Sake Brands
in Niigata

Geishunka (Spring-Greeting Flower) is an auspicious brand expressing the joy of flowers that announce the arrival of spring after overcoming a harsh winter. It puts the brilliance of life waiting for spring under the deep snow of Niigata and the gorgeous sentiment celebrating a new start into a single drop of sake. As the name suggests, it is characterized by a gorgeous and elegant aroma suitable for celebrations and a pure, transparent taste. You can enjoy the exciting uplift and refreshing aftertaste, like flowers blooming all at once when the long winter of the snow country Niigata ends. It is a sake that delivers smiles to people, not only for New Year's and auspicious occasions but also as a drink to convey feelings of blessing to loved ones.

Koshiji Fubuki is the signature brand of Takano Shuzo, a dignified sake named after the famous Showa singer Koshiji Fubuki. It pursues a refined beauty by overlapping her gorgeous presence as a native of Niigata City with the fantastic scene of a 'Fubuki' (Blizzard) shown by the harsh nature of the snow country. While mastering the light sake quality that is a synonym for Niigata sake, its biggest charm is the delicate umami hidden within and a sharp finish as clean as snow. It has a dignified style that fascinates the drinker, like a star standing on stage, and enhances any banquet setting. It is a masterpiece that connects the Showa era and the present, loved for a long time by sake fans not only in local Niigata but also across Japan.

Echigo Musume is a brand that combines familiarity and dignity inspired by the purity and core strength of Echigo women who grow up healthily in the snow country. It projects the juicy sensibility, like enduring the Niigata winter and blooming in spring, into the taste of sake. The biggest feature is the 'neat taste' where softness and the gentle sweetness inherent in rice spread. Within the lightness typical of Niigata sake, there is a comfortable umami that seems to oscillate slightly, delivering a sense of security like spending time with family in one's hometown. It is a sake that adds color to the dining tables of wide generations, which can be enjoyed without formality and yet lets you feel the reliable quality.

Mizu no Miyako Ryuto (Water Capital Ryuto) is a brand rich in regionality and love for the hometown, bearing the name 'Ryuto' (Willow Capital), which is an alias for Niigata City. It expresses the elegant atmosphere of Niigata City, which once had canals and beautiful willow rows, and the story of rich water brought by the great Shinano River, in the form of sake. The taste is characterized by an amazingly smooth and transparent mouthfeel, truly suitable for the name 'Water Capital.' The sake quality, which is as flexible as a willow branch yet possesses a core strength, condenses the history and culture of Niigata City. Brewed with local pride, this sake warmly welcomes people visiting Niigata and is familiar as a drink that delivers the wind of the hometown.

Essho (Echigo Craftsmanship) is a dignified premium brand that gathers the essence of the outstanding skills of Echigo Toji (master brewers) and the brewing techniques cultivated by Takano Shuzo. It expresses the artisan's soul, which holds respect for tradition and allows no compromise on quality, contained in the word 'Takumi' (Craftsmanship). The sake quality, brewed by the traditional 'Kanzukuri' (winter brewing) with sharpened senses after carefully polishing selected sake-brewing rice, is characterized by refined dignity and deep taste. While being light, the plump umami of rice spreads quietly, leaving a comfortable afterglow. This bottle, which can be called 'the art of craftsmanship' woven by skilled techniques, is a gem suitable as a partner when you want to face yourself quietly or for special moments.

Koshi no Kansetsu (Echigo Winter Snow) is a brand with a dignified expression inspired by the pure 'Kansetsu' (Winter Snow) that piles up during the severe winter of the snow country Niigata. It challenges expressing the purity brought by snowmelt water and the transparency like the tense winter air in a single cup of sake. The biggest feature is the 'ultimate refreshing sensation' that makes you feel no impurities at all. By fermenting slowly at a low temperature in the severe winter cold of Niigata, it achieved a clear and light mouthfeel and a refreshing sharp finish at the moment it passes through the throat. Its sake quality, quiet and beautiful like a cool snowy landscape, purely resets the taste of the meal and stands out the deliciousness of dishes even more. It is a brand that puts the entirety of the brewery's effort into bottling the blessings of the snow country as they are.

