Sakaegawa Shuzo

Sakaegawa Shuzo, founded in 1807, is a venerable brewery in Nishiaizu with over 200 years of history, where samurai spirit and intelligence reside.
The representative Junichi Ishikawa is the 15th-generation descendant of the Sengoku warrior Mitsunari Ishida. Embraced by the steep nature of the Niigata border, they use pure underflow from the sacred Mount Iide—which takes decades to emerge—combined with self-milled Aizu "Gomangoku" rice, brewing with traditional manual methods. The delicate temperature management performed by brewers who sharpen their five senses without relying on mechanization supports Sakaegawa's unwavering quality.
The iconic brand "Fukokuron" (Wealth of Nations) originates from Adam Smith's book. It is a Daiginjo honoring the brewery's intellectual achievement, as the 10th generation's third son was involved in its translation. Additionally, the charmingly named "Chidoriashi" is a friendly rich-type sake where the rice umami spreads indefinitely when warmed. With historical profundity and a sense of warmth and humor, it is a supreme local sake with a strong core nurtured by the snow country of Oku-Aizu.