sake

Enjoy these 3 deliciously flavorful local sakes with your hotpot! [Fukushima Prefecture]

When the weather gets colder, it's the season for delicious hotpots. If you want to sip on a simmering hotpot and enjoy a sip of local sake, we've got three delicious local sakes from Fukushima for you!

Be sure to check out the fine sake from Fukushima, a city famous for its sake, which will warm your stomach.

"Junmai Karakuchi Yaemon" is a delicious sake to accompany meals, enjoyed by both sake beginners and connoisseurs.

Pure rice dry Yaemon
Image source: Fukushima Prefecture Products Archive

This dry Junmai sake is produced by Yamatogawa Sake Brewery in Kitakata City. It is characterized by a clean, crisp taste and a balanced aroma that is vibrant yet not too strong . It complements any meal, as if the sake changes to match the food.

Pure rice dry Yaemon Yamatogawa Sake Brewery
Image source: Fukushima Prefecture Products Archive

Yamatogawa Sake Brewery is a long-established brewery founded in the mid-Edo period. The water used for sake brewing is underground water from Mt. Iide .

In addition to sake brewing, rice is also grown by the agricultural corporation Yamatogawa Farm. The brewery is notable for its commitment to recycling agriculture, using rice bran and sake lees from the brewery as fertilizer and soil improvement. At the Yamatogawa Museum Shiho (formerly the Kitakata Fudokan Museum) on the premises, you can enjoy exhibits on sake brewing, sake tasting, and shopping. Be sure to check out the local store, which also stocks rare sakes that are only available for a limited time or in limited quantities.

Yaemon is Yamatogawa Sake Brewery's main brand. The dry Yaemon in particular is popular as a sake that is easy for even those who don't usually drink sake to try. It's in an affordable price range, so it's perfect for a casual evening drink. It's delicious served cold or warm.

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Fruity richness with a clean, gentle finish

Calm
Image source: Fukushima Prefecture Products Archive

Niida Honke in Koriyama City . Its label features a frog, a symbol of the natural environment of rice paddies. characterized by its clear, crisp taste and rich, fragrant flavor reminiscent of fruit .

Niida Honke was founded in the Edo period. In 1967, it was the brewery that released Japan's first natural sake (sake brewed using naturally grown rice and bacteria). In 2011, it became Japan's first " all-natural rice brewery " to produce 100% natural rice and 100% pure rice. Its mission is to protect Japan's rice fields, and it works with contracted farmers to produce organically grown rice. The brewery accepts tours of the brewery and also holds seasonal events at the rice fields and brewery.

The brand name Odayaka comes from the fact that the character "Odayaka" has been passed down through generations of brewers. Brewed with soft water that springs from the mountains, it achieves a balance of gentle sweetness and crispness. It is a gentle sake that anyone can enjoy, creating a relaxing evening drink.

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"Shizenkyo" is a lively sake with a full-bodied taste and a pleasant aftertaste.

Natural Village
Image source: Fukushima Prefecture Products Archive

This Junmai Ginjo sake is produced by Daikichi Honten in Yabuki Town, Nishishirakawa District The soft sweetness of the rice is balanced with just the right amount of acidity, resulting in a crisp, impressive aftertaste . The slight carbonation that rises the moment you open the bottle makes you feel like the sake is alive.

Oki Daikichi Honten began sake brewing in 1865. They have continued to challenge themselves to make delicious sake while overseeing the history of Yabuki Town, which underwent large-scale land reclamation and development. Shizenkyo was born during the time of the fourth-generation brewer. Aiming to make sake using only rice as an ingredient, they asked contract farmers to grow "rice without pesticides," which was rare at the time. They began selling this natural sake, making the most of the natural flavor.

Shizenkyo, a unique sake made with rice, koji, and yeast that can only be produced in Yabuki Town, has long been a beloved flagship brand of Oki Daikichi Honten. When you open the bottle, the sake fermented in the bottle releases a soft fragrance and a slight fizz. It's a precious moment when you can feel the joy of discovering something new.

The Shizenkyo brand currently offers a lineup of limited-edition and seasonal sakes. You can enjoy comparing different varieties, including the BIO series with its modern flavor and the SEVEN series, which uses yeast uniquely developed in Fukushima Prefecture. In addition to Shizenkyo, it's also worth checking out other popular brands, such as Gakki Masamune and Konnichiwa Cooking Sake.

Information

  • Company name: Oki Daikichi Honten General Partnership
  • Address: 9 Honmachi, Yabuki-machi, Nishishirakawa-gun, Fukushima Prefecture
  • Inquiry number: 0248-42-2161
  • URL: Oki Daikichi Honten Official Website

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Enjoy good sake with good food!

This time, we have introduced three recommended delicious local sakes from Fukushima that you can enjoy especially during hotpot season.

Whether you're enjoying a lively meal with friends or savoring a delicious hotpot by yourself, mealtimes are even more enjoyable with a good sake to accompany it. The taste of the sake, refined by each brewery, is exceptional. Please give it a try.

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