Life Premium is a brand created through joint development between Takano Shuzo and a major supermarket, Life Corporation, to richly color daily dining tables. Utilizing the brewery's high brewing techniques, they pursue high-quality sake that can be easily enjoyed with the concept of 'a slightly luxurious everyday life.' The biggest feature is the sake quality with an unobtrusive calm aroma and the umami of rice that is clearly alive, showing excellent balance with meals. Brewed carefully so that daily evening drinks feel like more special time, its taste goes perfectly with a wide range of dishes, including not only Japanese food but also Western and Chinese food. It is supported by many fans as a 'familiar masterpiece' that nestles in the customers' lifestyles and delivers sure satisfaction.

Shiratsuyu (White Dew) is a brand that pursues a transparency without a single cloud, like the pure dew shining on plants in the early morning. Polishing a traditional brand once treasured in Niigata sake brewing with modern techniques, it contains a classical yet never fading beauty in sake. The taste is characterized by a light and fresh mouthfeel, as if morning dew moistens the throat. The sake quality, with an understated aroma that doesn't interfere with the dishes and a gentle sweetness of rice that softly nestles in, is highly rated as the ultimate 'Shokuchushu' (sake to drink with meals). It possesses a quiet dignity that remains loved even as times change, a famous supporting role reminding one of the original scenery of Niigata sake.

Koshi no Gohaku (Echigo Amber) is a discerning brand that entrusts its identity as local Niigata sake to the words 'Koshi' (Echigo) and 'Gohaku' (Amber). It expresses the harmony between the beautiful amber brilliance born from aging and the profound taste woven by years. The biggest feature is the mellow and complex aroma and rich umami that overturn the general image of sake. The sake quality, which has become rounded and increased in maturity over time, allows you to enjoy a deep afterglow reminiscent of nuts or dried fruits. It is a luxurious vintage sake style proposed by Takano Shuzo for a drink after a meal or for a time when you want to enjoy the sake itself slowly.

Koshi no Tosetsuka (Echigo Winter Snow Flower) is a brand advocating a pure and innocent worldview, inspired by snow crystals dancing beautifully in the severe winter of Niigata. It expresses the geometric beauty of snow crystals and the fleeting transparency that vanishes in the palm through the highest quality sake brewing. The sake quality is characterized by a pure and innocent lightness from which all impurities have been shaved off. The mouthfeel full of refreshing sensation, like breathing in the cold and clear winter air, and the aftertaste that pulls away light like snowmelt water fascinate the drinker. It is a brand that conveys the aesthetics of Niigata winter, as a cup to enjoy with silence on a night of steadily piling snow, or as a pure gift for celebrations.

Denemon is the representative brand symbolizing the pride of Echigo Denemon, bearing the brewery's store name as it is. 'Den' means the wisdom and skills handed down through generations, and 'Den' means the pride of craftsmen who keep it, containing deep respect for tradition. The sake quality is a very well-balanced finish where the gentle sweetness and umami of rice harmonize in a light and clean drinking taste typical of Niigata. Faithful to traditional methods and with a sophistication that also suits modern palates, it is a bottle that embodies the brewery's philosophy, gently enhancing the taste of overall Japanese food, including fish dishes.

Omusubi Yanagi is an approachable brand with the theme of 'Rice,' the origin of Japanese food, and 'Musubi' (connecting), which connects people's fates. The name 'Yanagi' (Willow) symbolizes the atmospheric scenery of Niigata City, which was once called 'Ryuto' (City of Willows) because of the beautiful rows of willow trees. Like an omusubi (rice ball) made by rounding rice, the sake quality is characterized by being as if gently wrapping the plump umami inherent in rice. While simple, the taste with a core gently nestles at the daily dining table and gives a sense of security like an omusubi. It is a brand through which the brewery's warm feelings of attachment to the streets of Niigata and wanting to connect people's hearts with delicious rice and sake can be conveyed.

