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 Shonai area, Yamagata prefecture, Japan.
Where is the Shonai area?
Yamagata Prefecture can be divided into four major areas, mainly Shonai area, Mogami area, Murayama area, and Okitama area.
The Shonai area is the coastal area of the Japan Sea in Yamagata Prefecture.
Where does it get snow in Shonai area?
The Shonai area is surrounded by mountains, with the Dewa Sanzan mountain range consisting of Mount Gassan, Mount Yudono, and Mount Haguro to the east, the Asahi mountain range to the south, and Mount Chokai to the north.
As a result, the mountains and ridges of the Shonai area receive a large amount of snowfall, while the plains receive little snowfall.
Basically, all areas are recognized as heavy snowfall areas.
Yuza Town
Surrounded by Mt. Chokai and the Sea of Japan, this town is rich in nature.
It is also known for its abundant spring water.
Takahashi Shuzo (高橋酒造)
Established in 1902. Uses subsoil water from Mount Chokai as brewing water.
Phone: 0234-77-2005
URL : https://touhokuizumi.co.jp/
E-mail : infosake@yamagata-sake.or.jp
Sakata City
Sakata City is a port town that flourished as a port of call during the Edo period(1603 - 1868).
In the Edo period, rice, fish, and specialties were transported by ship from Sakata and other ports on the Sea of Japan and Hokkaido to Edo and Osaka.
Ships on the westbound route through the Sea of Japan and Seto Inland Sea are called Kitamaebune, and Sakata prospered as a port of call for Kitamaebune.
It is said that the Kamigata culture("Kamigata" is the old name for the Kyoto and Osaka areas) was preserved in Sakata through these exchanges with Kamigata.
Tohoku Meijo (東北銘醸)
Established in 1893. Tohoku Meijo also has a sake brewing museum, where you can enjoy learning about sake brewing through explanations of raw materials and brewing processes, a sake tasting corner, and easy-to-understand explanations of the sake brewing process through movies.
Phone: 0234-31-1515
URL : http://www.hatsumago.co.jp/sake_brewery/
E-mail: sake@hatsumago.co.jp
Kikuyu (菊勇)
Established in 1973. Its representative sake is Kikuyu.
Phone: 0234-92-2323
URL: http://www.kikuisami.co.jp/
E-mail: kiku@kikuisami.co.jp
Eau de Vie Shonai (オードヴィ庄内)
Established in 1875. In addition to sake, they also focus on specialty wines such as strawberry wine, pear wine, and melon wine.
Sake brewery tours are available, and the website says to consult the schedule by e-mail.
Phone: 0234-92-2046
URL : http://www.net.sfsi.co.jp/kiyoizumigawa/
E-mail: kiyoizumigawa@bb-town.jp
Tatenokawa Shuzo (楯の川酒造)
Established in 1854. On their website, they state that they have shifted to producing only Junmai Daiginjo since 2010 in order to make truly delicious sake without brewing alcohol, using only rice, rice malt, and water.
They also have a tasting room.
Phone : 0234-52-2323
URL : http://www.tatenokawa.com/
Tasting: http://www.tatenokawa.com/ja/sake/room/
E-mail : info@tatenokawa.com
Tsuruoka City
Tsuruoka City flourished as a castle town in ancient times.
It is also recognized as a UNESCO creative city of gastronomy.
Along with the Shugendo culture of the Haguro yamabushi(Japanese mountain ascetic hermits), which has continued for 1400 years, people in tsuruoka City still retains the Shojin ryori (Shojin = Devotion / Ryori = Cuisine. Shojin ryori is prepared without meal, fish, and other animal products) that the yamabushi have developed over the past 1400 years.
The city is also characterized by the inheritance of about 60 kinds of indigenous crops such as Dadacha beans and Onomi turnips.
In addition, Tsuruoka City is home to the Tsuruoka Science Park, which was inaugurated when Keio University's Institute for Advanced Biosciences was invited to the city, and many biotechnology venture companies have gathered in Tsuruoka City.
Take no Tsuyu (竹の露)
Founded in 1858. It has a tradition of brewing sake using locally grown rice, and brews sake using 100% Shonai native rice. From June 2016 to February 2017, Junmai Ginjo "Hakuro Suishu" was selected as the sake to be served in the ANA International First Class and Business Class cabin.
Phone: 0235-62-2209 URL : http://www.takenotsuyu.com/ E-mail: yamagata@takenotsuyu.com
Ou-Jiman (奥羽自慢)
Founded in 1724, Ou-Jiman is also releasing HOCCA, a Japanese wine, in 2018.
Phone: 050-3385-0347
URL : http://oujiman.jp
E-mail : info@oujiman.jp
Watarai Honten (渡會本店)
Established in 1615. The website states that tours of the museum, which had been closed due to the spread of the new coronavirus, will be reopened from March 1, 2021. visitors can see various materials such as sake brewing methods from the Edo period(1603 - 1868), tools, rice plants from around the world, and rice brewing related materials.
Phone: 0235-33-3262
URL : http://www.dewanoyuki.com/
E-mail: dewanoyuki@bb-town.jp
Kato Kahachiro Shuzo (加藤嘉八郎酒造)
Established in 1872. The company produces not only sake, but also sake cocktails based on sake.
Phone: 0235-33-2008
URL : https://www.sake-ohyama.co.jp/
E-mail: oyamap@abeam.ocn.ne.jp
Fuji Shuzo (冨士酒造)
Founded in 1778, the website as of September 2, 2021, states that tours of the brewery have been cancelled.
Phone: 0235-33-3200
URL : http://www.e-sakenom.com/
E-mail: info@e-sakenom.com
Haneda Shuzo (羽根田酒造)
Haneda Sake Brewery was established in 1592 and has a long history.The name of the sake, "Tawara Yuki," refers to the bales of snow that form when powdered snow rolled by the wind rolls across the snowfield, and it is said to be a good omen for a bountiful harvest.
Phone: 0235-33-2058
URL : http://hanedasyuzo.jp/
E-mail : uzenn@crest.ocn.ne.jp
