Sake is one of the most popular drinks in Japan. Different rice and water are used in different regions, resulting in sake with different flavors depending on regions.
The relationship with the snow country culture can also be seen in the background of sake.
For example, some sake breweries make good use of the heavy snowfall in their brewing process, such as using melt water and Yukimuro (a insulted room that store massive amount of snow to mature and chill sake).
Rice, an important ingredient in sake brewing, also grows well thanks to the melt water from the snow that accumulates in the winter and melts in the spring. Therefore, some sake breweries benefit indirectly from the snow.
Even if snow is not directly involved in sake brewing, some breweries name their sake after snow-related words. Whether directly or indirectly, snow has an impact on sake culture.
Let's take a look at some of the breweries in Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma, Niigata prefecture, Japan.
Where is Yuzawa / Minamiuonuma area?
Yuzawa and Minamiuonuma area is one of the heavy snowfall areas in Niigata Prefecture, and is famous for its brand-name rice, "Koshihikari", and ski resorts.
As one of Japan's leading rice-producing regions, the area is also able to provide very high quality water and rice for Sake production.
But how heavy snow is involved in the taste of Sake?
For more information on the secret of Niigata's good sake, see here.
-
-
What Makes Sake So Delicious in Snow Country?
Find out the secrets behind why sake from snow country tastes so good. Abundant snowmelt water The main ingredients for sake are rice, rice koji, and water. Of these main ingredients, water accounts for about 80%. The taste of the rice also depends on the water, so the quality of the water is very important for sake. In areas where there is a lot of snow, a lot of snow melt water is produced in the spring and flows into the rivers. This melt water becomes "soft water" and creates the unique taste of sake from snow country. Hard Water vs ...
続きを見る
Sake Breweries in Yuzawa and Minami Uonuma Area
The following is an introduction to sake breweries in the Yuzawa and Minami Uonuma areas.
HAKKAISAN BREWERY CO.,LTD.
The company was founded in 1922. The origin of the brand name "Hakkaisan(八海山)" comes from Mt.Hakkai.
The name "Hakkaisan" was given in reference to this mountain that has brought mountain worship as a sacred mountain since ancient times.
Since its establishment in 1922, the company has gradually increased its production volume and is one of the top shipping companies in the prefecture.
The company is also flexibly developing its business through a wide range of operations and overseas expansion.
Hakkai Brewery has been promoting sake and agricultural culture to the world through talk sessions at SXSW in 2020.
Hakkaisan Website : https://www.hakkaisan.co.jp/
AOKISHUZO The Sake Brewery Co., LTD.
Established in 1717. Aoki Sake Brewery's representative sakes include "Kakurei (鶴齢)" and "Yukiotoko (雪男)".
It is said that the name "Kakurei" was given by Suzuki Bokushi (鈴木牧之), who wrote "Hokuetsu Seppu (北越雪譜)", a book to tell the whole country about life in snow country.
"Hokuetsu Seppu" is a bestseller written at the end of the Edo period (1603-1868) that describes the diversity and richness of life in Uonuma, including customs, dialects, folklore, and the famous fabrics industry.
Other Aokishuzo's famous sake, "Yukiotoko(雪男 : The snow beast)" was modeled after the hairy beast in "Hokuetsu Seppu".
AOKI SHUZO The Sake Brewery Co., LTD website : http://www.kakurei.co.jp/english/
Takachiyo Sake Brewery Co.,LTD
In the beginning of the Meiji era (1868-1912), the first generation of the family named the sake "Takachiyo(高千代)" and established the brewery as Takachiyo Brewery(高千代酒造), with the wish that "many people will prosper in a thousand and many thousands years. (Chiyo(千代) means thousands years. it also means very long period)
The brewery is located at the foot of one of the 100 most famous mountains in Japan, Makihata Mountain.
The sake from the Takachiyo Sake Brewery is made with underground water from Mt. Makihata(巻機山).
Also The brewers themselves are involved in the entire process of seed production, management and cultivation, and rice polishing to prepare the raw material, the sake rice.
Takachiyo's representative sakes are "Takachiyo" and "Makihata".
Shirataki co,.Ltd.
The Shirataki Sake Brewery was started in 1855 by Minatoya Tosuke(湊屋藤助).
In Yuzawa, which is a strategic point on the Mikuni Highway connecting Echigo (越後 : old country name including Yuzawa area) and Edo (江戸：old country name of Tokyo), the brewery provided sake to travelers and peddlers.
Echigo-Yuzawa, where the Shirataki Sake Brewery is located, is famous as the setting for Kawabata Yasunari's novel, "Snow Country".
Snows in the snow country melts into water, which is used to make sake.
It is also used for sake brewing.
Shirataki co,.Ltd. Website : http://www.jozen.co.jp/top/history.asp#
Reference 【南魚沼・湯沢の魅力】高千代酒造（たかちよしゅぞう） 白瀧酒造の歴史 青木酒造とは
