Sake Brands
in Yamaguchi

A brand that makes use of the clear stream of the Nishiki River and the local climate, harmonizing the rich nature of Iwakuni with traditional techniques. Expressing a taste rooted in the region, it is a sake that continues to be loved by the locals.

The name "Gangi" comes from the thought "life is born at the water's edge", symbolizing sake brewing nurtured by the clear stream of the Nishiki River. By insisting on Junmai and unfiltered brewing and bringing out the original vitality of rice, it realizes a fruity yet rich umami and a sharp taste.

Nene is a sparkling Junmai sake brewed by Sakai Shuzo, characterized by a gentle sparkling sensation created by sealing natural carbon dioxide gas from in-bottle fermentation. It features a light and cool taste where subtle sweetness and refreshing acidity harmonize, and you can enjoy a pear-like aroma and taste, and a fruit-like texture.

A brand derived from the five arches of the "Kintai Bridge", one of Japan's three famous bridges. Insisting on rice and water from Yamaguchi Prefecture, and people, it is characterized by fine-grained and fragrant sake quality due to soft water brewing. While incorporating traditional wooden barrel making, they pursue a well-balanced taste that goes well with meals.

A brand expressing the gorgeousness and elegance of "Nishiki" (brocade). It features a fine-grained texture unique to soft water brewing and a taste that makes the most of the umami of Yamaguchi Prefecture rice. It is a bottle filled with Sakai Shuzo's tradition and commitment to the region.

Kussenkourin is one of the brands brewed by Horie Sakaba, characterized by sake brewing that utilizes the technology of a long-established brewery with a tradition of over 250 years and the blessings of the clear stream Nishiki River. With the rich natural environment of Nishiki-cho and medium-hard brewing water, it embodies the philosophy of sake brewing rooted in the region as a sake with a unique taste.

Features sake brewing with spring water from the Nishiki River, selected as one of Japan's 100 Famous Waters, and medium-hard water. Bearing the name of the longest clear stream in the prefecture, it is brewed in a naturally rich environment surrounded by mountains of the 1000m class. The umami of rice and the sharp taste harmonize, reflecting the climate of Nishiki-cho.

The main brand of Horie Sakaba, which is highly praised overseas. It maintains an exquisite balance between the clean sharpness due to medium-hard water and the plump umami inherent in rice. It goes excellently with meals, and is a gem that becomes deeper in flavor the more you drink.

"Mujaku" is a premium long-term aged vintage sake with only about 1,000 bottles distributed worldwide annually. By polishing the miraculous rice "Isehikari" to 18% and brewing it with medium-hard water, they realized a sake quality that can be aged for 5 or 10 years. Characterized by a sweet flower-like scent and complex taste, it fascinates gourmets around the world.

Kuromain is one of the brands created by Horie Sakaba's traditional technology and the great nature of Nishiki-cho. Utilizing the blessings of the clear stream Nishiki River, they pursue a taste rooted in the local climate. With a sake quality that you won't get tired of drinking, it is also suitable for daily evening drinks.

Hinoshita Musou is a premium Junmai Daiginjo and Daiginjo sake series created by Toji (master brewer) Shinji Hinoshita in pursuit of his ideal sake brewing, such as introducing a 'microbubble rice washing machine.' Aiming for 'sake unparalleled under heaven,' it is brewed without sparing time and effort. It is characterized by a gorgeous aroma, a transparent taste, and a delicate finish. It has received high praise in competitions both domestically and internationally, and is known as a brand symbolizing the high technical ability of Murashige Shuzo.

Shirasaki Hachimangu no Hissho-shu is a special sake for praying for victory, dedicated to Shirasaki Hachimangu Shrine in Iwakuni City. Murashige Shuzo is in charge of brewing, and it is known as an auspicious sake drunk before sacred rituals and matches. Through careful brewing, they aim for sake quality that has a pure and powerful taste and energizes the drinker. It is a sake that also serves as a spiritual support, linking the faith of the local people and the tradition of sake brewing.

