Brands

Kameguchi-zake is a brand that can be called the origin of Ishizuka Shuzo, named after the 'kameguchi' (vat mouth) where sake first comes out when pressing the moromi (mash). It features a lively, freshly-pressed taste where the dense umami from four-step brewing with glutinous rice is concentrated. Its quality, which is rich yet surprisingly clean and sharp in the finish, makes one feel the strength nurtured by the severe nature of a heavy snowfall region. The balance of powerful yet delicate sweetness and richness, created by traditional brewing methods and pure spring water of Takayanagi, has a mysterious charm that becomes addictive once tasted.

Midorikawa is the main brand of Midorikawa Shuzo, captivating many sake fans with its transparent and clear flavor. While pursuing the 'Tanrei' quality typical of Echigo sake, it is not just dry; the gentle sweetness and umami of rice are melted in with great balance. Of particular note is its smooth mouthfeel. Shipped after careful maturation through low-temperature storage, the lack of rough edges upon entering the mouth and the clean finish that seems to vanish instantly are excellent. It is a refined brand as if the pure water and air of Uonuma were bottled exactly as they are.

Echigo Yukikura is the representative brand of Tamagawa Shuzo, embodying Uonuma's wisdom of making sake delicious with the power of snow. In the 'Yukikura' (snow cellar) storing 1,000 tons of natural snow, it is aged slowly at an extremely low temperature of about 2°C year-round. By sleeping in this quiet environment, the sake loses its rough edges and transforms into an incredibly mellow and delicate flavor. Maintaining freshly-pressed freshness while adding depth through aging, its quality is truly a work of art touched by 'snow magic.' It is a clear and transparent cup of sake symbolizing the terroir of the snow country, Uonuma.

Meguro Gorosuke is a Junmai Daiginjo brand positioned at the pinnacle of the brewery, bearing the name of Meguro Gorosuke, the founder of Tamagawa Shuzo. All the history, tradition, and brewing techniques of the brewery since its founding in the Edo period are concentrated in this single bottle. Brewed with carefully selected sake rice polished to the limit and Uonuma's pure snowmelt water, this sake features a rich, dignified ginjo aroma and a refined flavor where rice sweetness spreads gently. Carrying the brewer's pride, this name is a mark of excellence passed down through generations. A supreme masterpiece suitable for gifts to important people or for coloring special moments.

Echigo Samurai is an innovative brand of Tamagawa Shuzo that shocked the world with a surprising '46% alcohol' specification, breaking common sense for sake. Pursuing sake brewing techniques to the limit, it achieves a refined deliciousness that doesn't feel rough despite its high alcohol content. Its most distinctive feature is its mysterious charm as 'non-freezing sake' that doesn't freeze even at sub-zero temperatures. The smooth mouthfeel that belies its high percentage and the refreshing stimulation that spreads after passing the throat make one feel a strength and purity like a samurai. It is a cup of sake that proposes a new style of sake, enjoyable on the rocks, with water, or even as a cocktail base.

Tamafumi is a brand symbolizing the traditions of Tamagawa Shuzo, loved throughout its long history. The distinctive label featuring a single-stroke circle expresses 'round flavor,' 'harmony in all things,' and 'a circle of people,' reflecting the brewery's philosophy of sake brewing itself. Using Uonuma's pure water and locally grown sake rice, this sake aims for a well-balanced flavor that one never grows tired of, making it a classic sake to be enjoyed with meals. Its mellow umami and clean finish harmonize to further enhance not only Uonuma's local cuisine but also daily home-cooked meals. It is a brand filled with the brewery's sincerity, staying close to the lives of local people and loved across generations.

