Kinsuisho Shuzoten

The Only Brewery in Fukushima City and a 15-Time Gold Prize Winner at The Annual Japan Sake Awards

As the sole brewery in Fukushima City, Kinsuisho Shuzoten faced a pivotal moment. The March 2022 earthquake left their historic Meiji-era storehouse in ruins. But from this challenge came a new beginning. In January 2024, they reopened in a new location in Arai, nestled between the 'Shiki no Sato' agricultural park and a strawberry farm. Here, they draw upon a new source of life for their sake: the pristine subsoil water of the Arakawa, a river celebrated as having Japan's best water quality for thirteen years running.

The brewery's name, 'Kinsuisho', is a story in itself, rooted in the history of its original location, Matsukawa. Until before the war, the area was home to a gold mine ('kin'). From its veins flowed water into a stream known as 'Suisho-sawa' (Crystal Stream), a famed water later called 'Kinmeisui'. The name 'Kinsuisho' beautifully combines these two elements: gold and crystal. This rich history is captured in their striking logo, which cleverly represents the kanji characters for 'Kinsuisho' with modern geometric shapes (▲ and ●).

At the heart of the brewery's craft is the philosophy of its fourth-generation president, Miyuki Saito. She holds a firm belief: 'You can't make delicious sake without good rice'. For her, the quality of the sake begins in the rice field, and she emphasizes that the precise degree to which the carefully selected rice is polished is a crucial step in defining the final character of the sake.

This unwavering dedication, from the choice of raw materials to the final brewing, has earned Kinsuisho's sake numerous accolades, including an incredible total of fifteen Gold Prizes at The Annual Japan Sake Awards. A shining example of their artistry is their Daiginjo, a product so esteemed it has been certified as a Fukushima Prefecture Brand Product. It is celebrated for its exquisite reputation, boasting a rich aroma and a clean, crisp finish with no impurities. The entire 'Kinsuisho' series, which also features a Junmai Ginjo and Junmai, reflects this same careful craftsmanship and has earned widespread acclaim.