Yamatoyazennai Namazume
A young toji striving to create a new Minenoyuki.
In the brewery town of Kitakata, this story begins in 1942 as an offshoot from the Yamatonishiki brewery. In those days, Minenoyuki Shuzojo produced standard-grade sake under the 'Minenoyuki' brand, shipping it primarily to the Tokyo metropolitan area. When the brewery was later incorporated, it took its name from that very brand.
Decades later, a new chapter began. In 2009, Kenshin Sato, the owner's son, returned to the brewery after honing his skills at a brewery in Niigata Prefecture. He immediately began crafting premium, specially designated sakes like junmai and daiginjo. "For the longest time, we only sold in Tokyo, so almost nobody knew us locally," he laughs.
But today, as the toji (head brewer), Kenshin is pouring his energy into establishing the Minenoyuki brand. One such creation is 'Yamatoya Zennai,' a junmai namazume brewed with Gohyakumangoku rice. While the brewery has always been known for a clean, refreshing style that you never tire of—even in its standard sake—Kenshin is aiming higher. He is meticulously refining the process, seeking to create a sake that balances that signature clean finish with a new layer of umami derived from sweetness. The key, he explains, is controlling the fermentation at low temperatures. The challenge is "how much sweetness you can preserve right up until the moment of pressing."
But that's not all. The brewery also crafts a honey sake called mead (Miido). The mountains surrounding Kitakata are a rich habitat for tochi (Japanese horse chestnut) trees, and the area has a long, proud history of beekeeping. This mysterious, sweet sake, born from that local honey, has become incredibly popular.
Minenoyuki Shuzojo
.
In Kitakata, a city blessed with the subsoil water of Mt. Iidesan, Minenoyuki Shuzojo was founded as an independent branch of the main Yamatonishiki brewery. I got to talk with the 4th generation head, Mr. Kenshin Sato, about his sake brewing!
Since Mr. Sato became the brewery's head toji (brewer), he has focused on junmai sake instead of standard sake, and developed the famous 'Yamatoya Zennai' series, which bears the name of the main family. Now, it's super popular not just locally, but overseas too! 🍶
▶︎Yamatoyazennai Namazume
🏘️: Minenoyuki Shuzojo 📍: 1-17 Sakuragaoka, Kitakata City, Fukushima Prefecture
While doing this, he's also exploring what a brewery can be in the future and even got a license to brew 'other fermented beverages.' Wanting to "create drinks for people who aren't familiar with Japanese sake," he created his new signature drinks: Hatuyukisou, a fruit juice sake, and Miido, a honey sake! 💫
Hatuyukisou is a totally new kind of drink made with "Triangle Brewing," where they add fruit juice to the junmai sake moromi (mash) and let it ferment. It's packed with the deliciousness of Fukushima's amazing fruits like peaches, apples, and grapes, with a fresh, rich taste! And Miido is made by diluting honey (with the natural, rich flavor of tochi (horse chestnut) flower honey!) with the subsoil water of Mt. Iidesan, then adding yeast and letting it ferment nice and slow.
You can enjoy both Hatuyukisou and Miido on the rocks or with soda, meow. The labels are so cute, they'd make a purrfect gift! 😊
#fukushimasake #fukushimanosake #ilovesake #MinenoyukiShuzojo #sakebrewery #sakebrewing #junmaisake #sakestagram #ponshu #localsake #fukushimaprefecture #kitakatacity #sakefan #fukuneko_fukushima #sake #japanesesake #sakebeginner #sakenovice #connectwithsakelovers #sakelover #cheerswithsake #sake🍶 #drinkstagram