Sake Brands
in Nara

"Kinko" is the flagship brand of Okura Honke. It is said that the first generation, who loved Manzai (a traditional performance), named the sake after a phrase "Kinko, kinko" from a verse of Manzai, a New Year's dance. It is a historic brand that has been loved for a long time as a local sake of Nara. Brewed with Yamahai brewing since its founding, it is characterized by a rich and umami sake quality. Almost all sake, including ordinary sake, is brewed with Yamahai yeast starter, and "harmony between heavy Yamahai and careful selection, seemingly contradictory" is the essence of Kinko's taste. The taste woven by high acidity and umami goes well with meals, and demonstrates its true value especially when combined with strongly flavored dishes and fermented foods. As a brand that embodies the attitude of Okura Honke to keep protecting traditional Yamahai brewing, it has deep-rooted fans.

"Iroha" is the "OOKURA IROHA" series developed by Okura Honke with a new concept. It was developed as a new style of sake that maintains the umami and acidity of rice from traditional Yamahai brewing while adding transparency and lightness to the aftertaste. With an approach different from the rich and umami taste of traditional "Kinko" and "Okura", it aims for a taste that appeals to a wider range of people, and is a brand that pursues the balance between tradition and innovation. Positioned as a new challenge that responds to modern tastes while utilizing the accumulation of technology of Okura Honke, it is a brand that shows the new possibilities of the brewery.

"Okura" is a special brand where all products are Junmai-style and can only be purchased at authorized dealers. The brewery's desire to deliver to enthusiasts who truly understand is imbued by focusing even more on quality than "Kinko" and making it limited distribution. While the rich and umami sake quality due to Yamahai brewing is common with Kinko, it pursues a more refined taste, and is the crystallization of Okura Honke's technology, where high acidity and rice umami harmonize. Due to limited distribution, it is highly rare and plays a flagship role for the brewery as a brand highly evaluated among sake enthusiasts.

"Bigen" is one of the brands of Okura Honke, and as the name "Beautiful Rock" suggests, it is a brand that aims for sake that combines strength and beauty. Amitos the lineup of Okura Honke, it is characterized by a firm structure and a balance of refined flavor due to Yamahai brewing.

"Tenpyo no Iraka" is a brand name derived from the novel of the same name by Yasushi Inoue, expressing the history and culture of Nara as an ancient capital. It is a brand that reflects the glory of Nara in the Tenpyo period and the beauty of Japanese culture symbolized by the roof tiles of Toshodaiji Temple in sake. It is considered a brand that Okura Honke, deeply rooted in the land of Nara, tried to express the history and pride of the region with sake, and is positioned as a prestigious sake that fuses the traditional technique of Yamahai brewing with the history of Nara.

"Tsukizuru" is a sake brand that was once brewed by Inoue Sake Brewery. Since they are currently out of business, it is difficult to obtain. It has become a phantom local sake loved by the locals.

"Tosen" is the flagship brand of Nakagawa Sake Brewery. It uses pure water from the foot of Mt. Nijo, and the name expresses its transparency as "Transparent Spring/Fountain". Brewed as Junmai sake, it is characterized by a clear and pristine taste without impurities, while softly feeling the umami of rice. The slightly distinct acidity tightens the whole, possessing a good balance that can be enjoyed during meals.

"Taima no Kehaya" is a brand named after the legendary wrestler Taima no Kehaya, who is said to be the origin of Japanese Sumo. Katsuragi City is the place where the legend of Taima no Kehaya remains, and the local pride is crowned on the sake name. It is a Junmai sake utilizing the technology of Nakagawa Sake Brewery, and while the brand name makes you feel strength, it is finished to be easy to drink. It is loved by locals as local sake that conveys the history and culture of the region.

"Naragin" is one of the brands developed by Nakatani Sake Brewery, meaning "Nara's Ginjo Sake". It brings the regionality of Nara, specifically Yamatokoriyama, to the forefront and is characterized by a high-fragrance sake quality due to Ginjo brewing. The technology of precise sake brewing by numerical management of Nakatani Sake Brewery is utilized, realizing stable quality and refined taste. While inheriting the tradition of Nara, a historic sake brewing place, it is a brand that practices sake brewing that suits modern tastes.

"Genyo" is a brand with a mysterious and powerful image of "Phantom Hawk". Hawks have been symbols of bravery and nobility since ancient times, and as the name suggests, it expresses rarity and high quality. Currently reflecting Nakatani Sake Brewery's precise sake brewing by numerical management, it pursues a firm taste with structure while maintaining stable high quality. Focusing on Junmai sake, it is characterized by a sake quality where you can fully enjoy the umami of rice.

