Shikeshuzoten Brewing

The popular "Matabe," beloved by many dedicated local fans.

Shikeshuzoten Brewing is the creator of "Matabe," a sake beloved by many local drinkers. The brewery was founded in 1845, during the late Edo period. A unique anecdote tells of its founder, the first Matabe, whose passion for sake grew so strong that he began brewing it himself.

The birth of "Matabe," which now has fans across Iwaki City and the entire nation, dates back to the era following the closure of the Joban coal mines. The brewery was searching for a way to craft sake even more deeply rooted in the community. Believing it would be easy to remember—and hoping for the blessing of his ancestor—the brewery did something rare for the time: he named the sake after a person. Since then, "Matabe" has grown into a flagship brand, celebrated as the local sake of Iwaki, cherished by locals and countless fans far beyond.

"Even as we say it has a national following, 80 to 90 percent is still consumed by the people right here. We simply want to continue brewing sake that our local community will call delicious," says the seventh-generation head, Hisao Shike.

In Iwaki, where the climate is mild even in winter, managing the moromi (fermentation mash) during brewing is notoriously difficult. Within this limited timeframe, the brewers pay meticulous attention, constantly striving to elevate quality. With the exception of their "Daiginjo" and "Ginjo" grades, the brewery uses specially selected rice grown in Fukushima Prefecture. Another hallmark of this brewery is its vast and diverse lineup, offering everything from dry to sweet sake.