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Sake to know
[ Aomori ] Sake brewery Archives Aomori 1
Please find the list of Sake breweries in Aomori, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan.
Characteristics of Sake from Aomori Prefecture
Blessed with rich beautiful nature and traditional cultures, Aomori Prefecture is advantaged to access high-quality rice, pure water, and cold climate, which makes it proudly a famous Sake production site. World-Heritage-designated Shirakami Mountains and other nearby mountains provide high-quality underground water and rice which are turned into premium products thanks to the dedicated artisan work of Nambu-toji and Tsugaru-toji. Why don’t you try Sake from Aomori to feel the rich nature and artisan’s work packed inside the bottle?
1.Ozaki Shuzo (尾崎酒造)
青森鰺ヶ沢で造る地酒・日本酒をどうぞ | 尾崎酒造 (ozakishuzo.com)
Ozaki Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 尾崎酒造株式会社 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
Founded in 1860, the brewery became an enterprise in 1965. It is the only brewery located in the west coast of Aoyama Prefecture. In Japan, the area is known as the birthplace of the Tsugaru Domain. The traditional and delicate production method has been descended for a long time from the domain-based-administrative-era. Using the underground water of the world-heritage-designated Shirakami Mountains for its base water, the brewery has continued a delicate Sake production.
Representative brand : Ando-suigun (安東水軍)
It was named after a wealthy tribe of the region Ando-suigun who made a prosperous business success for a long period between the late 12th century to the 15th century. Its label features red color to express the magnificence of the Japan Sea which Ando-suigun had ambitious desires for.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 2 minute walk from Ryoshi-machi (bus stop) on the Konan Bus taken at JR Ajigasawa Station.
- Brewery visit is available with reservation, free of charge, from May to September
2.Kanaetatamada Brewing Co., Ltd (株式会社カネタ玉田酒造店)
（株）カネタ玉田酒造店｜蔵元一覧｜青森県酒造組合 あおいもりの地酒 (aomori-sake.or.jp)
Kanetatamada Brewing Co.,Ltd / 株式会社カネタ玉田酒造店 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
Its foundation dates back to 1685, with more than 300 years of history. Old documents report that Kaneta-tamada Brewing Co., Ltd was started when Yoshibe Tamada was appointed as a Tsugaru Domain warranted Sake producer. Until recently the name “Yoshibe” was inherited by the head of the Tamada family.
The family got separated to the ead family Tamachidori of Kaneta, and branch family Tamagawa of kaneta. The branch family took over the production from the main family which placed an end to the business. The 8th generation head inherited the brewer with a name of the branch family, and passed it to the current head, Yozo Tamada, 9th generation of the brewery.
Representative brand : Tsugaru Jonkara (津軽じょんから)
It was named after the local folk song “Jonkara-bushi”. Tsugaru Jonkara offers, for example, Honjozo-shu which is dry and high in umami suitable for both cold and hot servings, and Ginjo-shu which has a rich body. The ingredient rice is mostly Yamada-nishiki and Hanahubuki. The brand has gained gold prizes at the Annual Japan Sake Awards in 1997, 1999 and 2013.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 18 minute walk from Chuo Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway
- Availability of brewery visit is unknown
3.Kikukoma Brewing Co., Ltd (株式会社菊駒酒造)
酒造一念・銘柄萬年 清酒 菊駒 ～ 青森県五戸町 (kikukoma.com)
Kikukoma Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 株式会社菊駒酒造 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
The brewery was founded in 1910. It has been inheriting the name “ Hisajiro” with its family name ”Sankyu”.
The original brand was called Sansen-masamune (三泉正宗). The new name Kikukoma (菊駒) was given by the 4th generation of the family, Hisajiro Mitsuura. He combined the word kiku (菊) and koma(駒) because he was an expert in growing and developing chrysanthemum (kiku, 菊) and because the area was famous for the high-quality horses (koma, 駒). 5th generation head was working as a Sake technical officer at Tokyo Tax Agency to give guidance on how to improve Sake quality. After moving back to Gonohe, the 5th generation Hisajiro turned himself from an officer to a producer to diligently engage in Sake making. Treasured and developed in the local area, the current 7th generation head aims to continue to make great Sake loved by the locals.
Representative brand : Kikukoma (菊駒)
Embracing the motto of Fujita-toji, it aims to produce Sake that expresses the land of Aomori with its supreme colours, scents and flavours. Gonohe, where Kiku-koma comes from, has one of the coldest climates in Aomori suitable for Sake in the Kanzukuri method. Winter in Gonohe is severe, so it frequently goes lower than -10 degrees. Elegantly flavoured Kikukoma is made both from artisan’s technics descended with history and severe climates suitable for Sake making.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 30 minute drive from JR Hachinohe Station
- Available with a reservation. Contact in advance as visits can be restricted for certain periods
4.Matsu-midori BrewingCo., Ltd. (株式会社松緑酒造)
Matsumidori Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 株式会社松緑酒造 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
Matus-midori Brewing Co., Ltd has initially started its Shubo production in the Edo period and was selling the Shubo to most of the Sake breweries in the Tsugaru region. In the later period, research centres were built to develop Shubo and gave information to breweries how to manage Shubo. It was when Matsumidori has shifted its business from a production of Shubo to Sake itself, which led to the foundation of a corporate in 1959. While following the tradition, it grasps the trends and remain innovative. In 2016, it obtained a certificate on Kosher to claim it is the food suitable for Jewish as the first entity in Aomori Prefecture. The brewery also shifted itself to a Junmai brewery where brewery alcohol is not added for any products.
