Brands
Gekkeikan
月桂冠 🏆 20"Gekkeikan" is the flagship brand of trust and achievement that the brewery founded in 1637 is proud of. Bearing the name "Gekkeikan," a symbol of victory and glory, it has always led the quality improvement of sake and the creation of new culture. It embodies the essence of the delicate and mellow "Onnazake" (soft sake) nurtured by Fushimi's famous water "Fushimizu." Its smooth mouthfeel and balanced taste are loved by a wide range of generations. From family dinners to official banquets. Deeply rooted in Japanese life, it is a brand that can be called a synonym for sake, continuing to support smiling "celebratory moments" with solid quality.
Aizu Chujo
会津中将 🏆 19Aizu Chujo is the flagship brand of Tsurunoe Shuzo, conveying the spirit of the Aizu clan to the present day. Preserving traditional handcrafted methods, it pursues the "gentle umami of rice with warmth." Its mellow aroma and soft mouthfeel, yet with a dignified core, have earned high praise in numerous competitions. It is a leading sake representing Aizu, echoing the dignity of Aizu's samurai culture.
Hoyo
鳳陽 🏆 30Hoyo is the flagship brand of Uchigasaki Shuzo Store, an auspicious brand named after the Tang dynasty story "Hou Mei Chou You." Meaning "a phoenix singing towards the morning sun," it embodies the wish for the "prosperity of family fortune." Miyagi Prefecture's oldest brewery, boasting over 360 years of tradition, brews each bottle carefully by hand using super soft brewing water and locally produced rice. It features a swelling umami and plump containing aroma that spreads from a smooth mouthfeel, a sake quality where you can fully enjoy the original sweetness and umami of the rice. Under the concept of "sake that matches what you eat everyday and makes you feel relieved when you drink it," they aim for a gentle and reassuring taste. While protecting the traditional winter brewing techniques of Nanbu Toji, they achieve a balance between tradition and quality, such as winning gold medals at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. A brand that conveys Miyagi's tradition to the present, loved for many years for its soft sake quality that you never get tired of drinking, staying close to the daily dining table.
Atago no Matsu
愛宕の松 🏆 31 EC
Atago no Matsu is a traditional brand of Niizawa Sake Brewery that has been loved locally since its founding. It is said that Bansui Doi, the lyricist of "Kojo no Tsuki," also loved drinking it. Currently, like "Hakurakusei," it is based on the concept of ultimate food sake, but it is designed to have a wider range of flavors, making it a versatile food sake that can be enjoyed in a wide range of temperatures from cold sake to warmed sake.
Tosatsuru
土佐鶴 🏆 21 EC
"Tosatsuru" is the flagship brand representing Tosatsuru Shuzo, which has been in business for over 200 years. It is synonymous with "Tanrei Karakuchi" (light and dry), characterized by its sharpness and refreshing mouthfeel. Its high quality is guaranteed, as proven by its overwhelming history of winning Gold Prizes at the National New Sake Assessing. With a wide lineup ranging from daily evening drinks to gifts, it is known nationwide as a brand symbolizing Kochi's sake culture.
Tokaizakari
東魁盛 🏆 12"Tokaizakari" is a daily sake that has been loved locally for a long time. Using "Gohyakumangoku" rice grown in its own fields and rice from local contract farmers, it practices sake brewing rooted in the region. It features a taste that you won't get tired of, accompanying daily meals, and can be enjoyed in a wide range of temperatures from cold sake to hot sake.
Juyondai
十四代 🏆 15Juyondai is a peerless brand that rewrote the history of Japanese sake, reigning at the pinnacle both in Japan and abroad. It is characterized by an elegant and brilliant aroma reminiscent of melons or peaches—overturning conventional images—along with a rich sweetness that conveys the vitality of rice and an incredibly smooth mouthfeel. These extremely rare limited editions are works of art, where refined techniques, the nature of Okitama, and the demands of the era fuse perfectly, remaining the ultimate aspiration for enthusiasts worldwide.
Fuku Komachi
福小町 🏆 18Named after the legendary birthplace of Ono no Komachi, this flagship brand of Kimura Shuzo carries wishes for luck (Fuku) and beauty. The mellow richness produced by 400 years of tradition and abundant spring water has captivated people's hearts for centuries. With the prestigious title of "World's Best" at IWC, its elegant flavor embodying Akita's terroir is truly a masterpiece worthy of its name.