"Asaka" is the representative brand of Nakatani Sake Brewery, named after the image of morning freshness and highly fragrant sake quality. Like a scent drifting in a refreshing morning, it is characterized by a fruity and gorgeous Ginjo aroma. Focusing on Junmai Ginjo, it has a slightly sweet and easy-to-drink sake quality that suits modern tastes. Through Nakatani Sake Brewery's precise numerical management sake brewing, stable high quality is realized, and the well-balanced taste that can be enjoyed widely from beginners to enthusiasts is attractive.

"Mikkaodori" is a brand with a friendly name that evokes the tradition of Yamatokoriyama and the bustle of festivals. You can feel the concept of "sake that can be drunk happily", and it aims for a sake quality suitable for daily dining tables and regional gatherings. Thanks to Nakatani Sake Brewery's technology, it balances stable quality and ease of drinking, playing the role of local sake loved locally. Backed by the history and culture of the castle town Yamatokoriyama, it is a community-based brand.

"Manjo" is a brand with an auspicious name meaning "Ten thousand harvests", wishing for abundant harvests and prosperity. It evokes a rich harvest of rice ears and is suitable for celebrations and gifts. Thanks to Nakatani Sake Brewery's technology, it is characterized by a rich taste where you can firmly feel the umami of rice. Focusing on Junmai sake, the plump taste inherent in rice and the satisfying mouthfeel are attractive. It expresses the goodness of traditional sake connected with the rice farming culture of Yamatokoriyama.

"Sanka" is a brand of Umenoyado Sake Brewery brewed at the foot of Mt. Katsuragi, meaning "Scent of the mountain". As the name suggests, it is characterized by freshness that makes you feel the breath of nature and a gorgeous aroma due to Ginjo brewing. The balance between fruity and elegant Ginjo aroma and a refreshing mouthfeel is good, and the compatibility with meals is also outstanding. It is a fragrant sake where the tradition and technology of Umenoyado Sake Brewery breathe.

"Unfeigned SAKE" is an innovative brand of Umenoyado Sake Brewery conscious of global expansion, meaning "unfeigned, pure". While utilizing the goodness of traditional sake, it pursues a modern taste and design that is familiar to overseas fans and younger generations. Focusing on Junmai Daiginjo, it is characterized by a refined aroma and clear taste, and is an ambitious work proposing new possibilities for sake.

"Umenoyado" is a historic brand representing Umenoyado Sake Brewery. The elegant name "Inn of Plum" comes from an old plum tree about 300 years old in the brewery's garden and the sight of bush warblers flying in and singing happily on its branches. Characterized by a mellow aroma and mild taste, it is brewed while protecting the tradition of handmade sake. It has been loved for a long time as local sake of Nara and is synonymous with high-quality sake.

"Fuka" is a brand proposing a new style of sake, meaning "Scent of the wind". Imagining the scent drifting on the wind of Katsuragi, it pursues gorgeousness and freshness not bound by the framework of conventional sake. Characterized by fruity and refreshing Ginjo aroma and a transparent taste, it is designed to be friendly to sake beginners and younger generations. It is a modern sake symbolizing the new challenge of Umenoyado Sake Brewery.

"Matsunosei" is a brand of sake formerly brewed by Kishimoto Sake Brewery. It is thought to have been named with the hope that it would prosper vigorously like an evergreen pine, and was loved mainly in the local Gose City. Currently, it is not produced due to the closure of business, but it was one of the local sakes supporting the regional food culture, brewed using the underflow water of Mt. Katsuragi and high-quality rice.

"Kaze no Mori" is an innovative brand launched by Yucho Sake Brewery in 1998. Sticking to a unique style of bottling only unfiltered and unhydrolyzed raw sake, it is characterized by a refreshing gas feeling of slight sparkle and a fresh and juicy taste like fruit. Practicing sake brewing that maximizes the individuality of diverse sake rice such as Akitsuho, Tsuyuhakaze, Omachi, and Aiyama, the "ALPHA" series also conducts experimental efforts beyond the framework of conventional sake. It is one of the popular brands leading the modern sake scene.

"Takacho" is a brand inheriting tradition since the founding of Yucho Sake Brewery. Walking along with the history of the brewery, it is a sake loved in the local Gose City, and in contrast to "Kaze no Mori", it protects traditional sake brewing techniques. It is also conducting efforts to explore the roots of Nara's sake brewing, such as the revival brewing of "Bodaimoto", a monk's sake of the Muromachi period. Characterized by a firm taste with structure where you can firmly feel the umami of rice, it is an important brand symbolizing the traditional aspect of Yucho Sake Brewery.