REGION: Mie

6th generation owner-brewmaster Tada Onishi took over his small family sake brewery in 2003 at the age of 27, and began to search for a way to distinguish his sake. Bucking prevailing trends he trusted his own taste and began to produce a bright and slightly acidic sake with incredible layers and de

Amid the ancient settlements in the forests of Mie is the small family brewery Moriki Shuzo, recently known for the powerful sake of brewmaster Rumiko Moriki. The 4th generation of her family to own the brewery, she is widely known as possibly the first female brewmaster in the country. All work is done by hand, including growing rice using organic methods and fermenting sake with native yeasts.

Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten has a long history of sake brewing dating back to 1869. The clear water originating from the Suzuka Mountains and supply of good rice from the Ise Plain provide an excellent location to brew. In classic literature, Suzuka is praised as the home of uma-sake (delicious sake).