Koshi no Kanchubai (Plum Blossom in Winter Cold) is the flagship brand of Niigata Meijo, aiming for a pure and strong flavor like a plum blossom blooming with dignity during the snowy mid-winter. While embodying the 'Tanrei Karakuchi' style typical of Niigata sake, its greatest charm lies in the exquisite balance where a faint rice umami remains in the aftertaste. Its modest yet firm character, which doesn't spoil the flavor of dishes but rather enhances them, is ideal for daily evening drinks. Showing various expressions depending on how it's served—sharp when chilled and mellow when warmed—it is a bottle that has long been supported by Niigata sake fans not only in local Ojiya but also nationwide.

Chojasakari is a major historical brand of Niigata Meijo, named with the wish that 'everything prospers like a Choja (wealthy person) and auspicious events happen frequently.' As the name suggests, it has long been valued as a sake for celebrations and milestone events in the region. Nurtured by the severe cold of the snow country, Ojiya, it features a clean and light flavor while being carefully crafted to have a moderate umami and richness. The depth that one never tires of and harmonizes with any dish is truly the dignity of a 'Choja.' It is an auspicious sake that continues to stay close to people's happy moments.

Echigo no Choja is a community-based brand of Niigata Meijo, bearing a name that symbolizes the rich nature and prosperity of Niigata (Echigo). It pursues a refinement typical of Niigata sake, where the inherent flavor of rice lives, providing a plump umami while the aftertaste vanishes smoothly. Insisting on local ingredients from Ojiya and brewed with techniques cultivated over many years, this sake is supported as a high-quality bottle that adds flair to daily meals. Its versatile flavor, good both chilled and warmed, connects regional bonds and warmly envelops dining scenes, truly a brand concentrating the blessings of Echigo.

Fuyushogun (General Winter/Old Man Winter) is a seasonal brand of Niigata Meijo that powerfully symbolizes the arrival of Niigata's snowy winter. Befitting its brave name, this sake brewed amidst the severe winter cold features a fresh aroma and rich flavor. Its particularly popular Nigori (cloudy) sake maintains an exquisite balance between a smooth mouthfeel where rice sweetness is concentrated and a refreshing stimulation when passing the throat. It pairs perfectly with nabe (hot pot) dishes, a winter delicacy, and provides a joy unique to snow country, as if warming your heart and body from the core in contrast to the cold outside air.

Hina no Yukigura is a brand that concentrates the essence of snow storage technology cultivated by Takanoi Shuzo. By letting it sleep in a quiet snow cellar in a mountain village (Hina), it gives the sake a deep peace and maturity. The constant low temperature and high humidity unique to the snow cellar advance the maturation of the sake slowly and surely. The dignified refreshing feeling that spreads the moment it enters the mouth, followed by a calm and deep umami, is as if tasting the winter of the snow country itself. It is an emotionally rich bottle one would want to enjoy with luxurious time.

Iono is a brand of historical significance, born when Takanoi Shuzo first challenged snow storage in Japan. Its name derives from 'Iono no Kuni,' an ancient name for the Uonuma region, containing deep respect for the local terroir. Its greatest feature is the incredibly smooth and rounded flavor created by maturation in the snow cellar. The quality, where traditional brewing and pioneering technology fuse, integrates a flowery aroma with depth from aging, truly embodying the 'blessings of snow country.' It is evaluated as a dignified brand symbolizing the brewery's transformation.

Takanoi is the brand bearing the brewery's name, where its pride and tradition can be felt most closely. While mastering the 'Tanrei Karakuchi' standard of Niigata sake, its flavor bringing out the gentle umami of rice has long been loved by people in local Ojiya. Its greatest charm is the clean taste that one never grows tired of even when drinking daily, combined with a versatility that harmonizes with any dish. The stable quality that can be enjoyed across all temperature ranges, from chilled to warmed, proves the brewery's high technical skills. Filled with the brewery's sincerity, it is a bottle that stays close to daily life and warmly colors the dining table.

