Sake Brands
in Yamagata

ORBIA LUNA is a luxury brand that fuses the traditional techniques of Watarai Honten with innovative sensibilities, pursuing the ultimate pairing with Western cuisine. Characterized by a taste that overturns conventional sake concepts, it harmonizes the luxurious sweetness of the "Kijoshu" method with noble aromas of vanilla and honey brought by wine barrel aging. The crisp acidity from white koji creates a beautiful sweet-and-sour contrast like moonlight, making it a world-renowned bottle suitable for modern settings enjoyed in wine glasses.

Dewanoyuki is the flagship brand of Watarai Honten, named after the pure snow that accumulates during Yamagata's harsh winters. Conveying the essence of the ancient "Kimoto-zukuri" brewing method, it is characterized by a powerful, rich, "full-bodied" flavor reminiscent of red wine, where solid acidity and astringency intertwine. Its quality, where the umami of rice blooms even further when warmed, possesses a depth that impresses gourmands, carrying forward the pride of a brewery with over 300 years of history.

Watarai is a Junmai brand deeply committed to the land and rice of Shonai, brewed with the wish that "Harmony" (Nagomi) will "Come" (Rai) to the drinkers. Using sake rice carefully cultivated by local contract farmers, it pursues a fruity, expansive, and juicy freshly pressed flavor. Its quality, which combines the freshness reminiscent of Shonai's vast rural landscapes with the brewery's warm sincerity, is beloved as a "true local sake" that enriches daily life.

Otome no Mai, named with a neat and lovely image, is a brilliant Japanese sake brand that warms the hearts of those who drink it. Brewed carefully with traditional techniques, its quality is characterized by the pure sweetness of Shonai rice and a light, beautiful afterglow reminiscent of a maiden dancing. Its graceful flavor, approachable even for women, subtly accompanies gifts and brilliant dining tables, adding color to elegant moments.

I-go Yataemon is a powerful Genshu (undiluted sake) brand that revisits the brewery's roots using the rare "I-go" sake rice. Brewed with a 60% polishing ratio, this sake condenses a heavy, satisfying drinking experience unique to undiluted sake and the original, wild umami of rice. With the pride of the founder's name "Yataemon" and quality that maximally expresses the local terroir, it is a supreme drink dedicated to true sake enthusiasts.

Uzen Shiraume is a solid and elegant flagship brand brewed with the essence of tradition by Yamagata's oldest brewery. Soft pressing via "Fune-shibori" and non-carbon filtration seal in the rice's original golden luster and deep umami exactly as they are. Characterized by a dignified acidity when chilled and a mellow, intoxicating sensation when warmed, its quality perfectly harmonizes with local delicacies like Dadacha-mame, quietly satisfying the drinker's five senses.

Jokigen is Sakata's representative Ginjo brand, carrying the wish that "everyone who drinks this sake will be in a good mood (Jokigen) and find a source of supreme joy." The deep umami brewed through traditional Kimoto-zukuri and a refreshing clarity reminiscent of Mount Chokai's melted snow draw a vivid contrast in the mouth. Its quality, honored with numerous gold medals at the Annual Japan Sake Awards, is supported by magical skills that draw out the unique characteristics of various rice varieties like Yamada Nishiki, Omachi, and Aiyama, delivering a moving experience filled with joy in every sip.

Kikuisami is a brand that coexisted with the harsh nature of Shonai and was loved as a "Seikatsushu" (lifestyle sake) that richly colorful everyday evening drinks. Its charm lay in its crisp dry taste brought by Mount Gassan's underflow water and a deep umami that did not break even when warmed, making it indispensable for local dining tables. Until the brewery completed its mission in 2024, it was a famous sake that consistently prioritized sincerity over glamour, staying close to the hearts of the people of Shonai.

San-ju-rokuninshu is a brand that bears the history and pride of the 36 wealthy merchants who ruled the free city of Sakata during the Sengoku period. Reflecting the spirit of "A samurai does not serve two masters," its quality is characterized by a powerful crispness and a heavy expansion where the nourishment of rice overlaps in layers. Expressing the indomitable spirit of the ancestors who protected Sakata's autonomy, its flavor is a cup full of historical romance that conveys the vestiges of the peak prosperity of "Sakai in the West, Sakata in the East."

ORBIA GAIA is a luxury brand bearing the name "GAIA," meaning the Earth's blessings, opening a new horizon for Japanese sake through wine barrel aging. The fusion of traditional "Kimoto-zukuri" and red wine barrel aging creates a perfect harmony of vanilla and roasted oak aromas, apple-like refreshing acidity, and a rich honey afterglow. Its quality, which enables amazing pairings with prosciutto and meat dishes, delivers a vivid impact on modern gastronomic scenes enjoyed in wine glasses, trembling the five senses.

