Wakatakeya Shuzojo

Wakatakeya Shuzojo is the oldest sake brewery in the Chikugo region, founded in the 12th year of Genroku (1699) by the first generation Wakatakeya Denbee.
Located in Tanushimaru-machi, Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, it is a historic brewery representing Fukuoka Prefecture that has continued to brew sake in the same place for over 326 years. Currently, the 14th generation brewery owner Hironobu Hayashida inherits the tradition and actively engages in innovative efforts.
Tanushimaru-machi is located in the middle basin of the Chikugo River and is blessed with abundant and clean groundwater from the Minou Mountain Range, which has been selected as one of the "100 Best Waters of Japan". Wakatakeya has been using the same well for over 300 years since its founding, and the water pumped from a depth of 80m underground is underflow water filtered over a long period of 80 years. This clear water with excellent mineral balance forms the basis of Wakatakeya's sake quality.
The brewery's family motto is "Wakatakeya is not a business inherited from ancestors, but something entrusted from descendants", holding the philosophy that the business is not inherited from ancestors but temporarily entrusted from descendants, and should be returned to the next generation in a natural and correct form. This philosophy is reflected in the brewery's stance on sustainable sake brewing and the inheritance of local culture.
The Genroku Kura is a historical building built the year after its founding, and is still used as a sake brewing site today, watching over sake brewing for over 300 years. While preserving traditional methods in this brewery, modern quality control technology is also introduced, realizing harmony between tradition and innovation.
One of Wakatakeya's notable efforts is the revival of "Hakata Nerizake", which reproduces sake from the Muromachi period. Wait a minute. This sake, completed over 10 years by the previous brewery owner visiting the National Diet Library and the Korean Peninsula, is made by an ancient method of using glutinous rice as a raw material, grinding it in a mortar after twice fermentation, and straining it with a silk cloth. It has a natural sweet and sour taste like yogurt and a unique texture, and is a valuable existence that conveys the taste of the Muromachi period to the present.
Also, "Wakatakeya Denbee Fukuiku Genroku no Sake", which reproduces the high-concentration brewing method of the Genroku period, is a work completed by the previous brewery owner utilizing his knowledge as a Ph.D. in fermentation engineering and researching ancient documents, and is a unique sake with a flavor similar to sherry. It features a golden color and a rich taste, and is a brand with high historical value that revives the taste of the founding period in the modern age.
Wakatakeya's product lineup ranges widely from traditional sake to innovative revival sake, and in addition to standard brands such as "Wakatakeya", "Uiui", and "Wakanokotobuki", historical reproduction sake such as "Hakata Nerizake" and "Wakatakeya Denbee Fukuiku Genroku no Sake" are also developed. Honjozo "Kaze" features a refreshing and sharp taste like the wind as its name suggests, and is popular as a food sake.
Wakatakeya Shuzojo, where the rich nature of Tanushimaru-machi, the groundwater of the 100 Best Waters of Japan, and 326 years of history and traditional techniques are fused, is respected by many sake lovers as an existence leading the local sake culture of the Chikugo region and as a precious brewery conveying the history of sake to the present day.