality that leaves a lasting impression from the first glass. Brewed exclusively with premium-grade Yamada Nishiki from Iki Island and the ideal water carefully selected from across the island, it is meticulously crafted in a fully refrigerated brewery, achieving high reproducibility through data-driven analysis.
Kakuzo
確蔵Kakuzo is a shochu brand named after the first-generation founder of Omoya Shuzo, Kakuzo Yokoyama. Named in tribute to the founder, it is cherished as a symbolic brand that carries on the brewery's traditions. Crafted using the traditional methods of Iki shochu, it is made with Iki's rich groundwater and carefully selected ingredients.
Yokoyama Goju
横山五十Yokoyama Goju is one of the brands born when Omoya Shuzo revived its sake brewing, with a name indicating a 50% rice polishing ratio. As part of the 'Yokoyama' series, it is brewed with premium-grade Yamada Nishiki from Iki Island polished to 50%, using the island's ideal water. It is characterized by a fresh and fruity flavor with an impressive sake quality that leaves a lasting impression from the first glass. It stands as one of the brands symbolizing the revival of sake culture on Iki Island.
Kokoroiki
心意気Kokoroiki is a shochu brand produced by Iki no Kura Shuzo. It embodies the commitment to "being Iki," the founding philosophy of the Iki Shochu Cooperative, formed when six breweries on Iki Island came together. While preserving traditional techniques passed down since the 16th century, this Iki shochu boldly takes on new challenges such as vacuum distillation and flower yeast brewing. It is made exclusively from barley with rice koji only, and brewed with mineral-rich groundwater filtered through basalt bedrock over many years.
Hyosuke
兵介Hyosuke is a brand named after Kashima Hyosuke, a magistrate of the Tsushima Domain, and is produced in collaboration with Tosu City, Saga Prefecture. As a brand that conveys the history and culture of Tsushima to the present day, it is brewed by Kawachi Shuzo (now Shiratake Shuzo), the only sake brewery on Tsushima.
Shiratake
白嶽Shiratake is the flagship brand of Kawachi Shuzo (now Shiratake Shuzo), the only sake brewery on Tsushima, named after the sacred Mount Shiratake on Tsushima, designated as a National Natural Monument. It uses subterranean water drawn from approximately 10 meters underground in Keimei no Mori (Keimei Forest), selected as one of Japan's Top 100 Water Source Forests. This soft water is spring water from Mount Shiratake, promoting gentle fermentation and producing sake with a mild, sweet flavor. Beloved by Tsushima islanders, this sake fuses Tsushima's natural blessings with traditional brewing techniques. It is cherished as a local sake unique to Tsushima, rarely found outside the island.
Reimei
黎明Reimei is a brand revived by Kinokawa in conjunction with Isahaya City's Yamada Nishiki rice production project, said to have been named by a great-grandfather while gazing at the sunrise over the Ariake Sea. The Junmai Ginjo Reimei uses 100% Isahaya-grown Yamada Nishiki, offering a well-balanced harmony of gentle sweetness and rice umami as a food-friendly sake. The Reimei-style fermentation tanks enable thorough temperature control even in the warm climate of Kyushu, allowing slow and careful low-temperature fermentation. Characterized by its gentle aroma that never overpowers food and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, Reimei is a brand that expresses the terroir and food culture of Isahaya.
Kinokawa
杵の川Kinokawa is a brand born from the merger of four breweries in Nagasaki Prefecture, continuing to brew sake rooted in the local community as Isahaya's sole brewery. The Reimei-style fermentation tanks enable thorough temperature control even in the warm climate of Kyushu, allowing slow and careful low-temperature fermentation. It features a gentle aroma that never overpowers food and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate. The brewery is home to Nagasaki Prefecture's only barrel craftsman and is known as the first brewery in Japan to implement year-round brewing.
Hyakufuku
百福Hyakufuku is one of the brands produced by Kinokawa, expressing the terroir and traditions of Isahaya. It features a gentle aroma and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, and is cherished as a food-friendly sake.
Unzen
雲仙Unzen is a sake brand inherited from the pre-merger Unzen Shuzo, expressing the blessings of Mount Unzen and the terroir of Isahaya. It features a gentle aroma and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, serving as a brand that supports the region's food culture.
Nagasaki Bugyo
長崎奉行Nagasaki Bugyo is a brand named after the historical and cultural heritage of Nagasaki. Inspired by the Nagasaki Magistrate of the Edo period, it expresses the terroir and traditions of Nagasaki. It features a gentle aroma that never overpowers food and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate.
Kikyo no Kura
杵響の蔵Kikyo no Kura is a brand that captures the resonance of the Kinokawa brewery. The brewery is home to Nagasaki Prefecture's only barrel craftsman, and this sake is brewed while preserving traditional methods. It features a gentle aroma and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, making it a sake that complements the food culture of Isahaya.
Chojiya
丁子屋 ECChojiya is a sake brand inherited from the pre-merger Chojiya Shuzo. Carrying the lineage of Emifuku, which was produced in Higashisonogi Town, it conveys regional traditions to the present day. It features a gentle aroma and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, carrying a long history.
Emifuku
恵美福Emifuku is a brand that was originally produced by Chojiya Shuzo in Higashisonogi Town before the merger, now carried on by Kinokawa. It features a gentle aroma and a crisp, clean finish that never tires the palate, cherished as a traditional sake beloved by the local community.
Aimusume
あい娘Aimusume is named after the local town of Aino, with the hope that sake brewed as lovingly as raising a cherished daughter would be widely enjoyed by all. Using subterranean water from Mount Unzen for brewing, the brand is produced in small batches through traditional handcrafted methods nurtured by pure water and the deep devotion of the master brewers. The Junmai Daiginjo "Ai" uses Yamada Nishiki rice polished to 48%, carefully fermented at low temperatures over an extended period, with only the sake that flows naturally without pressure being bottled—a truly luxurious expression with refreshing aromas and a rich, full-bodied flavor. The Tokubetsu Junmai "Unzen no Kagayaki" is made solely from rice and rice koji, fermented slowly at low temperatures to produce a dry sake characterized by its rich fragrance, full-bodied mouthfeel, and smooth finish.
Fugendake
普賢岳Fugendake is a sake brewed by Yamasaki Honten Shuzojo using the beautiful spring water of Shimabara, harnessing the blessings of the subterranean water from Mount Unzen Fugendake. This groundwater is rich in minerals, having slumbered deep underground over many years before welling up. Beloved as a representative brand of the Shimabara Peninsula, it is a sake that exists precisely because of Shimabara's exceptional water. A sparkling version is also produced, offering diverse ways to enjoy this sake. Fugendake is a brand that symbolizes the region, combining Shimabara's abundant water resources with traditional brewing techniques.
Shiroi Ringo
白い林檎Shiroi Ringo is a fruity sake produced by Yamasaki Honten Shuzojo, characterized by its refreshing apple-like aroma and flavor. Brewed with the beautiful spring water of Shimabara, this brand harnesses the blessings of the subterranean water from Mount Unzen Fugendake.
Tsuki no Yosa
月のよさTsuki no Yosa is a brand produced by Yamasaki Honten Shuzojo, bearing a name that evokes the beauty of a moonlit night. Brewed with the beautiful spring water of Shimabara, this sake harnesses the blessings of the subterranean water from Mount Unzen Fugendake.