Kiyoizumigawa is a traditional brand symbolizing the soul of Eau de Vie Shonai, brewed entirely by hand in every process. Nurtured in the wild sea winds of the Sea of Japan, it features a powerful yet refreshing quality and a mellow mouthfeel from Mount Chokai spring water polished by the sand dunes. Brewing techniques that prioritize the craftsmen's "fingertip sensitivity" draw out the lush umami of rice to the maximum, delivering an exceptional flavor that gently embraces Sakata's harsh winters.

FONIA SORRA, derived from the Latin word "sinfonia" meaning harmony, is an innovative botanical sake that aims for an unknown fusion of Japanese sake and botanicals. By adding select materials like Yuzu, Lemon, and Sansho during the fermentation of the mash, the original umami of rice and the energetic scent of plants perform a single "symphony." With a refreshing aroma reminiscent of SORRA (the sky) and a pleasant prickle from the Sansho, it adds a surprising brilliance to Western dishes like carpaccio and pasta, as well as Japanese cuisine.

Ho no Kaori is a Junmai Daiginjo born from the resonance between Mikawa Town's golden rice ears and the sensibilities of ANA's Shonai Blue Ambassadors (FAs), developed from a female perspective. Maximizing the rich sweetness of Mikawa's edible rice "Yamagata 95" and designed with slightly lower alcohol, it achieves an astonishingly light and elegant mouthfeel. Its flavor, produced by the "World's Only Sake Brewing" project, is full of refreshing clarity as if Shonai's wind were blowing through, making it a supreme food-pairing sake that colors dining moments elegantly.

Shimenomi (also read as Sen-in) is Eau de Vie Shonai's extra dry brand, carrying the pride that "once you drink it, you will be possessed by its charm (occupy the space)." It is characterized by a sharp crispness and a powerful structure unique to undiluted sake, condensing the harshness of "Kanzukuri" (winter brewing) nurtured by the rough waves of the Sea of Japan. Even within the pure transparency brought by Mount Chokai spring water, a heavy umami from manual labor lives on, truly embodying the strength of Shonai's sea.

Hatsumago is a famous brand representing Yamagata, filled with joy and affection, named in the early Showa period to celebrate the birth of the family's first son. Brewed entirely through the Kimoto method, its flavor perfectly balances the mellow richness produced by natural lactic acid with a beautiful crispness that glides down the throat. From the sharp dry taste symbolized by the classic "Makiri" to supreme Junmai Daiginjo, it continues to be loved across generations as a "source of joy" that makes drinkers happy in any scene.

Mayasan is a limited brand for local consumption that expresses the terroir of Shonai nurtured by clear streams. Using the pure spring water "Goshimizu" from the Koshizawa area and brewed with locally grown "Haenuki" rice, its quality features a refreshing transparency as if the earth's purity were sealed in exactly as it is. Tohoku Meijo's proud Kimoto-zukuri techniques breathe depth and vitality into local materials, delivering a rare moving experience that can only be tasted in this land.

Sakata is a premium line handled exclusively by specialized stores, honoring the ancient name and history of Sakata City. Brewed entirely through the Kimoto method, it features an extremely pure mouthfeel as if filtered through the sand dunes of the Sea of Japan, with multilayered umami hidden within. True to its name rooted in the region, it delivers a deep and refined flavor for connoisseurs as a brand symbolizing the terroir of Shonai.

Hanamusume is an elegant brand symbolizing Arashiyama Shuzo, named after the image of pure white rice grains floating on the surface like "cherry blossoms in full bloom" as the mash reaches its peak of maturation. The pure spring water from Okitama's mountains and high-quality rice are sublimated into a "gentle dry" taste by Nanbu Toji skills, avoiding any sharp harshness. Its flavor, where deep sweetness and clean crispness coexist, possesses a warmth like spring sunlight, delivering a gentle moving experience that never tires the palate.

Hakugin Zao is a Junmai Ginjo and Junmai brand that Arashiyama Shuzo is proud of, reminiscent of the majestic snow-covered landscapes of the Zao mountain range. A pale amber luster and a modest yet elegant aroma expand along with a pure mouthfeel like melted snow. Its quality, harmonizing deep subtle sweetness and a soft dry finish that tightens the aftertaste, embodies the delicate beauty reached after enduring Okitama's harsh winters, making it a supreme food-pairing sake that quietly enhances the dining table.

Taruhei is the flagship brand carrying the brewery's house name, conveying the essence of Junmai sake. Without using any brewer's alcohol, the traditional techniques that draw out the vitality of rice achieve a deep richness and mellow "Umakuchi" (savory flavor). Its profound and substantial drinkability, which never tires the palate, is proof of the "authentic Japanese sake" brewed over 300 years of history, a dignified cup that richly colors dining moments.