Sake Brands
in Yamaguchi

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.

"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.

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.

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.

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.

Iku Sangai is a sake with a rich taste where the umami of rice comes alive, without strong acidity for a Junmai sake. By using 'Miyamizu' from Hanaoka Hachimangu Shrine, the original taste of rice is brought out, realizing a well-balanced sake quality. It is evaluated as a sake that accompanies meals, harmonizing the deep taste unique to Junmai sake with a refreshing mouthfeel.

Akatsuki is a 'Umakara-kuchi' (rich and dry, +14) Honjozo sake brewed slowly using 'Miyamizu' from Hanaoka Hachimangu Shrine that comes from a deep well of Kinfundo Shuzo. The name 'Akatsuki' comes from a Buddhist term meaning a vessel for offering water or flowers to Buddha. Due to its rich and dry quality, it is characterized by a taste that harmonizes refreshing sharpness and the umami of rice, and is loved as a Honjozo sake that goes well with meals.

MUEZ is a brand developed by Hatsumomidi incorporating modern sensibilities. It is characterized by a gorgeous aroma and excellent balance of taste, fusing modern approaches with traditional sake brewing techniques. As a sake with a sophisticated taste reflecting the attitude of carefully cultivating small quantities, it proposes new possibilities for sake.

Hatsumomiji is the flagship brand of Hatsumomidi and is the sake that shares the company name. Characterized by a gorgeous aroma and excellent balance of taste, it embodies the philosophy of sake brewing where they gently care for small quantities like their own children often done by the couple. Using ingredients from Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is a charming brand with a taste reflecting the climate of Shunan.

Kaiten is one of the brands brewed by Hatsumomidi, characterized by a gorgeous aroma and excellent balance of taste. Reflecting the attitude of carefully cultivating small quantities, it is loved in the region as a sake representing Shunan.

Shouin is a sake with a warm and gentle taste, featuring a label with the autograph and portrait of Shoin Yoshida. By bearing the name of Shoin Yoshida, a great figure representing Yamaguchi Prefecture, it embodies the desire to inherit the history and culture of the region. Making use of the slightly soft characteristics of the well water springing in the brewery, a soft, refreshing and sharp taste is realized. Brewed with clear natural water slowly filtered through the strata of the majestic mountains of the Chugoku Mountains using ingredients from Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is an elegant sake typical of Yamagata Honten.

Yamagata is a representative brand bearing the name of Yamagata Honten, characterized by a soft, refreshing, and sharp taste partly because the well water springing in the brewery is slightly soft water. Using ingredients carefully improved by local farmers such as rice and water from Yamaguchi Prefecture, it is brewed with clear natural water slowly filtered through the strata of the majestic mountains of the Chugoku Mountains. Embodying the philosophy of sake brewing of Yamagata Honten with over 140 years of tradition, it is loved in the region for a long time as a simple sake that you never get tired of drinking.

Fukuju is the representative brand of Tominaga Brewery, a sake inheriting the tradition since its founding in 1875. Currently, it is brewed by Yamagata Honten on consignment, and sake brewing is carried out fusing the techniques and philosophies of two breweries in Shunan City. It has a fruity sensation like melon that smells softly and gently, a habit-free drinking mouth that flows like water, and light umami and acidity harmonize moderately. It is characterized by refreshingness with a sharp bitterness remaining in the aftertaste, and has a taste that you never get tired of drinking. It has been loved for many years as a sake rooted in the region, reflecting the history of the Tominaga family whose ancestor was a merchant who came from Ishikawa Prefecture on a Kitamaebune ship and the regionality of Kushigahama, Shunan City.

Kotobuki, anciently called 'Kotohogi', was used for celebrations and rituals to wish for long life and longevity. It is a locally rooted brand loved by locals for many years, referred to as 'Tsuru Kame Kotobuki' (Crane Turtle Longevity) from the old label design in the local area. Junmai Daiginjo is our highest peak, characterized by a gorgeous and fruity aroma. Tokubetsu Junmai is a standard Junmai sake, loved as a simple sake that makes you feel relieved when you drink it. As a sake suitable for celebratory occasions reflecting the auspicious name and the attitude of sake brewing rooted in the local area, it has been loved by the people of Shunan for 200 years.

