Brands
Suiho
酔寶Suiho is a sake brewed by Suiho Shuzo in Kurosaki, Tamashima, Kurashiki, a brand bearing the auspicious name meaning 'Treasure of Intoxication.' The brewery carries out traditional sake-making in the Tamashima area, valuing locally rooted flavors. Through careful brewing utilizing Bitchu toji techniques, the sake features gentle aromas and well-balanced flavors, aiming for an easy-drinking quality that complements everyday meals. As a brand beloved locally, it pairs well with Seto Inland Sea seafood and Okayama's regional cuisine, and is enjoyed across a wide range of occasions from family dining to banquets.
Mitaketsuru
御嶽鶴Mitaketsuru is the flagship brand brewed by Ouchi Shuzo Jo in Kasaoka City, characterized by sake brewing that brings out the inherent flavor of rice. The Bitchu Toji's dedication to taste has led to winning the Okayama Prefecture Grand Prize. Using Okayama-grown rice and preserving traditional methods, it is crafted into a medium-dry sake with a well-balanced taste. The brewery even has a vending machine on site, making it beloved by local residents. Reflecting the climate of Kasaoka facing the Seto Inland Sea, it is a mild sake that pairs well with meals.
Manatsu no Kajitsu
真夏の果実Manatsu no Kajitsu is a summer-limited junmai ginjo muroka nama genshu brewed by Kamikokoro Shuzo, featuring a fruity flavor using Princess Michiko yeast (Tokyo University of Agriculture flower yeast PM-1). Its rare method of brewing in summer produces fresh, gorgeous aromas and refreshing acidity, creating a juicy flavor reminiscent of midsummer fruits. Brewed in Yorishima, the birthplace of Bitchu Toji, it harmonizes the rice umami unique to unfiltered nama genshu with yeast-derived fruit aromas. Ideal for enjoying chilled, it is a seasonal sake that accompanies summer dining tables and refreshes on hot days.
No.6
No.6The definitive Nama (unpasteurized) series of Aramasa, designed to highlight the raw appeal of Kogyo No. 6 yeast. It features a brilliant acidity akin to white wine, harmonized with dense sweetness and aromas of peach and strawberry. The complex umami from wooden vats and a refreshing pétillant sparkle make it a modern masterpiece that breaks all conventions.
Bicchuryu
備中流Bicchuryu is a daiginjo brewed by Kamikokoro Shuzo, a sake that bears the technique and tradition of Bitchu Toji in its brand name. Characterized by its distinguished flavor, brewed in Yorishima, the birthplace of Bitchu Toji, while preserving their traditions. Rich ginjo aromas and a refined, crisp palate harmonize, offering the elegant taste unique to daiginjo. As a brand embodying the pride and technique of Bitchu Toji, it carries forward the sake-making traditions of Okayama Prefecture. Favored for special occasion dining and gifts, it is a dignified sake that complements the delicate flavors of Japanese cuisine.
Shuwa Shuwa
しゅわしゅわShuwa Shuwa is a bottle-fermented sparkling sake by Kamikokoro Shuzo, featuring naturally fine, delicate carbonation. Rather than carbonation injection, natural effervescence from in-bottle fermentation creates an exquisite balance of Kamikokoro's characteristic sweetness and a sweet-and-sour taste reminiscent of lactic acid beverages. With a low alcohol content around 5%, it offers a refreshing flavor that is easy to drink even for sake beginners. It won the Supreme Gold in the Sparkling Sake category at the Fine Sake Awards Japan and a Silver Medal at the IWC. Pairing well with both Japanese and Western cuisine as a toast or food-pairing sake, it is a sparkling sake to be enjoyed casually.
Fuyu no Tsuki
冬の月Fuyu no Tsuki is a brand by Kamikokoro Shuzo, a sake expressing a pure, clear flavor like the moon shining in a winter's clear night sky. Carefully brewed during the kan-zukuri (cold-weather brewing) season in Yorishima, the birthplace of Bitchu Toji, it features a delicate flavor born from winter's cool climate. With a transparent aroma and a crisp palate, it pairs well with winter seasonal cuisine and hot pot dishes, and can be enjoyed at various temperatures. It is a beloved brand that cherishes seasonality, nurtured by the technique of Kamikokoro Shuzo and the terroir of Yorishima.
Ippin
一品Ippin is a sake brewed by Takimoto Shuzo in the city of Ibara, crafted primarily with carefully selected 'Akebono' sake rice for a clean and refreshing taste. Brewed by a historic brewery founded in 1863, this brand is produced while preserving traditional brewing methods in Ibara, aspiring to a quality worthy of its name 'Ippin' (meaning 'finest quality'). Characterized by a gentle aroma and well-balanced flavor, the sake is designed with food pairing in mind. Takimoto Shuzo also produces Ibara Wine made from grapes grown in Ibara's Aono district and authentic dashi soy sauce, contributing to the region's food culture. This is a local sake from Ibara that can be enjoyed on any occasion, from everyday meals to special celebrations.
