Sake Brands
in Niigata

Tenkeiraku is a major brand representing Yoshikawa Toji no Sato, containing the wish to 'enjoy the blessings of heaven (nature) harmoniously.' As its name suggests, it is a well-balanced sake where skilled craftsmen harmonize good rice produced by the rich nature of Yoshikawa and pure water. Its greatest features are a flowery and transparent aroma and a smooth mouthfeel. Designed in pursuit of drinking comfort, it harmonizes beautifully not only with Japanese food but also with Western and modern dishes. Its approachable and elegant quality is highly evaluated especially by women and those new to sake, and it has gained popularity as an 'evolved local sake' suitable for modern dining tables.

Natsuko Monogatari is an iconic brand of Kusumi Shuzo named after the legendary manga 'Natsuko no Sake.' It conveys the emotion and passion of the grand story based on the brewery's real story of resurrecting the extinct miraculous sake rice 'Kamenoo.' Using the pure water of Niigata and raw material rice carefully grown by the brewers, it is brewed with care for the simple umami inherent in rice. A sip brings to mind the rural landscape where golden rice ears sway and the thoughts of people who dedicated their passion to brewing, characterized by a somewhat nostalgic and warm flavor. It is a bottle that has moved many people's hearts beyond the framework of sake, making one feel the weight of history.

Kiyoizumi is a major brand supporting the framework of Kusumi Shuzo, its name deriving from clear spring water springing from the mountains of Nagaoka. It is a sake that most purely expresses the brewery's basic stance of pouring passion into Junmai brewing. It features a balanced and pure taste where a firm umami core of rice can be felt despite being light. While possessing a clean sharpness typical of Niigata sake, a gentle afterglow remains comfortably, harmonizing beautifully with a wide variety of dishes as a sake for meals. Its high-grade taste that never tires the drinker has gained immense trust from many sake fans as an 'ideal daily sake.'

Iwai Tsurukame is a brand brewed as a brand suitable for gifts for auspicious occasions or celebratory tables. As its name suggests, it bears 'Tsuru' (crane) and 'Kame' (turtle), symbols of longevity and prosperity, and is loved as a sake that adds color to feelings of celebration. While maintaining the commitment to Junmai brewing, it features a high-quality quality suitable for joyful occasions, where flowery and bright aromas harmonize with the rich umami of rice. The stable taste created by Kusumi Shuzo's traditional techniques has a mysterious power to make both the giver and the receiver smile. An auspicious bottle that colors milestones of life and important anniversaries.

Tenjo Taifu is the peak brand of Ikeura Shuzo, named after the famous words said to have been written on a kite by the Zen monk Ryokan when playing kite-flying with children. It is a sake expressing Ryokan's free-spirited mind and a refreshing feeling like the clear sky of Nagaoka. Locally produced sake rice 'Koshi Tanrei' is luxuriously polished to 40% and carefully brewed with traditional winter brewing. It features a flowery yet calm Ginjo aroma, a silky smooth mouthfeel, and a sophisticated light 'Tanrei' taste. An elegant and beautiful drop that embodies Ryokan's poetic worldview through taste, it is a masterpiece suitable for gifts to loved ones or special moments.

Waraku Goson is a brand that forms the spiritual basis of Ikeura Shuzo, containing a deep philosophy leading to Ryokan's thoughts of 'harmonious enjoyment and mutual respect.' It is a sake that produces a rich time where people surrounding sake enjoy themselves harmoniously and care for each other. While protecting traditional brewing techniques of Nagaoka, it pursues a personality as a supporting role that enhances the taste of meals. It features a calm aroma and a mellow flavor where the sweetness of rice spreads gently. Its warm quality is widely familiar from daily dining tables to important banquets, and has been long loved in the region as a 'sake of harmony' that deepens bonds between people.

