Junmaishu Aizu
Clear water and thorough low-temperature management. Brewing sake with a fresh flavor.
At Aizu Shuzo, the next-generation brewery head is steadily emerging.
It has been roughly thirteen years since Keita Watanabe, a graduate of Tokyo University of Agriculture's brewing science program, who also studied at the Fukushima Sake Academy, joined the brewery. He is now fully immersed in the craft of sake brewing.
"I want to make Japan's most delicious sake! I want to create sake that pairs with food and brightens the atmosphere of any gathering. Aizu has the crucial ingredients to make that happen: the water and the rice," Watanabe passionately declares. "Nameless, yet delicious sake. That is my ideal."
His guiding philosophy is that sake with too much overt personality is not something one can drink continuously. Therefore, why shouldn't there be a sake whose very lack of distinct features is, in fact, its greatest feature?
One of the most critical elements, water, is drawn from the brewery's well. This groundwater is an "ultra-soft water" with a hardness of 0.8 to 1. Sake brewed with this water, without exception, possesses a soft mouthfeel, with an umami that gently and smoothly permeates the palate.
It serves as a keen reminder of just how profoundly important water is to the final taste of sake.
Aizu Shuzo
Over 330 Years in the Heavy Snowfall of Minamiaizu: "Soft and Clean" Sake Nurtured by the Earth 🍶✨
In Minamiaizu Town, Fukushima Prefecture—where winter snow can pile 2 to 5 meters deep and temperatures can drop to -20°C—sits Aizu Shuzo, founded in 1688.
The current president is the ninth generation to lead this brewery, which has continued to craft sake for over 330 years in a region with some of the most dramatic seasonal changes in Japan.
The story began with miso and soy sauce production at the family’s main residence, located about a 10 to 15-minute walk away. Later, a dedicated sake brewery was established at the current site, marking the origin of Aizu Shuzo. The original well from the first generation still remains on the premises. Although it is no longer used for brewing, water still trickles from it today—a testament to 330 years of history quietly living beneath the ground.
The cornerstone of their sake production is ultra-soft water pumped from 40 meters underground. This water, among the softest in Japan, forms the foundation of the "soft, clean, and easy-to-drink" flavor profile that Aizu Shuzo strives to achieve 💠.
After testing various yeasts from across the country, they chose a single type of Fukushima Yeast to define their sake's quality. By also limiting the varieties of rice and simply adjusting the temperature, concentration, and brewing recipes, they bring out completely different aromas and flavors. Keita Watanabe, the 9th-generation president, compares this to cooking, noting that "the flavor of dashi changes completely depending on how you rinse the ingredients in hot water."
Currently, approximately 90% of the rice used is grown locally in Minamiaizu. The brewery holds a grand vision: to eventually complete the entire process—from rice cultivation to sake brewing—using only rice from the Nagata district where the brewery stands, and sharing that unique taste with the world 🌾.
🍶 Aizu
A classic brand long loved by the local community. It offers a full-bodied, classical, and rounded flavor. The labels feature the diverse wildlife of Minamiaizu.
🍶 Yamanoi
A brand for the national market, revived about 10 years ago after an old label was discovered in the brewery's warehouse. Its clean taste, free of impurities, is highly recommended for sake beginners.
"We want you to enjoy it however you like, whether chilled or at room temperature." With this sentiment, the sake of Aizu Shuzo awaits you 🍶.
🏘️：Aizu Shuzo @yamanoi_aizu_sake
📍：603 Anazawa, Nagata, Minamiaizu Town, Minamiaizu District, Fukushima Prefecture
『Great rice, great water, great people. Fukushima sake🍶』
#FukushimanoSake #FukushimaSake #SakeLover #AizuShuzo #SakeBrewery #SakeBrewing #Junmai #Sakestagram #Sake #LocalSake #FukushimaPrefecture #MinamiaizuTown #fukuneko_fukushima #Japanesesake #SakeBeginner #CheersWithSake