Jomon Yakushima is a sake brand manufactured by Shin Nakano Kogyo Takara Shinju Gura. It is characterized by sake brewing using carefully polished rice utilizing high technology as a rice milling machine manufacturer. Selected as a souvenir that can only be bought locally in Shunan City, it is a sake reflecting the commitment to rice milling technology.

Seiriki is a brand named after the name of the ship at that time because the predecessor of Nakamura Brewery was a shipping industry. The top note has a faintly apple fruity fruit aroma, and when included, bitterness precedes but moderate sweetness and umami, crisp mineral feeling and refreshing aftertaste are characterized. Brewing is handled by Yamagata Honten, and it is a fascinating finish with a reassuring dry finish, with no habits and a refreshing drinking mouth. As a sake of Shunan known only to those who know it even locally, it is a brand loved in the region while maintaining scarcity by limited distribution. As a sake reflecting the regionality of Shunan, fusing the history of the predecessor of the shipping industry and the reliable technology of Yamagata Honten, it has become a valuable brand available only at Roadside Station Solene Shunan and the brewery.

Otokojiman is a representative brand bearing the name of Otokojiman Sake Brewing, and the characters used on the sake label have historical value as handwritten calligraphy by Ryusei Kishida himself. Inheriting the tradition since its founding in Meiji 28 (1895), it is characterized by a taste that reflects the climate of Shunan. Currently, under the cooperation and guidance of other breweries, they are making various efforts to realize the sake quality and taste they aim for, and are challenging innovative sake brewing while protecting tradition. It is a brand that harmonizes artistry and sake brewing techniques, telling the story of the connection with the famous painter Ryusei Kishida.

Tatsunoo (Dragon's Tail) is a brand named after creating a taste with the image of a dragon disappearing into the clouds while trailing its tail. It is a famous sake characterized by the rich and mellow umami of rice and the refreshing acidity remaining in the aftertaste, and uses the sake rice 'Yamada Nishiki' cultivated in-house. Junmai Daiginjo 40% polishing has a gentle and elegant ginjo aroma, and is the highest peak of 'Tatsunoo' where the fragrant taste of sake stands out. Junmai Ginjo 50% polishing has a fresh and pure mouthfeel, and the umami of rice spreads slowly on the tongue with an elegant dryness. Tokubetsu Junmai 60% polishing has a refreshing mouthfeel, and the deep taste that spreads slowly and the high-quality dry taste will never bore you. With a taste that combines delicacy and boldness, it is supported by sake lovers as a brand where you can enjoy different personalities for each rice polishing ratio.

Ryu no Tama is a brand brewed by Matsuda Sake Brewing, characterized by sake brewing utilizing the rich nature of Shunan City and traditional techniques. As a local sake of Shunan, it is a sake familiar to the region.

Nishiki Sekai is the representative brand of Takeuchi Sake Brewing, and 'Nishiki' refers to silk fabrics using colored threads of two or more colors or gold and silver threads, and is a word meaning beautiful and splendid things. It represents a wonderful world that can only be opened by connecting and mixing with various people. Since its founding, 100% natural water pumped from the well has been used, and due to the mellow soft water which is the groundwater of the first-class Saba River system, it is finished as a sake with a soft mouthfeel even if the sake meter value indicates dry. Since 1995, 100% Yamaguchi Prefecture rice has been used, and quality and peace of mind are realized through cooperation with cooperative farmers. From 2020, they are working on sake brewing with the phantom sake rice 'Kokuryo Miyako' born in Yamaguchi Prefecture, and you can enjoy a refreshing taste with moderate acidity in Junmai Ginjo and Junmai Daiginjo. With a mellow mouthfeel and a good balance of umami and acidity, it is easy to match with meat and can be enjoyed as a sake during meals. As the only brewery in Hofu City, the attitude of challenging innovative initiatives while inheriting the history and tradition of the region is embodied in the brand Nishiki Sekai.

il Sake is one of the brands developed by Araya Sake Brewing and is a sake that incorporates modern sensibility. It is characterized by a gorgeous aroma and an excellent balance of taste, reflecting the attitude of sake brewing where the couple carefully raises a small amount like their own child.