Brands

Aizu Otoyama is a symbol of rebirth that dramatically came back in 2021 after experiencing a production halt since its 1865 founding. The series "Wa" (Harmony/Circle), launched as a fresh brand, uses local "Yume-no-Ka" rice and is imbued with Yasushi Kobayashi's passionate desire to connect drinkers with a gentle circle of happiness. It is a drop of crystal-clear passion born from Aizu's natural bounty and regional bonds.

"Akitora" is the flagship brand of Arimitsu Shuzojo, named after Kunitora Aki, a Sengoku warlord who ruled the eastern part of Kochi Prefecture. Among Kochi sake where "Tanrei Karakuchi" is common, it daringly pursues umami and roundness as a "food sake." It features a gentle and soft mouthfeel and refreshing acidity created by using underground water (soft water) of the Akano River. It is a sake with a pleasant taste that enhances the flavor of food.

The flagship brand since the brewery's founding, named after an anecdote where the Shogun Tokugawa Ieyasu spoke of gifting the "flower of Kanto" to his vassals. Made with 100% Gunma-grown rice, it features a beautiful balance of sweetness and acidity, purposefully designed as a versatile food-pairing sake.

Jozen Mizu no Gotoshi is an innovative brand that threw a stone into the history of sake, pushing Shirataki Shuzo to global prominence. Its name is derived from Laozi's words 'Jozen wa Mizu no Gotoshi' (the best way of life is to be like water), pursuing the ultimate purity that stays close to any person or dish and never asserts itself too much. The clarity as pure as snowmelt water and surprisingly light and smooth throat hit are the culmination of the philosophy that 'sake should be drinkable like water.' Its refined taste, which is friendly to sake beginners and even impresses experts, has become a standard in the modern sake scene. It is a symbol of Shirataki Shuzo that connects people's hearts with flexibility like water, crossing eras and borders.

"Azumacho" is a historic brand named by Prime Minister Takashi Hara as "worthy of the King of the Orient." Its traditional flavor, which is said to have fascinated General MacArthur of GHQ, is created by carefully brewing locally grown rice from Saga Prefecture using the three-step brewing method. It is a famous sake that Ureshino takes pride in, loved by many great figures.

"Nogomi" is a brand brewed with the concept of cherishing meals, sake, and connections between people, making it perfect as a sake to accompany meals. It has a solid rice umami that is sweet but not heavy, and pairs well with Saga's rich-flavored cuisine. It contains the thought of "sake raised with care like a precious child," and has a flavor that you never get tired of and can enjoy for a long time.

"Morishima" is a new brand launched in 2019 (the first year of Reiwa) by Morishima Shuzo, founded in 1869. Bearing the name of the 6th generation owner, Shoichiro Morishima, it is brewed in a seaside brewery just steps from the Pacific Ocean with the motto of "Fresh, Light, and Transparent." It features a beautiful transparency that complements meals, a moderate acidity that resets the palate, and a refreshing sharpness with sweetness suppressed to the limit. As a "sake of the sea" that harmonizes perfectly with the rich seafood of Hitachi, it is a brand that pursues a new standard for sake and is attracting great attention both in Japan and overseas.

Issho Kofuku is a "celebratory sake of happiness" inherited from the former Toyo Shuzo, long loved by the people of Okitama. Suzuki Shuzoten Nagai Kura has carefully taken over the brand and its legacy, continuing to deliver the plump flavor that adds warmth to daily meals for the modern era. With the pure wish for the drinker's life to be full of happiness, this sake remains a bridge connecting the local community, shining with unwavering brilliance.