Kinkan Kuromatsu is Murashige Shuzo's flagship brand. The name comes from the black pine (Kuromatsu), which symbolizes joy and is always displayed at celebrations such as ceremonies and weddings. The first brewery owner named it 'Kinkan Kuromatsu' (Gold Crown Black Pine) by placing a gold crown on top, hoping that drinking our sake would bring more happiness to everyone. They use two types of underground water from the clear Nishiki River: the ultra-soft 'Ganryu Well' and the hard water 'Kannon Well' from limestone strata, depending on the desired sake quality. They also use locally produced sake rice 'Saito no Shizuku,' embodying a brewing philosophy rooted in the region. Characterized by a gentle aroma and a slightly sweet richness, it has a long-lasting aftertaste. As a brand symbolizing Iwakuni's history and culture, it embodies the philosophy of community-rooted sake brewing.

eight knot is an innovative sake series from Murashige Shuzo, born as a series brewed with the phantom yeast 'Kyokai No. 8 yeast', whose distribution had been discontinued. The series' first brew won a medal in the Junmai Sake category of the SAKE division at the 'IWC (International Wine Challenge) 2021', attracting attention not only in Japan but also from around the world. The phantom No. 8 yeast was known for its gentle, elegant aroma and clean acidity, making it suitable for long-term aging. By reviving this historic yeast in the modern era, they are creating a new style of sake that fuses tradition and innovation. This series, challenged by young Toji (master brewers), proposes new ways to enjoy sake, such as comparing drinks by BY (Brewing Year), and symbolizes Murashige Shuzo's ambitious efforts aiming for the ultimate sake that shines in the next generation.

Murashige is a confident creation bearing the name of Murashige Shuzo. It is carefully brewed using traditional techniques, using clear water from the upper reaches of the Nishiki River in Iwakuni City and locally produced sake rice such as Yamaguchi Prefecture's 'Saito no Shizuku'. Characterized by the umami of rice and a gentle aroma, they pursue a taste that you will never get tired of drinking. As a sake that accompanies the daily dining table, it is a brand that has been loved by the people of Iwakuni for a long time.

Dassai is the sole sake brand brewed by Asahi Shuzo. With the catchphrase 'Sake brewing is dream creation, let's open up a new era of sake,' they continue to reform and innovate without resting on words like tradition or handmade. Using only Yamada Nishiki rice, with the highest rice polishing ratio of 23% (Migaki Niwari Sanbu), they verify rice polished to the limit, realizing a gorgeous aroma, clean sweetness like honey, and a crisp aftertaste. They actively introduce the latest technologies such as squeezing using a centrifuge, and their attitude of always pursuing the highest quality has gained high praise from enthusiasts around the world.

Toyo Otoko Yama is a historic brand created by the founder of Kawamura Brewery. It is characterized by a gentle aroma that invites many people to drink it, followed by the sweetness and umami of rice that swells and rushes in at once. It is a sake that combines delicacy and boldness, serving as a signal fire for the brewery's revival. Boasting high quality that has won numerous awards including the Prefectural Governor's Award at the New Sake Awards in the past, it has a taste nurtured by the rich nature of Suo-Oshima and traditional techniques. Released as a commemorative limited sake for revival in 2025, it is a symbolic brand that has restarted as the only brewery in Suo-Oshima. Continuing to challenge for a new era while inheriting over 110 years of history and tradition, Toyo Otoko Yama is supported by many people as a sake that embodies the pride and hope of the region.

Kinfundo is the highest quality Daiginjo sake, which is light and fruity, brewed slowly at low temperatures by polishing refined sake rice Yamada Nishiki to 40% or less. By using 'Miyamizu' from Hanaoka Hachimangu Shrine that comes from a deep well, a unique sake quality is realized. Characterized by a clear taste with no unpleasant flavors and an elegant aroma due to careful rice polishing and low-temperature fermentation, it is known as a brand representing Kudamatsu.