Hamachidori
浜千鳥 🏆 22A brand name imaging the figure of plovers flocking on the Rikuchu Coast, it is a sake nurtured by the nature of the Sanriku sea and Kitakami Mountains. Using underground water from Mt. Sennin in the Kitakami Mountains as brewing water, it features a gentle mouthfeel unique to soft water and a smooth drinking mouth. Centering on Iwate Prefecture's sake brewing rice "Yuinoka" and "Gin Ginga," they also use Yamada Nishiki and Miyama Nishiki, finishing with a well-balanced taste. Due to the sharp sweetness and sake quality that does not assert itself too much, it has excellent compatibility with fresh Sanriku seafood, especially sashimi and sushi. The "Yumehonami" series, which uses 100% "Gin Ginga" from the adjacent Otsuchi Town, is reputed to match fresh fish dishes with its crisp drinking mouth and faintly sweet scent. Loved as a true local sake with 90% of production consumed within Iwate Prefecture due to community-based sake brewing.
Kirakucho
喜楽長 🏆 17 EC
"Kirakucho" (Joy and Pleasure Longevity) is the representative brand that Kita Shuzo has protected for over 200 years, wishing for joy to be enjoyed and to last long. Maximizing the power of rice polished by private rice milling, they achieve both a mellow aroma and a sharp taste. Boasting a diverse lineup from Junmai Daiginjo to daily evening drinks, the dry Junmai Ginjo is a bottle with high perfection as a meal-time sake. It is a traditional taste that nestles close to the joys of life and celebrates healthy times.
Toyo Bijin
東洋美人 🏆 15Toyo Bijin is the representative brand of Sumikawa Sake Brewing, and is a sake characterized by a fruity aroma and a transparent taste. As the phrase 'water that has passed through rice plants' suggests, it has a beautiful sake quality where the umami of rice and the purity of water harmonize. It has many awards both in Japan and overseas, and is also famous for being served at a dinner party when President Putin visited Japan. It combines gorgeousness with elegance that snuggles up to meals, and continues to fascinate many sake fans.
Daisekkei
大雪渓 🏆 16 EC
"Daisekkei" is a brand characterized by a clear and clean taste, like the melting snow water of the Northern Alps. The balance between sharpness that you don't get tired of and the umami of rice is exquisite. It is a local sake of Shinshu that can be enjoyed with daily meals, clean as cold sake and mellow as warm sake.
Ninki-Ichi
人気一 🏆 23 ECNinki-Ichi is the flagship brand of Ninki Shuzo, pursuing only handcrafted Ginjo-class sake. Fermented in one of Japan's largest wooden vats made of 100-year-old cedar, it achieves a high-level fusion of deep, complex wood-born flavors and the brilliant aroma of Ginjo. Their commitment to steaming in Japanese cauldrons and bottle-aging creates a pure sweetness free of impurities, with a sophisticated transparency despite being dry. As proven by its selection for the Nobel Peace Prize award banquet and numerous top awards worldwide, its quality is global standard. It delivers Fukushima's proud "ultimate cup" that turns everyday moments into special ones.
Ippakusuisei
一白水成 🏆 11Carrying a name that means "Becoming from one white water (rice)," Ippakusuisei is the flagship brand of Fukurokuju Shuzo, embodying a pure and sincere commitment to brewing. The sake is a perfect harmony of world-class techniques refined as part of NEXT5 and the umami of rice nurtured by Gojome's rich soil. With a vibrant aroma that overflows from the glass and a powerful yet elegant acidity, this brand redefines Akita's local sake, radiating a brilliance that captivates fans across Japan and beyond.
Sakuragawa
桜川 🏆 12"Sakuragawa" is the traditional primary brand of Tsuji Zenbei Shoten, passed down since its founding in 1754 by Tsuji Zenbei, an Omi merchant drawn to the waters of Moka. Named after the Sakuragawa River that flows through Moka City, it has been cherished as a local point of pride for over 270 years. Brewed with high-quality groundwater from the Kinugawa system and locally grown rice, it is carefully crafted using traditional methods inherited from skilled Nanbu brewmasters. Its greatest feature is its "consistent flavor" that pairs perfectly with food. With a restrained, gentle aroma and soft rice umami, its balanced profile ensures it never tires the palate while enhancing daily meals. While honoring tradition, it benefits from the precise quality improvements of 16th-generation brewmaster Hiroyuki Tsuji. The absolute quality of this sake is backed by the remarkable feat of winning 10 consecutive gold medals at the National New Sake Competition. It is a legendary sake that serves as the origin of Moka's local brewing, pulsing with 270 years of history.
Ugo no Tsuki
雨後の月 🏆 18"Ugo no Tsuki" is the flagship brand of Aihara Shuzo, named after a passage in Roka Tokutomi's essay "Nature and Life", "The moon shining clearly in the sky after the rain." By storing all products in refrigeration to prevent deterioration of sake quality, it is packed with a commitment to quality that is always shipped in the best condition. Characterized by a beautiful taste with transparency and an elegant and gorgeous aroma, it is a beautiful sake representing Hiroshima that has received high praise both domestically and internationally.
