Shimazaki Shuzo
| Name | Shimazaki Shuzo |
|---|---|
| Japanese Name | 島崎酒造 |
| Hiragana | しまざきしゅぞう |
| Address | 栃木県 那須烏山市 中央1-11-18 |
| Phone | 0287-83-1221 |
| FAX | 0287-84-1728 |
| Web | http://www.azumarikishi.co.jp |
Shimazaki Shuzo is a historic brewery founded in 1849 and is a representative brewery of Nasukarasuyama City. The main brand was named "Azumarikishi" (Eastern Sumo Wrestler) by the second-generation owner, Kumakichi, who w...
Shimazaki Shuzo is a historic brewery founded in 1849 and is a representative brewery of Nasukarasuyama City. The main brand was named "Azumarikishi" (Eastern Sumo Wrestler) by the second-generation owner, Kumakichi, who was an immense fan of sumo wrestling.
The most distinctive feature of Shimazaki Shuzo is its "Cave Sake Cellar," utilizing a former underground factory built for tank manufacturing at the end of World War II. After experimental storage of high-grade Ginjo sake starting in 1970, full-scale "Cave Aging" began in 1999. Today, approximately 100,000 bottles of sake are quietly maturing inside the cave.
The cave environment, with minimal temperature fluctuation throughout the year—cool in summer and warm in winter—is ideal for aging sake. This unique environment allows the sake to acquire depth and mellowness unattainable through conventional storage, evolving into a refined flavor over time.
Representative brands include "Azumarikishi," "Uroko," "Kiwami Itteki Shizukuzake," and "Hiroshige no Sato Ukiyozake," all possessing unique personalities benefited by cave aging. Combining traditional techniques with the innovative method of cave aging, rare even in Japan, Shimazaki Shuzo's technical prowess is the pride of Nasukarasuyama City.