Brands
Udezumo
"Udezumo" is the flagship brand bearing the company name of Udezumo Shuzo. It embodies the belief of the former president, who loved sumo and arm wrestling, to make "powerful sake," and as the name suggests, it features a powerful taste with a satisfying body. However, it is not just strong, but also has the approachability loved by locals for a long time, making it a perfect bottle for daily evening drinks.
Seiko
"Seiko" is an innovative brand of Takenoi Shuzo created in 2007. It is brewed using flower yeast collected from "Tsurubara" (climbing rose) and clear underground water from Mt. Yatsugatake. It features a gorgeous fruity aroma derived from the flower yeast, refreshing acidity, and translucent sweetness. By drinking it chilled, the elegant and refined taste resembling the flower language of Tsurubara, "Love," stands out.
Takenoi
"Takenoi" is a traditional brand of Takenoi Shuzo bearing the founder's name. Since 2017, they have developed the new "Four Seasons Series," using different flower yeasts for each season: "Cherry Blossom" (Sakura) for spring, "Sunflower" (Himawari) for summer, "Cosmos" for autumn, and "Camellia" (Tsubaki) for winter. Each season's feeling is expressed in the taste, creating a sake that lets you feel the change of seasons, fusing traditional brewing using Yatsugatake underground water with the innovation of flower yeasts.
Kai Otokoyama
"Kai Otokoyama" is the flagship brand of Yamaki Shuzoten, derived from "Otokoyama Hachimangu," a subsidiary shrine of Iwashimizu Hachimangu in Kyoto. Bearing the name of Otokoyama Hachimangu, revered as the god of sake, it continues to protect the tradition of "sharp, dry Otokozake (masculine sake)." It features a refreshingly tight mouthfeel and powerful taste created by the hard spring water of Mt. Yatsugatake.
Shichikenjinshiri Zu
Shichiken Sparkling
"Shichiken Sparkling" is an authentic sparkling sake that incorporates the same secondary fermentation in the bottle method as Champagne. Since its launch in 2015, based on Hakushu water and Ginjo brewing, it has pursued fine bubbles and a refined taste. They continue to create innovative products that surprise the world, such as "Alain Ducasse Sparkling Sake" in collaboration with French master Alain Ducasse, and "Mori no Kanade," aged in whisky barrels from Suntory Hakushu Distillery.
Shichiken
"Shichiken" is the flagship brand representing Yamanashi Meijo. Its name comes from the transom of "The Seven Sages of the Bamboo Grove" received from the lord of Takato Castle. Brewed in a historic brewery where Emperor Meiji stayed, it uses underground water from Mt. Kaikoma in the Southern Alps (one of the 100 best waters) and local sake rice. The taste expressing "moisture, freshness, refreshingness, and lightness" created by the water of Hakushu is the best cup that enhances meals without getting tired of drinking.
Tanizakura
"Tanizakura" is a historic flagship brand of Tanizakura Shuzo. It is carefully brewed with traditional methods using clear underground water from the southern foot of Mt. Yatsugatake and carefully selected rice from Yamanashi Prefecture. The label features an old coin mark named after the trade name "Kosen-ya," and it features a taste that harmonizes the plump umami of rice and a refreshing aftertaste, complementing meals.
Kita no Mori
"Kita no Mori" is a Junmai sake brewed by Tanizakura Shuzo. It was named after the nature of Hokuto City at the southern foot of the magnificent Mt. Yatsugatake. Using high-quality rice from Yamanashi Prefecture and underground water from Mt. Yatsugatake, it is finished with a taste that harmonizes the mellow umami derived from rice and firm acidity. It is a bottle that you can enjoy either cold or warm, and never get tired of drinking.
Yatsu no Karakaze
"Yatsu no Karakaze" is a Junmai sake by Tanizakura Shuzo named after the "Yatsugatake Oroshi" (dry wind blowing down from the mountain). Imagining the dry wind unique to the plateau, it is finished with a taste where you can feel the umami of rice within a refreshing dry taste. Available in an affordable 500ml size, it is a bottle rich in regional color suitable as a souvenir of Yatsugatake sightseeing or for daily evening drinks.