Gensai
玄宰 🏆 17Gensai is the pinnacle Daiginjo of Suehiro Shuzo, named after the famous Aizu clan councillor Tanaka Gensai. Crafted with the utmost skills of the Toji and brewers using the finest rice and water, its character features a noble melon-like aroma and a profound richness. Its overwhelming perfection, proven by five consecutive years of Gold Medals, makes it a jewel of a sake that embodies the pride of Aizu.
Sakura Fubuki
桜吹雪 🏆 11"Sakura Fubuki" is a traditional brand that Kanemitsu Shuzo in Kurose-cho, Higashihiroshima City, has continued to brew since its founding. It is an evening drink that has been loved by the people of Kurose-cho for many years, characterized by a gentle and calm taste. Although "Kamo Kinshu" is currently attracting attention, this brand, which is rooted in the history of the brewery and the lives of the local people, continues to be carefully protected.
Shimeharitsuru
〆張鶴 🏆 19 EC
Shimeharitsuru is a representative brand that can be called the soul of Miyao Shuzo. Brewed by Murakami's rich nature and the traditional techniques of over 200 years, its taste has received overwhelming support from sake fans nationwide as one of the famous sakes representing Niigata. Strictly selected high-quality rice and pure soft water are luxuriously used and carefully brewed over a long time at low temperatures. Its greatest features are a fine, silk-like smooth mouthfeel and an elegant aroma that is modest yet deep. A plump umami spreads gently in the mouth, and finally, it's a flawless balance that disappears cleanly and bravely. As an 'ultimate food sake' that never interferes with the taste of dishes but rather draws out their deliciousness to the maximum, it is highly praised by many professional chefs.
Masumi
真澄 🏆 29 EC
"Masumi" is a sake brand loved all over the world, boasted by Miyasaka Brewing founded in 1662. As the birthplace of "Association No. 7 Yeast," they maximize its characteristics of gentle aroma and well-balanced taste. The taste with transparency and sharpness, thought out primarily to be enjoyed with meals, is the royal road of "mealtime sake" that accompanies any dish.
Shichiken
七賢 🏆 22"Shichiken" is the flagship brand representing Yamanashi Meijo. Its name comes from the transom of "The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" received from the lord of Takato Castle. Brewed in a historic brewery where Emperor Meiji stayed, it uses underground water from Mt. Kaikoma in the Southern Alps (one of the 100 best waters) and local sake rice. The taste expressing "moisture, freshness, refreshingness, and lightness" created by the water of Hakushu is the best cup that enhances meals without getting tired of drinking.
Miinokotobuki
三井の寿 🏆 17 EC
"Miinokotobuki" is the brewery's flagship brand, combining "Mii" from Mii District and "Kotobuki" meaning celebration. It is also known as the origin of the name of the character "Hisashi Mitsui" in the manga "Slam Dunk," a connection born from the fact that the author Takehiko Inoue is a fan of the brewery. With a lineup centered on Junmai sake, the concept of sake brewing fusing science, sense, and passion is most strongly reflected. It features a balanced approach that cherishes traditional techniques while thoroughly analyzing temperature management and fermentation data. Winning numerous awards at international competitions such as the IWC SAKE category and Kura Master, it boasts quality recognized worldwide. As special projects, they also develop products that cherish the bond with fans, such as sake with 14 degrees alcohol named after Hisashi Mitsui's uniform number and limited edition products released on his birthday, May 22nd.
Tenju
天壽 🏆 16 ECCarrying a warm wish for longevity—"to live to one hundred with this sake"—Tenju is the flagship brand cherished since the brewery's inception. The powerful calligraphy on the label is taken from the ancient Diamond Sutra, reflecting its 200-year history. Using carefully selected in-house rice and Mt. Chokai's sacred spring water, it achieves ultimate stability and transparency. Its elegant umami, drawn out through low-temperature long-term fermentation, and clean finish gracefully accompany celebrations, loved as a "sake of happiness" that connects generations.
Jokigen
上喜元 🏆 16Jokigen 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.
Houou Biden
鳳凰美田 🏆 15 EC
"Houou Biden" is the flagship brand of Kobayashi Shuzo and a highly popular brand that commands an overwhelming presence in the modern sake scene. Its name originates from the former village name "Mita-mura," where the brewery is located, and the "Houou" (Phoenix) that soars majestically. It is characterized by a unique, brilliant aroma and fresh flavor born from mastering traditional Ginjo brewing. The greatest appeal is the rich, fruity Ginjo aroma reminiscent of Muscat, white peach, and European pear. The fine, elegant sweetness that spreads the moment it enters the mouth and the high-quality acidity that supports it create an exquisite harmony, leading to a beautiful, translucent finish. Through thorough quality control and passionate brewing, it has gained immense support not only from sake fans but also from wine lovers and the younger generation. Known as a "hard-to-obtain brand" due to supply being very limited relative to demand, Houou Biden is a refined gem where traditional skills and modern sensibilities crystallize.