The connection between Date Masamune and his eldest son, Hidemune, is now reflected in sake. "Toshi" and "Kaishi" are born, connecting Sendai and Uwajima

Inspired by the relationship between Date Masamune, the founder of the Sendai Domain, and his eldest son, Date Hidemune, who became the first lord of the Uwajima Domain, two sake brands were created: "Moriuta" and "Umiuta."

The project is planned and sold by Sakai, a prestigious brewery in Uwajima City, Ehime Prefecture. Using rice grown in Miyagi and Ehime prefectures, the two breweries have brewed special junmai sake, which they are proposing as "parent-child celebration sake" to be given as a gift for milestones between parents and children or for family celebrations

Pre-orders will begin on October 29, 2026, with the release scheduled for early November

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The familial ties of the Date family connecting Sendai and Uwajima

Sendai City in Miyagi Prefecture and Uwajima City in Ehime Prefecture. The connection between these two distant cities lies in the father-son relationship between Date Masamune and Hidemune

Masamune's eldest son, Hidemune, participated in the Winter Siege of Osaka, and in 1614 was granted 100,000 koku in Uwajima. The following year, 1615, he entered Uwajima. Thus, in addition to the Sendai domain, the Date family's rule began in Uwajima as well

Against this backdrop of historical ties, the two citiesestablished a historic sister city relationship on November 3, 1975.In 2025, they will celebrate their 50th anniversary, and have continued to exchange not only history and culture, but also through participation in festivals and the sale of local products.

"Du Shi" and "Hai Shi" are products that were planned based on the connection between these two cities

The company that planned this project, the prestigious Sakai, also has ties to the Uwajima Date family. According to the company, it was founded in Kyoto in 1592, and in the early Edo period, its predecessor, a merchant family, moved to Uwajima as a purveyor to Hidemune and began brewing sake

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"Toshi" from Miyagi Prefecture and "Kaishi" from Ehime Prefecture. A special junmai sake made with rice from these two regions

The two sakes symbolize Masamune and Hidemune, respectively. Their names also reflect the local culture of Sendai and Uwajima, as well as the sentiments passed down from father to son

"Mori-shi" (Sendai, the City of Trees) is a poem that expresses Sendai, the city of trees, and his father, Masamune

"Toshi" is a special junmai sake brewed by Sendai Izawa Katsuyama Brewery in Sendai City, using 100% "Hitomebore" rice from Miyagi Prefecture

The name "Mori" (杜) symbolizes Sendai, the "City of Trees," and also represents Masamune's role as a protector, nurturer, and embracer, watching over the next generation. The phrase "The Fragrance of Lord Masamune" is also included

Uwajima and "Sea Poem" expressing his son, Hidemune

"Kaishi" is a special junmai sake brewed by Nakajo Honke Shuzo in Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture, using 100% "Shizuku Hime" sake rice from Ehime Prefecture

The character for "sea," which symbolizes the sea of ​​Uwajima, carries the meaning of spreading what has been inherited into the future, and represents Hidemune's departure from his father and his journey to a new land. The accompanying words are "The Resonance of Lord Hidemune."

item	Du Shi (Poems of Du)	Umiuta (Song of the Sea)
kinds	Special pure rice sake	Special pure rice sake
Rice used	100% Hitomebore rice from Miyagi Prefecture	100% Shizuku Hime from Ehime Prefecture
Rice polishing ratio	55％	50% koji rice, 58% kakemai
Alcohol content	15 degrees	15 degrees
Contents	300ml	300ml
Manufacturer	Sendai Izawa Katsuyama Sake Brewery Co., Ltd	Nakajo Honke Sake Brewery Co., Ltd
Manufacturing location	Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture	Seiyo City, Ehime Prefecture

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The title on the label also tells another story of a parent and child

The calligraphy for the two sake bottles was created by Endo Ranshu, a calligrapher with ties to the Uwajima Date family .

The inspiration for the calligraphy came from Wang Xizhi and Wang Xianzhi, a father-son calligrapher from the Eastern Jin dynasty in China. The "Du Poem," symbolizing the father, Masamune, incorporates Wang Xizhi's brushwork, while the "Sea Poem," symbolizing the son, Xiuzong, incorporates Wang Xianzhi's brushwork

"Du Shi" expresses inner strength and depth, while "Hai Shi" expresses outward-expanding expansiveness. The labels combine the story of the Date family father and son with the expressions of a Chinese father-son calligraphy duo

Furthermore, the word "poem" in the product name does not refer to a specific form of poetry, but rather is used as a symbol of the feelings between parent and child, and the story that connects the two lands

Gift sets featuring masu (wooden measuring cups) made from cypress wood produced in Ehime Prefecture are also available

The products come in two types: a two-bottle gift set combining "Toshi" and "Kaishi," and a gift set that includes a masu (wooden sake cup)

The set with the masu (wooden measuring cup)a masu made from cypress wood sourced from Ehime Prefecture, with a transparent acrylic base. It combines the texture of wood with a mechanism that allows light to pass through the bottom.

The prestigious Sakai brand proposes its products as gifts for milestones in family life, celebrations, expressing gratitude to loved ones, and also for occasions such as business succession and anniversaries

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