Junmai Aizu Yoshinogawa
Sincerely listening to local feedback and taking on the challenge of high-quality sake brewing.
Kitakata City—a name famed throughout Japan for its historic kura (storehouses) and its legendary ramen—is also known as a town where numerous sake breweries compete, honing their craft. Among them, Yoshinogawa is a rare presence, as the vast majority of its sake is shipped locally. This is a brewery that walks in step with its hometown, taking on the challenge of high-quality brewing.
Founded in 1870, the brewery holds fast to a single guiding philosophy: "To remain a brewery that always meets the trust of our local community." This is not just a saying; it's a fact. An incredible 98% of all their shipments are for local customers.
"The local people are wonderfully direct. They'll tell you clearly, 'This is delicious,' or 'This isn't good,'" emphasizes seventh-generation head, Takashi Kabuki. "We believe our mission is to continuously respond to those strict but invaluable critiques."
Naturally, their sake rice and water are locally sourced, and they even polish all the rice themselves. "Rice polishing is a crucial element of sake brewing," Mr. Kabuki says, showing his dedication. "We believe it's a process we must handle with our own hands."
After graduating from university, he traveled both in Japan and abroad, working various jobs before finally returning to take over the family business. "It was only when I left," Mr. Kabuki reflects, "that I learned the true importance of my hometown." His conviction is now unshakeable: "We will continue to brew the sake that our local community will be happy to drink as a part of their daily lives."
Yoshinogawa Shuzoten