[Akita Prefecture] What is Hanamura? Introducing sake brewing and our commitment to water, which produces famous sake.

Speaking of Hanamura, it is famous for its mysterious sake that is difficult to obtain even for sake lovers, but there is no detailed information on the homepage of the brewer, Ryoseki Sake Brewery, so it is unclear what kind of sake it is. There are probably many people who don't have much of an image of it.

In this article, we will explain in detail what kind of sake Hanamura is, as well as its commitment to sake brewing and water.

Hanamura ?

Hanamura is a Japanese sake born in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, manufactured and sold by Ryoseki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., which was founded in 1874 and has continued to make quality sake that has won awards at numerous fairs and competitions.

Most Hanamura online stores are out of stock, and even if they are available, there is often a purchase limit of one bottle per person.

If you want to drink it, it's best to buy it as soon as you find it.

Commitment to "sake brewing" that brews Hanamura

The 15th generation inherited the difficult-to-obtain Yamagata prefecture famous sake "Juyondai" from Tatsugoro Takagi, the 14th generation of Takagi Sake Brewery, and evolved it into the current product, which is said to have a rich and delicious taste from the name of a special old sake. Hanamura was born under the exceptionally detailed technical guidance of Mr. Akitsuna Takagi.

At Hanamura, Mr. Akitoshi Takagi supervises the selection of sake rice, brewing methods, quality control, product names, and label design, which, combined with Ryoseki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.'s commitment to quality, results in an extremely high level of perfection. The result was a sake with a high quality.

Unless the craftsmanship of Mr. Kento Takagi is fused with the spirit of ``born through and fostering harmony among people,'' which has been passed down since the founding of Ryoseki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., which accepted his skills, Hanamura will be... It would not have been possible to produce it.

Commitment to “water” that creates Hanamura

According to a survey by the Japan Meteorological Agency in 2021, in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, where Ryoseki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is located, the average maximum temperature in July, the hottest month, was 30.0 degrees Celsius, and the average minimum temperature in January, the coldest month, was -2.4 degrees Celsius.

Due to its location in a harsh natural environment with large temperature differences, Yuzawa City is blessed with high-quality water. It has also been selected as one of the 100 best waters of the Showa era.

Chikarasui springs at the foot of Mt. Furutateyama in Yuzawa City, and even during periods of low precipitation, the amount of water remains constant and the water temperature remains stable at around 13 degrees Celsius.

It can be said that the high quality of Hanamura has been maintained thanks to Chikarasui, which is used not only for sake brewing but also for tea and cooking by the locals, and is known as ``water of long life.'' Sho.

Reference: Ministry of the Environment “Portal of 100 Famous Waters of the Showa Era”

Reference: Japan Meteorological Agency “Monthly values ​​Yuzawa”

Types of Hanamura

There are several types of Hanamura, and on the front side of the label, the rice used for sake is listed on the left side of the word ``Hanamura'', and the classification of sake is listed on the right, so you can easily identify the type at a glance. Masu.

I have summarized the types of Hanamura in a table.

Types of Hanamura

material

raw rice

Alcohol content

Rice polishing ratio

Pure rice sake Rikuhada

rice rice koji

Rikuhada 100%

15 degrees

55%

Pure rice sake Misato Nishiki

rice rice koji

100% Misato Nishiki

15 degrees

55%

Junmai Ginjo Dewa Sansan

rice rice koji

Dewa Sansan 100%

15 degrees

50%

Junmai Ginjo Omachi

rice rice koji

Omachi 100%

15 degrees

50%

Junmai Ginjo Akita Sake Komachi

rice rice koji

100% Akita Sake Komachi

15 degrees

50%

Junmai Ginjo Sake Mirai

rice rice koji

Sake Mirai 100%

15 degrees

50%

Junmai Daiginjo

rice rice koji

Aizan 100%

15 degrees

45%

Generally, it is sold in 1-sho bottles, but it seems that Junmaishu Rikuhaneda was also sold in 4-sho bottles.

Recommended snacks in Hanamura

Hanamura should be kept cool (20-25 degrees Celsius) to enjoy the Uwadachika aroma.

Introducing Mugen Gibasa, a ``Shoppemono'' that is perfect for snacking while drinking Hanamura.

Ingredients (for 1 person)

  • Gibasa (75g)
  • Miso (1/2 tablespoon)
  • Soy sauce (1/2 tablespoon)
  • Soybean dashi (1 pinch)
  • sugar (optional)

How to make

  1. Open the gibasa in a bowl and add the seasonings.
  2. Mix well and complete

During the hot season, we recommend putting it on tofu and making a chilled arrangement recipe that goes well with Hanamura.

summary

It turns out that Hanamura is a famous sake that Akita Prefecture can be proud of, born from the teachings of Mr. Akinori Takagi of Takagi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., who created "Juyondai", and the tradition that Ryoseki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. has preserved.

It is quite difficult to obtain, but if you find it, please try it at least once.

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