Bishu
備州Bishu is a brand brewed by Shiragiku Shuzo, a local sake bearing the name of Bitchu Province (present-day western Okayama Prefecture). Brewed utilizing the rich nature of Nariwa-cho, Takahashi City and the clear water of the Nariwa River with traditional Bitchu Toji techniques. Using Okayama-grown rice, it features a taste that values locally rooted sake-making. As a brand alongside 'Taiten Shiragiku,' it has a mild, easy-to-drink quality that complements Bitchu food culture. Widely enjoyed from daily meals to local banquets, it is one of the representative sakes of the Bitchu region.
Rantei Kyokusui
蘭亭曲水Rantei Kyokusui is a sake brewed by Akagi Shuzo since its founding in 1823 in Bitchu-cho, Takahashi City, bearing an elegant name derived from the Chinese classic 'Lantingji Xu' (Preface to the Orchid Pavilion). Once part of a three-brand lineup alongside 'Wakatake' and 'Tomiyatsuru,' only Rantei Kyokusui continues to be brewed today. Characterized by a slightly dry, crisp taste with a refreshing drinkability that never tires. Inheriting two centuries of traditional sake-making in the Bitchu region, it is cherished as a sake that complements local food culture. Akagi Shuzo also produces kibi shochu, showcasing versatile brewing expertise.
Hijoushu
秘醸酒Takayuki
高雪Takayuki is a sake brewed by Koide Shuzo in Kibichuo-cho, named for the pure spring water that flows from snow-covered mountain valleys used in its production. Brewed with underground water from Mount Takajin and Okayama sake rice varieties including Omachi and Asahi. With a wide lineup including Daiginjo, Junmai, Honjozo, and regular sake, the Josen offers a slightly sweet, never-tiring taste, while the Kurashi Genshu features a rich flavor at 19-20% alcohol. A sake with a clear, pure taste unique to mountain regions, nurtured by the clean water and air of the Kibi Plateau.
O Horetsu
櫻芳烈O Horetsu is a sake brewed by Horetsu Shuzo in Ukan-cho, Takahashi City, named by combining the auspicious 'Sakura' with the posthumous name 'Horetsu-ko' of Mitsumasa Ikeda, the third lord of the Okayama domain. Founded in 1918, the brewery is situated upstream of the Ukan River in a rich natural setting, using mineral-rich underground water. With a wide lineup spanning Daiginjo, Junmai Ginjo, Ginjo, and Honjozo, they have earned multiple Gold Awards at the National New Sake Competition. The historic 1882 brewery hosts an annual 'JAZZ IN UKAN' concert in late April, blending culture with sake-making. Treasured locally as a rare sake with regional distribution.
Rakka Ryusui
落花流水Rakka Ryusui is a sake by Ochi Shuzo Jo in Maniwa City, a Junmai sake limited to Okayama Prefecture designed exclusively for warm sake (kan), named after a four-character idiom meaning 'mutual love.' Brewed to be enjoyed at 45-50°C, warming brings out the rice umami and mature flavors. Using mineral-rich medium-hard well water from karst terrain in the firefly-rich Shimo-azae area, it achieves a robust, crisp character. Characterized by a soft mouthfeel, firm rice umami, and mature flavors, it was named with the wish for human connections to spread from the brewery. An exceptionally warm sake that pairs brilliantly with hot pot and regional dishes.
Taisho no Tsuru
大正の鶴Taisho no Tsuru is the flagship brand of Ochi Shuzo Jo, a sake brewed in the firefly-rich natural environment of Shimo-azae, Maniwa City, by a brewery founded in 1893. The well water flowing through karst terrain is mineral-rich and medium-hard, producing sake with a robust, crisp character. The brand name combines the surname 'Ochi' with the auspicious 'crane' (tsuru) symbolizing the Taisho era, maintaining locally rooted brewing for over a century. With a range from Junmai to Tokubetsu Junmai, it features a taste combining strength and delicacy, nurtured by Maniwa's nature and traditional techniques.
Sumiya Yahei
炭屋彌兵衛Sumiya Yahei is a brand named in honor of the third-generation Yahei Tsuji, founder of Tsuji Honten, whose family ran a kimono business under the trade name 'Sumiya' before beginning sake brewing in 1804. Using 100% Okayama Omachi rice with an unfiltered method without activated carbon, it retains the natural golden-to-amber color and deep umami of genuine Junmai sake. Brewed in the traditional townscape of Katsuyama, Maniwa City, it maximizes the characteristics of Omachi rice. As the crystallization of Tsuji Honten's philosophy and technique, it is a rare brand available only through specialized retailers, offering sake that fully showcases Omachi rice's charm.