Hinode Giku
"Hinode Giku" is the representative brand of Yokoyama Shuzoten. Using rice and water nurtured in the beautiful nature of Nanbu-cho, it features careful brewing closely attached to the local area. The name expresses that it is a refreshing and elegant sake, like a chrysanthemum flower shining in the morning sun. The well-balanced taste of flavor, body, and aroma does not tire you out and can be enjoyed with a wide range of dishes.
Sendan
"Sendan" is a brand brewed by Futabaya Shuzoten, which closed in 2008. Its name is derived from the proverb "Sendan wa Futaba yori Kanbashii" (Sandalwood is fragrant even in the seed leaf), expressing fragrance like fragrant wood and excellent sake quality. It continued to be loved in the local Ichikawadaimon for over 100 years, but production ended with the closure of the brewery, and it has now become a phantom local sake that cannot be tasted.
59jo (Gokujo)
"59jo" (Gokujo) is a Junmai Ginjo with unified standards brewed jointly by five young brewery owners. With a rice polishing ratio of 59% matching the unit name, and using different sake rice from Nagano Prefecture every year, it expresses the individuality of Nagano's sake rice and the technical skills of young brewers. The taste features complex aromas and flavors, characterized by a light yet sharp finish. As a dry sake with a sake meter value of +10, you can enjoy a crisp taste when chilled and the umami of rice when warmed. It is a bottle filled with the spirit of collaboration, aimed at technical exchange among young brewers in Nagano Prefecture and regional promotion.
SAKU13
"SAKU13" (Saku Thirteen) is a special brand brewed jointly by young brewers from 13 sake breweries in the Saku region. Dividing the 13 breweries into three regional teams (North, Central, and South), each team releases one bottle per year, and all members are involved in the brewing process. With the ambition of "creating sparkling dry sake accepted globally" and "sending a bottle from Saku to the world," they develop innovative products such as sparkling Junmai Ginjo and organic JAS certified low-alcohol sake (13% alcohol content). Using Nagano Prefecture sake rice such as Hitogokochi and Sankei Nishiki, and brewed with Nagano yeast, it is a bottle filled with the spirit of friendly rivalry and collaboration among young brewers.
Shinshu Jonetsu Tank
"Shinshu Jonetsu Tank" (Shinshu Passion Tank) is a special brand brewed by a different brewery every year. Specifications reflect the individuality of the brewery in charge each year and the requests of the liquor stores, so the taste and characteristics change depending on the year. By purchasing a whole tank, it provides an opportunity for young brewers to engage in challenging sake brewing, expressing the diversity and innovation of Shinshu sake.
Nishinomon
"Nishinomon" is a premium brand of Yoshinoya located in Nishinomon of Zenkoji Monzen-machi. Utilizing the natural features of local Nagano, they pursue a high-quality taste to entertain Zenkoji worshipers. While maintaining traditional manufacturing methods, they practice modern quality control and are popular as a brand that harmonizes with Zenkoji culture.
Unzan
"Unzan" is a brand released by "Unzan Meijo," a bottling company jointly established by six related breweries in 1960, and has been widely popular as a synonym for Shinshu sake. Since the late 1990s, Yoshinoya has been brewing it independently. Using Nagano Prefecture rice, it features a balanced umami and drinkability, and develops a diverse lineup such as Junmai Genshu and Junmai Nama Genshu. You can enjoy different tastes with various labels (blue, orange, red, green).
Kaze no Shizuku
"Kaze no Shizuku" is a brand brewed by Imai Shuzoten, characterized by a delicate and refreshing taste.
Nanimaru
"Nanimaru" is one of Imai Shuzoten's brand lineups.
Wakamidori
"Wakamidori" is the flagship brand of Imai Shuzoten, named after a Noh song from the Edo period. It embodies the sentiment of "aiming high, having an enterprising spirit, and never forgetting youth." With a disjointed sake quality produced by traditional manufacturing methods, it develops a diverse lineup such as Tokubetsu Junmai and Junmai Ginjo.