The brand "Houhai" takes its name from "Houhai-mai," a specialty sake rice developed in Aomori in 1976. The name "Houhai" (meaning "plentiful cup") is also inspired by the local Tsugaru folk song "Houhai-bushi." Known for its delicate sweetness and elegant aroma, Houhai is considered the ultimate food-pairing sake. A subtle fragrance with a hint of plump rice notes provides a refreshing and rounded taste profile. It is often described as resembling an Aomori apple—fresh, with a honey-like sweetness balanced by a mild acidity. Unusually for a brewery of its size, they perform their own rice milling, showing their deep dedication to the raw ingredients. The brand has earned prestigious accolades, including being served in JAL First Class and at the Japanese Embassy in Spain. "Houhai-mai" accounts for about 50% of the rice used, with other varieties including Misato-nishiki, Yamada-nishiki, Kame-no-o, Hana-fubuki, and Hana-omoi. About 80% of their rice is sourced from within Aomori Prefecture, and Miura Shuzoten remains the only brewery to use "Houhai-mai."

"Izutsucho" is a traditional brand loved since the brewery's founding. With the motto of "fine and untiring sake," they aim for sake that enriches daily life. They boast stable quality that can be enjoyed widely from cold to warm.

Yukikomachi is the flagship brand of Watanabe Shuzo Honten, named after the purity of northern snow and the image of Heian beauty Ono no Komachi. The brewery pursues the pinnacle of "Hojun-Karakuchi" (richly dry). Through low-temperature fermentation utilizing Abukuma's cool climate, they maximize rice umami while maintaining a strong-willed power and elegant crispness. Its quality, evidenced by numerous gold medals at the National New Sake Awards, is an artistic piece of brewing nurtured by the terroir of the Shirakawa and Koriyama regions. A supreme brand where you can enjoy winter's silence and a gorgeous aftertaste in every cup.

The representative brand taking one character from the brewery "Hirota," containing the concept of "Sake widely (Hiro) enjoyed (Ki) by many people." Switching all Hiroki brands to an innovative brewing method called "Sanki Amazake Moto," it embodies the fusion of tradition and innovation. Characterized by a deep taste brewed by Iwate Prefecture rice and Nanbu Toji technology, and delicate sake brewing by female Toji Yumi Ohno. The balance of rice umami, gentle sweetness, and appropriate acidity is good, and compatibility with meals is also excellent.

"Okuizumo" is a brand that bears the local climate's name and can be called the origin of Okuizumo Shuzo. It is brewed with a commitment to pure rice (Junmai) using 100% rice grown in the famous production area referred to as "Uonuma of the East, Nita of the West." It is characterized by a simple taste that you never tire of, with a harmony of gentle aroma and powerful rice umami. It is a bottle loved by locals that nestles up to daily dining tables and lets people feel the rich harvest of Okuizumo.

"Wakasakari" is the crystallization of the traditions that Nishibori Shuzo has protected. As the name suggests, it symbolizes youthful vitality and the peak season when sake is at its most delicious, having been cherished in local Oyama for generations. Based on honest brewing using traditional methods, it features a highly balanced flavor where a mellow aroma and a crisp finish are harmonized. It is an authentic sake packed with the brewery's technology and passion, richly coloring the daily dining table.

Yoshinogawa is a legendary brand representing Niigata, carrying forward traditional techniques that date back to the Warring States period. Walking hand-in-hand with the history of the brewing town Settya, its flavor is defined by overwhelming transparency and a sharp finish produced by pure water and selected rice. From long-selling classics like 'Gokujo Yoshinogawa' to the new-generation 'Minamo' series, it possesses a dignity that elevates any occasion. It is the quintessential Niigata sake, alive with the region's climate and 470 years of passion.

"Kankoubai" is the flagship brand of Kankoubai Shuzo, also drawing attention for its novel designs such as animal labels. Maximizing the characteristics of sake brewing rice such as Gohyakumangoku and Yamada Nishiki, it is finished with a fresh and fruity aroma and a beautiful clear taste. Especially the Junmai Ginjo class is popular for its stylish and modern sake quality that makes you want to enjoy it in a wine glass. It makes you feel the sake of a new era where tradition and innovation are fused.

Chateau Myoko is an innovative brand by Myoko Shuzo that pursues the approach of sake pairing with Western cuisine. It features a sophisticated design reminiscent of a champagne bottle and a fruity, transparent flavor intended to be enjoyed in wine glasses. Highly acclaimed in international contests, it is a brand that symbolizes the internationalization of sake. While respecting tradition, it embodies the pride of 'modern sake' that adds color to dining tables around the world.

