SASANOKAWA Fukunoka Junmaiginjo Fu
An Innovative Brewery making News, Boasting an Impressive Variety.
Step into Sasanokawa Brewery, and you'll find a world of astounding variety. Beyond their signature 'sasanokawa' sake, they craft shochu, liqueurs, and even spirits. In fact, they hold the distinguished title of being the oldest continuously operating whisky maker in all of the Tohoku region. This incredible range isn't just for show; it's living proof of a brewery that has constantly adapted, always striving to create the sake that the times demand.
"But even with this vast portfolio," says President Tetsuzo Yamaguchi, "the sake we focus on most is the sake you can just enjoy, without pretense. This includes our classic Josen and Kasen grades, but also refreshing junmai and ginjo sakes that are designed to complement, not overpower, your meal. Sake is at its best when it is loved by many. We believe the ideal sake is one that elevates the food and conversation, a sake whose deliciousness helps to connect people."
Their ideal is a sake that offers a deep, rich flavor, yet vanishes with a suuutto—a perfectly clean finish. Yet, this pursuit of tradition doesn't stop them from making news. Sasanokawa Brewery is always a source of exciting headlines, from brewing led by a female toji (head brewer) to the release of 'Fukushimaichi Karakuchi ICHI'—a sake celebrated as the driest in all of Fukushima Prefecture (as of October 2023).
"Ideas just keep coming," President Yamaguchi says, "and there are still so many sakes we want to make. We aren't here to stubbornly protect the old ways. We are here to use our collective strength to propel the 'sasanokawa' brand into the future." With their high-level technical skill and a passionate spirit of research, the world is eagerly watching for their next move.
Sasanokawa Brewery