Sake Brands
in Tochigi

"Kitsuregawa Yasuragi no Sato" is a brand by Toraya Honten, brewed with affection for the local region. It was named after the relaxing scenery of the Kitsuregawa area near Utsunomiya. Drawing on the traditional techniques of Toraya Honten, the sake aims for an approachable flavor enjoyed by locals and tourists alike. Using Utsunomiya's famous "Nijinoi" water, it is characterized by a soft mouthfeel and a gentle aroma. Presented as a drink that lets you feel the local climate, it colors travel memories and daily dining tables in the region.

"Nijinoi" is a prestigious brand named after the famous water source "Nijinoi," which is the starting point of Toraya Honten's founding. In 1788, the first generation of Omi merchants began brewing sake, impressed by the excellence of this water springing up in Utsunomiya, marking the beginning of the brewery's history. "Nijinoi" is known as one of Utsunomiya's seven famous waters, "Nanamizu." Brewed with gratitude for the blessing of water that is the origin of the brewery, this brand is characterized by a transparent and pure taste. It is an iconic brand that can be called the soul of Toraya Honten, conveying the memory of the famous water preserved in the heart of Utsunomiya and more than 230 years of tradition to the present day.

"Nanatsuido" is a brand that was once brewed by Kobayashi Mokusaburo Shoten in Utsunomiya City. Currently out of business, it remains a valuable record conveying the history of sake in Tochigi Prefecture. The name "Nanatsuido" evokes the "Nanamizu" (seven famous waters) of Utsunomiya, symbolizing the brewery's stance of coexisting with the city's rich water culture. Utsunomiya's high-quality groundwater has supported sake brewing for centuries. Even after the brewery's closure, this brand is passed down as a local sake once brewed in the heart of Tochigi, alongside the history of the region.

"Daieiyu" is a brand once brewed by Kobayashi Mokusaburo Shoten in Utsunomiya City, featuring a powerful and heroic name. It is no longer produced due to the brewery's closure. Literally meaning "great heroic courage," the name "Daieiyu" evokes a robust flavor that seems to energize the drinker. This naming reflects the cultural background of sake from the Meiji to Showa eras, conveying an aesthetic of simplicity, fortitude, and good fortune valued at the time. In Utsunomiya, the heart of Tochigi Prefecture, this brand was once loved by locals and remains remembered as a historical fragment telling the story of Tochigi's sake industry even after its closure.

"Uroko" is the synonymous brand for "Cave Aged Sake," which Shimazaki Shuzo has pioneered in Japan. Based on Yamahai-shikomi, a traditional technique since the brewery's founding in 1849, it is completed through long-term aging in a cave that was formerly an underground factory for tank manufacturing. Inside the cave, the temperature remains extremely stable at around 10°C year-round, in an ideal environment completely shielded from sunlight. This "Cave Aging" eliminates the roughness of new sake, creating a deep richness and a silk-like smooth finish that cannot be achieved through conventional storage. The mellow flavor brewed by the magic of time is truly a luxurious cup for adults. From chilling it for freshness to enjoying the full-bodied aroma and umami at a lukewarm temperature, it shows various expressions depending on the temperature, embodying the passion of Shimazaki Shuzo.

"Kiwami Itteki Shizukuzake" is the ultimate Daiginjo, concentrating the essence of Shimazaki Shuzo's technology. As the name suggests, it is made using the "Fukuro-tsuri" (hanging bag) method, where moromi (fermenting mash) is put in bags, and only the drops that drip naturally without any pressure are luxuriously collected drop by drop. Through this time-consuming process, the original umami and gorgeous aroma of the rice are extracted in their purest form, creating a clear taste with no miscellaneous flavors. The quality, blending the nature of Nasukarasuyama, the heart of the brewer, and luxurious techniques, is truly worthy of the name "Kiwami" (Ultimate). Chosen for special occasions and gifts for loved ones, it is a sake that can be called the highest masterpiece of Shimazaki Shuzo.