Representative brand : Rokkon (六根)
Heart Sutra (Hanya shinkyo, 般若心経) Buddhist teaching by Sanzo-hoshi (三蔵法師) explains 5 senses. It teaches that it is important to move the heart to utilize 5 senses because humans get to know the truth, recognize and understand the authenticity with the 6th sense. The name Rokkon (6th sense), was given wishing for this Sake made from dedicated work to touch the heart of the person who drinks it.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 10 minute drive from Chuo Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway
- Availability of brewery visit is unknown
5.Shirakami Brewing Co., Ltd (白神酒造株式会社)
白神酒造株式会社｜白神山地の麓で丁寧に造り上げられた清酒 (sirakami-sake.co.jp)
Shirakami Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 白神酒造株式会社 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
The company, Shirakami Brewing Co.,Ltd., was transformed from Nishizawa Shuzoten in 1988. The current president performs as 5th generation head after the transformation into the current company. It is a small scale brewery with its production amount being limited to 300 Goku, approximately 54k litters, as low as the minimum production requirement by the government. The brewery aims to continue the high-quality small amount production to satisfy the customers as the customers’ satisfactions and smiles become energy for the toji to continue the artisan’s work.
Representative brand : Shirakami (白神)
The Sake was named as Shirakami after its pure water resource of the Shirakami Mountains to appreciate the richly natural nostalgic sensations. Combining the concepts of natural heritage = Shirakami Mountains and Sake, the brewer continues to make efforts in developing products welcomed by locals and tourists in a close relationship with nature and food culture.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 24 minute drive from the Chuo-Hirosaki Station on the Konan Railway
- Visits are unaccepted
6.Sekinoi Brewing Co., Ltd (有限会社関乃井酒造)
Sekinoi Brewing Co.,Ltd. / 有限会社関乃井酒造 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
Sekinoi Brewing Co., Ltd is located on the Shimokita Peninsula surrounded by 3 seas : Mutsu Bay, Tsugaru Straits, and the Pacific Ocean. Due to its ideal location, the peninsula can benefit from the delicacies of the sea, mountains and plains, therefore the brand aims to deliver Sake which makes a great harmony with the various local food of Shimokita Peninsula. The sake of Sekinoi Brewing is made from well water originating from the Osorezan Mountains. Since its foundation 130 years ago, the brewery has continued to use the traditional “Fune-shibori”, a manual squeezing method of taking out Sake, which brings thick dry flavours to its drops.
Representative brand : Sekinoi (関乃井)
The name of Sekinoi was partly taken from heart from a clause in a Chinese poem “Start dreaming with a scent of Sake, flower petals have fallen and touch the heart” (酒香偏入夢 花落又関情). Sekinoi was named by taking 1 character, Seki (関) from the poem and adding I (井, a well) to it. This local brand is rarely visible outside the Shimokita Peninsula. Its variety includes Junmai ginjo-shu, Junmai-shu, Honjozo-shu, and Hutsu-shu.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 39 minute walk from JR Shimokita Station, or 4 minute walk from Yanagi-cho 2-chome Bus Stop.
- Availability of brewery visit is unknown
7.Takenami Shuzoten Inc. (株式会社竹浪酒造店)
岩木正宗 七郎兵衛 醸造元 株式会社 竹浪酒造店 (takenami-shuzoten.com)
Takenami syuzoten Inc. / 有限会社竹浪酒造店 – IKKI – Japanese Sake Media (ikki-sake.com)
About the brewery:
Takenami Shuzoten is the oldest brewery recorded in the “Chronicle of the Great Work in Tsugaru Past and Present”. According to the record, its brewer departed the Echizen Tsuruga Province (越前敦賀国) around 1644-1647, went up the Iwaki River to reach Tosa-minato (十三湊) to be settled and start a brewer in Itayanokimura (板屋野木村), current Itayanagi-machi. Itayanokimura was a capital of the feudal domain and river bank of Hirosaki area. The area was prosperous and fortunately abundant in rice, water, and labour which are always the prerequisite for Sake making. Takenami Shuzoten has continued manual procedures in washing, Koji-making, Moromi, and Joso, using spring water from Iwaki Mountains, and rice grown in the Tsugaru Plain, to maintain the tradition.
Representative brand : Iwaki-masamune (岩木正宗)
Sake from Takenami Shuzoten is one of the most powerful and richest among the Sake of the Tsugaru Region which is known for highly thick flavours. Compared with others, Sake from Takenami tends to be high in colouring because no colour filtering is performed to leave the original flavours of Sake. The density of colouring is even more enhanced when being consumed because the Sake is left for 1-year maturation within the brewery. The availability of products from the brand ranges from Junmai daiginjo-shu, Junmai ginjo-shu, Tokubetsu Junmai-shu, to Junmai-shu.
Access and brewery visit information:
- 10 minute walk from JR Itayanagi Station
- Brewery visit is available with reservation (9:00-16:00)
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