Hirotogawa Tokubetsu-Junmai
A Brewery in the Spotlight for its Ever-Evolving Sake Brewing.
In a world of breweries led by a rising generation of young owners, one debut stands out as truly sensational: that of Hiroyuki Matsuzaki, the head brewer of Matsuzaki Shuzo. His journey began in 2012, born from a crisis: the former toji (head brewer) had fallen ill and had to leave the brewery. Matsuzaki, though he had studied the craft, was a successor with no practical experience, no track record to his name.
And yet, the unimaginable happened. The very first sake he brewed that year, his "Hirotogawa Daiginjou," won a Gold Prize at The Annual Japan Sake Awards. It was no lucky chance. He would go on to repeat this miracle, achieving the incredible feat of winning the award for ten consecutive years.
"The level of sake in Fukushima is incredibly high," Mr. Matsuzaki says with passion. "If we just made the same thing every year, we would no longer be recognized for it. Our mission is to brew a sake that makes people say, 'It's delicious again this year.' And to do that, we must constantly be moving forward."
He honors the past, but he is not bound by it. While the "Hirotogawa" was long loved by the local community, the "Hirotogawa" he created is a new expression, defined by a simple, elegant label with fine print. It is brewed with 'Yumenokaori,' a premium sake rice grown right in his own local community. Year after year, this is a brewery whose new releases are awaited with eager anticipation.
MATSUZAKI SYUZO
Tenei Village🌾✨, known as a prominent rice-growing region, is where MATSUZAKI SHUZO was founded in 1892. The flagship brand name, "Hirotogawa," is derived from the former name of the Shakado River that flows near the brewery. As a local sake of Tenei Village, it has been cherished by people for a long time.
In 2009, the sixth-generation brewer, Hiroyuki Matsuzaki, joined the brewery and established a system to integrate everything from brewing to distribution, including temperature control. Placing importance on the perspective of "how to deliver each bottle," he began brewing sake with a focus not just on the quality itself, but on the different dining occasions where the sake would eventually be enjoyed.
The core of MATSUZAKI SHUZO’s brewing philosophy is the commitment to "continuously refining high-quality, modest flagship sake." 💫
While valuing the "brewing through the five senses" inherited from predecessors, the brewery strives to create a consistent, delicious flavor every year by making meticulous adjustments according to climatic changes to improve the level of perfection. The majority of the rice used is the Fukushima Prefecture sake rice "Yumenokaori" 🌾. Using rice grown within the prefecture, including the local Tenei Village, the sake is brewed with careful handwork using well water that springs from the brewery's grounds. The medium-hard water, known for its fermentation power🫧, creates the characteristic sharp finish, clean taste without impurities, and the Ginjo Aroma that defines "Hirotogawa." The goal is to create a sake for meals that pairs well with any temperature or dish. Whether chilled, at room temperature, or warmed, it is a sake that naturally complements the daily dining table 🍶. Among their offerings, the "Hirotogawa Tokubetsu-Junmai" is the bottle that best represents the brewery's direction. As a flagship sake accounting for about 40% of their production, it serves as a bridge between the past and the future of "Hirotogawa."
🍶 Hirotogawa Tokubetsu-Junmai
A Tokubetsu Junmai-shu brewed with Fukushima Prefecture "Yumenokaori" rice polished to 55%. The gentle sweet aroma and the delicate umami of rice that spreads on the palate are elegant with a crisp finish, making it perfect for pairing with meals. It has won various awards in the Junmai category of the "SAKE COMPETITION" and was selected for the dinner menu at the 2023 G7 Hiroshima Summit.
Currently, MATSUZAKI SHUZO produces about 10 types of sake, including those for national distribution and regional exclusives. Through domestic liquor stores, their reach has expanded to approximately seven countries overseas. Even so, their goal remains unchanged. "Rather than increasing volume, I believe it is important to review each bottle and keep refining our flagship products so that people can say, 'This is what Hirotogawa is all about.'" Staying rooted in the local community, honing techniques, and continuing to enhance the quality under the same name. This accumulation of effort culminates once again today in a single, quiet glass of sake 🍶✨.
🏘️: MATSUZAKI SHUZO @hirotogawa_sake_tenei
📍: 47-1 Azakanaya, Oaza Shimomatsumoto, Tenei Village, Iwase District, Fukushima Prefecture
『Great rice, great water, and great people. Fukushima sake 🍶』
#FukushimaSake #SakeFromFukushima #SakeLovers #MATSUZAKISHUZO #SakeBrewery #SakeBrewing #Junmai #Ponshutagram #Ponshu #LocalSake #FukushimaPrefecture #TeneiVillage #SakeLover #fukuneko_fukushima #sake #japanesesake #sakestagram #SakeBeginner #SakeNovice #ConnectWithSakeLovers #SakeLover #CheersWithSake #JapanSake #SakeGram #SakeLover