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Yaoshin Shuzo is located beside the river mouse of Nishiki River in Yamaguchi prefecture. Gangi means the special pier to land sake brewery rice comes from the upstream of river.

In ancient time, it was common to transport brewery rice through the river. Yaoshin Shuzo has experience one huge hard time caused from the change of natural environment. Through this experience, they have understood the greatness of nature, and decided to produce only produce Junmai type sake.

“Don’t put any additional ingredients and too much hands of human” is Yaoshin Shuzo policy. They know the nature is greater than human being and sake is the gift from nature. What only human needs to do is organizing the environment to let nature bring their potential out and selecting the rice and water suit with the brewing environment of Gangi.

Especially, water is the key factor of Gangi style. Yaoshin Shuzo have experienced a serious problem caused from water, so that they know the importance of water more than other breweries.

Yaoshin Shuzo K.K. Home page

Hokko Masamune (Kadoguchi Sake Brewery)

Established in 1869, it is located on the most northern part of Nagano, close to Niigata. During the winter of heavy snowfall of 3 meters or more the winter are harsh and cold. The inner part of the northern Nagano area the brewery started making sake surrounded by nature and the cold winters. As for present day, the 5th president is continuing the legacy of making traditional sake.Headed by master brewer, the brewery staff combine years of experience and a passion for sake brewing to create high quality sake.

“The love of the local people is what makes a true local sake,” is Kadoguchi Brewery’s principle, and it is proved a hundred times over in the popularity of their “Hokko Masamune” – clean and dry, but with the aroma and “umami” of rice. The northern-most brewery in the Prefecture taps into the aquifer under Mount Nabekura, spanning Iiyama City to Niigata Prefecture as its water source. Since its establishment in 1869, Kadoguchi has actively pursued new and innovative techniques and methods to create new and exciting discoveries for the people of Iiyama.

Kadoguchi Sake Brewery said “While a good evaluation by an expert at an exposition or show is also important, we place just as much value on creating good quality sake at a price range that can be regularly consumed by the local population.” This is the type of sake that through it’s taste, can showcase the local colour and characteristics. Perhaps the biggest defining characteristic of Nagano, and especially Iiyama, is that all 3 crucial factors in brewing a good sake – water, rice and Toji – can be locally sourced. It might be due to this that Kadoguchi Sake Brewery has such a high local consumption rate of local sakes.

Kadoguchi Sake Brewery Home page

DATE AND TIME

2018/5/31 (Thu) – 6/6 (Wed) 10:00～20:00

You cannot go? Check out ichibansake Event Calendar

LOCATION

Ikebukuro Tobu Department Store B1F

1 Chome-1-25 Nishiikebukuro, Toshima, Tokyo 171-0021

Google map

Access

Directly connected to “Ikebukuro station”

Web site

For more information visit, 東武百貨店池袋店日本酒催事スケジュール

2018-05-102018-06-24

“Notonokuni” & “Homare Kirin” In-store tasting event @ Ikebukuro

You can taste Notonokuni, SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. from Ishikawa prefecture, and Homare Kirin, Kaetsu shuzo from Niigata prefecture.

Notonokuni (SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.)

Founded in 1768, SoGen Sake Brewery is deeply rooted in the local community, who have cultivated love of their sake that taste smooth with a hint of sweetness. The locals call it “Sogen sake” after the family name of the owner. In addition, our higher-end sake are well recognized by sake fans for their elegant aroma. Suzu City, where the brewery is located, is home to the famed Noto Toji school of brewers.

Sogen Sake Brewery was founded in the mid-Edo Period, 1768, even before America declared independence in 1776. Legend says Sogen Chugoro who traced his roots to Yoshiharu Hatakeyama, the lord of Nanao-jo Castle in the Sengoku Period, started business and his descendant was trained in a brewery in Itami (present-day Hyogo Prefecture) and mastered the secrets of the sake brewing.

Since then, Sogen Sake Brewery has carried on the tradition and has been brewing sake to please their customers for over 240 years.Their motto is, “Our customers keep coming back to us.”

Noto Toji is one of the Japanese four major Toji group and it is said that Sogen Sake Brewery is the birthplace of Noto Toji. Toji is the superintendents in breweries and is the professionals entrusted with training many brewers.

Sogen Sake Brewery succeeded in making high-quality Ginjo-shu with a fruity, delicate taste. They are proud of their own contemporary style of sake brewing, garnered through years of traditional brewing called the “Noto Style.”

SoGen Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. Home page

Homare Kirin (Kaetsu Sake Brewery Co. Ltd.)

Kaetsu Sake Brewery was found in 1880 in Fukushima prefecture (transferred to Niigata prefecture at 1886). Niigata prefecture is situated opposite position of Tokyo and faced to Japan Sea. Owing to these geographical features, it is very hot in summer and cold and one of the snowiest countries in winter. Niigata prefecture is famous for most delicious table rice “Koshihikari” and very nice domestic Sake.

The brewery is located in Aga-machi where the Agano River and the Tokonami River join and is surrounded by many mountains. Then fogs often gather along those rivers. Such a climate condition gives birth to highest class Sake rice. Moreover water quality is also important in Sake brewing. The brewery has been blessed with an excellent natural spring which water is pure and soft. “Kaetsu brewery Sake is a wonderful gift from nature”.

Mt. Kirinzan stands in the northern part of Aga-machi. The story of “Kirin” of Mt. “Kirinzan” is based on a legendary unicorn. The Kirin unicorn is an imaginary animal that has been said to appear in the sky to prepare auspicious events. Kaetsu Sake Brewery has named thier sake “Kirin” with thier hope that it will be enjoyed in such a way that brings happiness to the drinkers. The tasting profile of “Kirin” is “Tanrei-Karakuchi “(Clean, Light and Dry in English). “Kirin” Sake is good for every food.

Kaetsu Sake Brewery Co. Ltd. Home page