Tokugetsu is the peak Junmai Daiginjo limited for autumn, gathering the essence of Asahi Shuzo's brewing technology. Its name derives from a poetic scene of 'taking the moon reflected on the water surface in one's hand,' and it was born as a sake for enjoying the harvest moon. The rare sake rice 'Takane Nishiki' is extremely polished to as low as 28%. By using only the very center of the rice core, an amazingly transparent taste that completely eliminates impurities is realized. This sake, brewed from rice shining like pearls, is characterized by a noble and delicate aroma like the moon in a clear night sky. Faintly emitting a jewel-like brilliance, 'Tokugetsu' is a luxurious drop that you would want to taste quietly with your five senses in the season when the moon is most beautiful in a year.

Kubota is a monumental brand of Asahi Shuzo that has revolutionized Japanese sake brewing since its birth in 1985. It is also the leader that established the 'Tanrei Karakuchi' (light and dry) style, which was innovative at the time, and made the name of Niigata sake known to the world. Its charm lies above all in the 'ultimate drinking comfort that never tires the drinker.' In addition to the traditional lineup such as Manju, Senju, and Hyakuju, its stance of never stopping evolution while staying close to the changes of the times, such as Junmai Daiginjo and sparkling sakes tailored to modern food scenes, is supported. While maximizing the umami of rice, the sharpness at the moment it passes through the throat is vivid. From daily meals to special anniversaries, it is an eternal classic of sake that softly stays close in any scene and richly colors the dining table.

Wadachi is a concept brand by Asahi Shuzo that redefines the value of sake as a 'gift.' Its name means 'wheel tracks,' and it is a sake with a narrative, thinking of the paths walked together with loved ones so far and the tracks continuing to the future. Suggesting the brewery's technical power, it features a modern and sophisticated taste where the sweetness and acidity of rice are beautifully harmonized. Not just as a luxury item, it values the role as a 'message' to convey feelings of gratitude and respect, and its deep and quiet afterglow gracefully produces a place for conversation at milestones of life. An intellectual and high-grade glass that makes one feel the profundity of accumulated time and hope for the future.

Sanjuni Shindo is a brand that challenged the ultimate rice polishing ratio, symbolizing Asahi Shuzo's challenging sake brewing spirit. It was named 'Shindo' (prodigy) from the astonishing polishing ratio of '32%,' which is usually unthinkable, and the overwhelming quality that makes one feel natural talent. Completely scraping off impurities of raw material rice, it extracts only the pure essence of rice. A crystal-clear beauty and a noble aroma reminiscent of fruit spread in the mouth. The surprisingly smooth and light mouthfeel and the long-lasting clear afterglow, born from pushing the limits of technology, leave a vivid impression suitable for being called a 'prodigy.' It is a masterpiece of a new era, a crystal of Asahi Shuzo's brewing theory and passion.

Karine is a low-alcohol modern brand by Asahi Shuzo suggesting new ways to enjoy sake. Its name was given with the image of flowery 'aroma' (Ka) and 'sound' (ne) like a comfortable rhythm, and it is gaining attention as a light and fruity new-sense sake. By an original brewing recipe, while being low-alcohol, it firmly leaves the rich umami inherent in rice and realizes a sweet and fresh aroma like fruit. Its stylish quality, suitable for enjoying with a wine glass, has gained overwhelming support from those not used to drinking sake and women. A next-generation sake light like a melody that brilliantly colors daily tea time and relaxing moments.

Esshu is a material-oriented brand by Asahi Shuzo that shaped the unwavering commitment to 'rice.' For the raw material rice, it revived and used the rare Niigata-produced 'Senshuraku,' maximizing the light and elegant umami inherent in rice. Its taste is as refreshing as the clear wind of Echigo, pursuing 'lightness' that stays close to a modern dining table. Not just light, it coexists with a delicate aroma and deep taste, turning daily meals into a higher-grade experience. A brand that continues to pursue the potential of rice where the blessings of nature and the passion of the brewer intersect.