Denyu is a brand reflecting gratitude to the earth that nurtures rice and the people involved, as its name 'Friend of the Rice Field' suggests. Insisting on contract-grown rice from local Ojiya, it is brewed with careful manual labor to bring out its umami to the maximum. The quality, where plump rice umami and clean finish coexist, is truly a sake where 'rice takes the lead.' Symbolizing the brewery's stance of supporting regional agriculture and walking together, this sake makes one feel an attachment to the land the more one drinks. It is a heartwarming brand that combines the peace of mind of seeing the faces of the producers with reliable quality.

Koshi no Hatsuume is a historical representative brand of Takanoi Shuzo, a crystallization of its snow storage technology. Like the first plum blossom announcing the arrival of spring, it features a pure and refined aroma and an incredibly mellow flavor nurtured by snow cellar maturation. Especially the sake aged slowly in the snow cellar loses its rough edges, increases in maturity, and has a pleasant texture that slides down the throat. Its refined quality, conveying the pride of the traditional brewery, is highly evaluated for cups at important occasions or as gifts. It is a bottle that makes one feel a happiness like spring coming after the winter magic of snow country melts.

Matsunoi is the signature brand symbolizing the brewery, nurtured by Tokamachi's rich nature and pure water sources. Its greatest feature is a balanced flavor where rice umami spreads richly while faithfully maintaining the 'Tanrei Karakuchi' identity of Niigata sake. Brewed through Tokamachi's severe winter, this sake has a sharp clean finish combined with a gentle mouthfeel where the warm sincerity of the brewers can be felt. It pairs extremely well with regional local cuisine such as the famous 'Hegi Soba,' and is a brand of trust and tradition that has stayed deeply close to and walked together with the lives of local people.

Ryoga is a premium brand born from the challenging spirit of 'surpassing and running beyond' (Ryoga) existing frameworks based on techniques and experience cultivated by Matsunoi Shuzojo. While maintaining the traditional brewery's stance, it pursues high-quality brewing with new sensibilities. Brewed slowly at low temperatures with carefully polished sake rice, this sake features a flowery and transparent aroma and a refined clear flavor. This brand, filled with the brewery's pride, is a cup like a work of art that brings out the maximum potential of the sake itself. It is a brand filled with passion to carve out the future of sake.

Eiho is the highest-grade brand concentrated with the essence of the brewery's technology and tradition, bearing the name of Eiho Furusawa, the founder of Matsunoi Shuzojo. To record the founder's name is a mark of maximum confidence and responsibility from the brewery. It is truly a masterpiece representing the history of Matsunoi itself. Brewed with all their strength by the brewers during the severe cold using 'Koshi Tanrei' sake rice from Niigata polished to 35%, this Junmai Daiginjo features a flowery and dignified aroma and an incredibly smooth, silk-like profound flavor. It is a work of art of sake that Tokamachi is proud of, suitable for celebratory cups on special days or gifts for important people.

Nechi is a world-standard premium brand expressing the culmination of the 'Domaine' (estate-owned land) style advocated by Watanabe Shuzoten. By using only rice harvested from specific rice fields in Nechi Valley where the brewery is located and consistently managing everything from cultivation to brewing, it pursues the ultimate terroir. Displaying a 'Vintage' (harvest year) like wine, its greatest feature is a flavor that maximizes the individuality of rice created by each year's climate. The quality, brewed through precise temperature control and careful manual labor, possesses overwhelming transparency and refined elegance. It is a brand that opens up new possibilities for sake, sealing the land's story into every drop.

Nechi Otokoyama is a brand that can be called the origin of Watanabe Shuzoten, fusing the strength of traditional brewing with the pure nature of Nechi Valley. It has been deeply loved locally even before the establishment of the Domaine style and passed down as a regional pride. Focusing on estate-grown rice, it features a balanced quality achieving both powerful umami and a sharp clean finish. While having the powerfulness that makes one feel the inherent vitality of rice, the aftertaste is infinitely pure. It harmonizes brilliantly with any dish and brings a sense of security and richness to the dining table. It is a trusted long-selling brand where the belief of 'brewing the land' lives.