"Zuikan" is the representative brand of Yamaoka Shuzo, a particular sake using sake rice cultivated as their own preserved rice, including the phantom sake rice "Kame no O." The sake nurtured by the medium soft spring water "Arita Shimizu" flowing from the mountains and the climate of the plateau with temperature differences combines mellow umami and a crisp aftertaste. It has received extremely high praise not only as cold sake but also as warm sake, such as winning the Gold Prize at the "National Kan Sake Contest." It has a high degree of perfection as a "food sake" that does not interfere with the meal but rather enhances it, and is a masterpiece that becomes deeper in taste as you drink it.

Yukikage is an extremely sophisticated brand that fuses the tradition of Kinshihai Shuzo with modern sensibilities. It pursues a mysterious and transparent beauty in a drop of sake, like shadows moonlight casts on snow surfaces on a silent night in a snow country. Its greatest feature is the surprisingly smooth and clear mouthfeel born from the cool natural water of Mt. Sugana. It thoroughly removes unnecessary off-flavors and highlights the original delicate sweetness and elegant aroma of rice. The pure taste is an artistic finish that one wants to enjoy by sharpening the five senses. The label design is also stylish and perfectly matches modern urban scenes and creative dishes. It is a brand where the brewery's tradition and innovative spirit have successfully bore fruit, sensing a new era of Niigata sake.

"Madonoume" is a traditional brand boasted by the oldest brewery in Saga Prefecture. It is named after the miraculous anecdote where white plum blossoms fell into the fermentation vat and turned into rich sake. It features a rich and deep flavor that inherits tradition, and a plump aroma.

Katafune is the face of Takeda Shuzoten and a world-standard signature brand that rewrote the international evaluation of sake. Written as 'Lagoon Boat' in Kanji, it derives from the emotional scenery of Ogata-ku where lagoons once were scattered and boats came and went. Its greatest feature is a 'rich and round sweet' style, extremely rare in Niigata Prefecture. With one sip, the dense inherent sweetness of rice spreads throughout the mouth, yet it has a refined sharpness where the aftertaste disappears quickly. Its outstanding quality has been proven internationally, including winning the World's No. 1 title three times at IWC. It is a masterpiece with superb elegance that changes the concept of sweet sake.

Inagawa is the flagship brand since founding, its name etching gratitude to the rich rice (Ina) and water (Gawa) that moisten the Inawashiro land. The transparency brewed by Mount Bandai's underflow and the simple umami of Aizu rice are in perfect harmony. It is a true local sake that allows one to directly feel the breath of the land, one that never tires the palate.

Zuiyo is the flagship brand bearing the brewery's name, a sake representative of Kumamoto with tradition and prestige. Using Kumamoto's groundwater and carefully selected sake rice, it features an elegant flavor that harnesses the characteristics of Kumamoto yeast. Its sake quality harmonizes gorgeous aroma, smooth mouthfeel, and a clean finish. Enjoyable across a wide temperature range from chilled to warmed, it pairs superbly with Kumamoto's regional cuisine. It expresses a taste both powerful and graceful, like a vigorous hawk soaring into the sky.

"Hitenzan" is a brand created with the image of the majestic figure of Mt. Tenzan, a famous peak in Saga. A solid presence like a mountain and an uplifting flavor heading towards the sky coexist. Combining strength and elegance, it has a dignity suitable for a cup on a special day.

Kasen (Joyful Spring) is the flagship brand of Tamura Shuzojo, representing its long and storied history. The name was chosen in the late Edo period to celebrate the discovery of a crisp, clear spring on the brewery grounds that proved perfect for sake brewing. By using medium-hard subterranean water from the Chichibu and Okutama mountains, Kasen achieves a refined balance—rich in rice umami yet finishes with a sharp, dignified clarity. From the legendary 'Maboroshi-no-Sake Kasen' to their meticulously crafted Junmai Daiginjo, this brand consistently delivers the high quality that has enchanted sake lovers for over two centuries.