Asahiyama is the flagship brand bearing the 'brewery name' (Yago) of Asahi Shuzo, being the origin and heart of the brewery. Loved in Nagaoka since its founding in 1830, this sake symbolizes the 'quality-first' spirit that does not fade even as times change. Its greatest feature is the perfected 'Tanrei Karakuchi' (light and dry) style that one never tires of even drinking every day. Amidst the refreshing and clean finish, the gentle umami of rice stays close as an afterglow, possessing a depth that complements any dish. Having walked together with local Niigata food culture, Asahiyama continues to build unwavering trust as a 'daily sake' that adds peace to daily life, not just for special days.

Koshi no Kagirohi is a seasonal limited brand by Asahi Shuzo bearing the sound of Man'yo (ancient Japanese poetry) in its name. 'Kagirohi' means the dawn light, and it expresses the pure scene of Niigata greeting the light-shining spring after crossing a severe winter. Its quality, which makes one feel the transition of seasons, has fresh yet calm dignity. The sense of maturation nurtured by the climate and time of Niigata and the vividness of freshly squeezed coexist in an exquisite balance. It features a powerful yet delicate taste that makes one feel the dynamism of life heading from winter to spring. Its rarity, which can only be encountered at a limited time, produces a luxurious moment to enjoy the beauty of the four seasons through sake.

Sennen no Midori is a brand that Asahi Shuzo brews with respect for the rich nature of Nagaoka, drifting with serene dignity. Its name is modeled after the 'green' of evergreen trees that do not change even after a thousand years, symbolizing eternal vitality and harmony. Brewed slowly with carefully selected material rice and in the pure air surrounding the brewery, its taste is clear everywhere, making one feel a dignified beauty. The fine mouthfeel and the afterglow where the pure umami inherent in rice quietly spreads have a fresh yet deep worldview suitable for the word 'Midori' (evergreen green). A calm and high-grade glass that makes one forget the flow of time.

Koyu is a brand symbolizing the depth of bonds, specially brewed for the 'Asahiyama Koyukai' formed by volunteer authorized retailers of Asahi Shuzo. Its name means 'calling a friend,' and contains a wish to enrich a place for good sake, good conversation, and connection with colleagues sharing a common aspiration. Accepting no compromise in quality, the taste polished by the retailers and the brewery together features a sophisticated gorgeousness and a somewhat warm depth. Researching 'the best communication' through sake beyond just making sake, Koyu is a glass full of passion and warmth that stays close to the moment when people commune with each other.

Senshin is the peak brand boasting isolated dignity, where Asahi Shuzo pursued the 'spirituality of sake brewing' to the limit. Its name originates from the Zen words 'return to the beginning and wash the heart,' containing a serene philosophy of looking at truth with a pure heart without decoration. Polishing the phantom sake rice 'Takane Nishiki' up to 28% and eliminating all impurities, its quality is as transparent as pure spring water, and the deep umami quietly soaks in. The taste, which threw away excessive production and sharpened only the essence, has a nobility that makes the drinker sit up straight, and it is an incomparable work of art that produces a quiet moment to touch the abyss of life.

Uonuma is a brand where Shirataki Shuzo directly expresses the terroir of Uonuma, which is its own root. Precisely because it is one of the best rice-producing areas in Japan and blessed with pure soft water, it pursues the original individuality of the region. Sticking to sake brewing rice produced in local Uonuma, the quality with transparency nurtured by the nature of the snow country features the gentle sweetness of rice and a light finish. Its taste, as if the climate of Uonuma was packed into the bottle as it is, resonates deeply with local food culture, reminding us of the rich rural landscape of Uonuma every time we drink it. A simple yet refined product where attachment and pride for the region are condensed.

Reisen Kumedo Tsukizu is a brand with a very poetic name, containing endless gratitude and respect for 'water,' which is the core of Shirataki Shuzo's sake brewing. Meaning 'a mysterious spring that does not run out even if you draw and draw,' it overlaps the pure water of Yuzawa that wells up incessantly with the never-ending passion for brewing. Its taste, as the name suggests, coexists with transparency that sharpened the purity of water to the limit and deep umami that soaks in. With every sip, it features a nobility as if a scene where snowmelt water passes through strata and is polished over a long time comes to mind. A sacred glass that crystals the aesthetic sense of Shirataki Shuzo, purifying even the heart.