Maruyama Shuzojo

Maruyama Shuzojo, founded in 1897 (Meiji 30) in the Sanwa district of Joetsu, Niigata, is a brewery dedicated to traditional hand-crafted methods. Joetsu City is renowned as the home of the 'Kubiki Toji,' the largest of the four major guilds of Echigo master brewers. To this day, Maruyama Shuzojo rejects automation, maintaining the ancient tradition of hand-making koji. The brewery uses soft spring water from a well on the mountain behind the brewery. As the name 'Sechubai' (Plum Blossoms in the Snow) suggests, its flavor is the pinnacle of 'tanrei amakuchi' (light and sweet), harmonizing a gentle, soft mouthfeel reminiscent of melting snow with a sophisticated aroma. The compassionate and warm character of the sake, nurtured by the harsh winters of this heavy snowfall region, has earned immense trust from enthusiasts nationwide as one of Niigata's representative masterpieces.