Tamaki Haru is an elegant and spiritual brand derived from the Makurakotoba (prefixed word) 'Tamaki Haru' used in classical literature such as Manyoshu to describe 'Life' or 'Soul.' Making the most of the 'Life of Rice,' which is the essence of sake brewing, it pursues true values that shake the soul of the drinker. Contrary to the modern impression of Katakana notation, its contents are precise and mysterious tastes that make one feel the depths of Japanese culture. The crystal clarity and the umami full of vitality that seems to well up from the depths are harmonized at a surprisingly high level. It is an ambitious work of Echigo Denemon that we want you to enjoy quietly and deeply while feeling the story of life connecting from the past to the future.

Koshi no Rikka is a brand that expresses a delicate and gorgeous taste like the beautiful snow crystals (Rikka) of Niigata. The traditional skills of Nozumi Toji and the super-soft water of the Agano River are beautifully fused, achieving a sake quality full of transparency like meltwater. Its taste is truly an elegant form of Niigata Tanrei. The faint sweetness of rice that spreads the moment you sip it and the beautiful clean finish that disappears quickly further enhance the taste of the food. By drinking it chilled, its freshness stands out, and it is a sophisticated bottle that harmonizes perfectly with Japanese food with delicate tastes such as sashimi and wild plants.

Echigo Toyosaka is a local sake brand containing love and pride for the region, bearing the name of the former Toyosaka City where the brewery is located. It is characterized by a simple and familiar taste that reflects the local rural landscape and people's warm lives. While keeping the light and clean style unique to Niigata, the pleasant umami of rice that never makes one tired of drinking every day is firmly alive. Compatibility with local home cooking and fresh seafood is pursued, and it is a brand that gives a sense of security as a regional treasure that is essential to the local dining table.

Kan-u is a brand that feels the weight of history derived from the pen name of Shichiro Endo, a local righteous man who was active in the Boshin War. It contains a desire to provide moisture to the heart of the drinker, like 'Ji-u' (merciful rain). Its characteristic is a sake quality that can be called the vanguard of refined 'Tanrei Karakuchi' typical of Niigata, created by the super-soft water of the Agano River. In the sharp finish, the mellowness peculiar to super-soft water brewing and the gentle umami of rice coexist in a well-balanced manner. It is a sake with dignified beauty, suitable for drinking while reflecting on history or enjoying conversation with close friends.

Koshi no Bairi is the flagship brand representing DHC Shuzo. Pursuing the perfect harmony of rich umami and a gorgeous and elegant aroma, its quality is highly evaluated, such as shining with many gold awards at various exhibitions. It is characterized by high versatility that demonstrates its true value in all drinking scenes, from scenes where you carefully enjoy its rich afterglow alone to as an in-meal sake that enhances the meal. Brewed under the philosophy of 'extraordinary balance that can be enjoyed any way you drink it,' it is a bottle that attracts everyone from beginners to enthusiasts, symbolizing modern Niigata sake.

Asahibare is a brand that can be said to be the origin of DHC Shuzo, which has been loved in the local Kita Ward, Niigata City (formerly Toyosaka City) for over 100 years since the Taisho era. As a late-night drink that nestles in the daily dining table, it has supported the regional food culture. In the simple and unassuming taste, a solid umami of rice and a sharp finish that never makes one tired of drinking coexist. It has good compatibility with local home cooking in general and is characterized by a quality with a sense of security that gently nestles no matter what kind of mood you are in. While not flashy, the reliable quality and stability supported by many years of fans tell of the history of the brewery and attachment to the region.

Kayama is a brand named after the Kayama district where the brewery is located, symbolizing the 'modern umami' pursued by DHC Shuzo. It is characterized by a fruity sake quality where a refreshing aroma, a mellow sweetness that spreads in the mouth, and a powerful umami are beautifully fused. If you take a sip, you should be surprised by its fresh fruit-like aroma and deep rice afterglow. It most directly embodies DHC Shuzo's philosophy of 'emphasis on aroma' and 'rich taste,' and has gained overwhelming support, especially from younger generations, women, and people unfamiliar with sake. Bearing the regional place name proudly, it is a brand full of the brewery's passion that opens up new horizons for sake.