Mihotsuru
美保鶴Mihotsuru was a sake brewed by Omi Shuzo in Ninazu, Maniwa City, characterized by traditional brewing using spring water from "Shiogama no Reisen," one of Japan's 100 Famous Waters. A small brewery crafted sake using traditional handmade methods in the nature-rich environment of the Ninazu Plateau in the Chugoku Mountains. The undiluted sake had a robust flavor, with a clean dry style being the mainstream. Cherished as a community-oriented brand mainly distributed in the Ninazu-Yubara area, the brewery eventually withdrew from sake production, and the business was transferred to a liquor shop in Hokkaido, where it restarted as Hakodate Jozo.
Shinro
神露Shinro is a sake brewed by Shinro Shuzo in Konkō Town, Asakuchi City, bearing a sacred name derived from the poem "Dew of Divine Blessings" composed by a Konkō-kyō priest at the brewery's founding. Founded in Konkō Town, which has attracted pilgrims from across Japan as a temple town of Konkō-kyō since the late Edo period, the brand has continued community-rooted brewing for over a century. Centered on the sake "Shinro," the brewery also produces liqueurs such as plum wine, beloved by both pilgrims and local residents. With the history and religious culture of Konkō Town as its backdrop, it features a gentle, easy-drinking flavor that harmonizes with the local food culture.
Hohoshu
泡々酒Hohoshu is a sparkling sake brewed by Marumoto Shuzo, characterized by natural effervescence from secondary fermentation in the bottle. This historic brewery uses self-cultivated organic rice, brewing a base sake with traditional techniques and then inducing secondary fermentation after bottling to create fine, refreshing bubbles. True to its name "Hoho" (bubbles), beautiful bubbles rise when poured into a glass, offering an elegant aroma and refreshing taste. Ideal for toasts and as an aperitif, it pairs well with both Japanese and Western cuisine as a sake with a modern sensibility.
Colors
カラーズThe pasteurized series of Aramasa designed to express the diverse character of Akita's sake rice varieties. Brewed entirely through Kimoto and Kioke methods, it achieves a profound flavor despite its low-alcohol original strength. Each color in the lineup represents a different rice, vividly painting the rich landscape of Akita's terroir.
Kamomidori
かもみどりKamomidori is a local brand by Marumoto Shuzo, with a name expressing the place name Kamogata-chō and the lush green rural landscape. Cherished in Okayama Prefecture since the brewery's founding, it upholds the tradition of community-rooted sake brewing. Using rice and water nurtured in the rich natural environment of Kamogata-chō, it is crafted into a gentle, easy-drinking flavor. Marumoto Shuzo also puts effort into brewing with self-cultivated rice, and that expertise is reflected in this local brand. It is widely enjoyed from everyday dining to local banquets as the local sake of Kamogata.
EARTH SCIENCE
EARTH SCIENCEEARTH SCIENCE is a modern brand by Marumoto Shuzo, a sake incorporating a scientific approach to soil, water, and rice as symbolized by its name. Leveraging Marumoto Shuzo's experience and expertise from growing their own rice, it is produced with consistent quality control from soil to brewing. By scientifically analyzing and practicing organic cultivation, special cultivation techniques, understanding rice characteristics through in-house milling, and traditional brewing methods, it pursues new possibilities for sake. With environmentally conscious brewing and innovative flavors, it is a next-generation sake that appeals to younger generations and international markets.
Kujira Masamune
鯨正宗Kujira Masamune is a sake brewed by Hiraki Shuzo, a brand expressing a powerful and majestic flavor like a magnificent whale. Since the brewery with roots in Shizuoka Prefecture relocated to Kamogata-chō, Okayama, it has continued community-rooted brewing. Using Okayama-grown Omachi and Akebono rice, it is brewed with granite-filtered underground water from Yotsu-yama. Nurtured by the mild Setouchi climate and high-quality ingredients, it features a well-balanced, easy-drinking flavor. Long cherished locally, it is enjoyed widely from everyday meals to banquets.
Shogun
将軍Shogun is a sake brewed by Hiraki Shuzo, a brand bearing a powerful and dignified name. One of the brands brewed in Kamogata-chō, Okayama, by a brewery with roots in Shizuoka, it forms part of the brand lineup alongside "Kihei" and "Shinkon." Using Okayama-grown rice and granite-filtered underground water from Yotsu-yama, it is crafted with a well-balanced flavor. Cherished locally, it is enjoyed widely from everyday dining to banquets.
Shinkon
新婚Shinkon is a sake brewed by Hiraki Shuzo, bearing an auspicious name celebrating the joyful beginning of a newlywed couple. Cherished as a wedding sake, the lineup includes premium selections for wedding ceremonies. One of the brands brewed in Kamogata-chō, Okayama, by Hiraki Shuzo with roots in Shizuoka, it features an elegant, easy-drinking flavor fitting for celebrations. Using Okayama-grown rice and Yotsu-yama underground water, it has been long loved in the region as sake that graces joyful occasions.