The Story
"Pure and Beautiful" Sake
While our brewery was founded in 1902, the brand name "Nanbu Bijin" (Southern Beauty) was established in 1951. It was conceived by the late Mr. Tadashi Ito, then head of the Ninohe Tax Office, and our late former chairman, Mr. Hideo Kuji.
At a time when sake with low polishing ratios, high impurities, and heavy sweetness dominated the market, they were driven by a singular vision: "to brew a sake that is pure, clean, and beautiful." Our home, Ninohe City in Iwate Prefecture, has long been known as the "Land of Nanbu" (Southern Land)—a region blessed with magnificent nature, a unique terroir, and abundant fresh water. By combining the regional name "Nanbu" with the imagery of a refined and beautiful sake profile, the name "Nanbu Bijin" was born.
The Sake
Heritage of Craftsmanship
The driving force behind the brewing of Nanbu Bijin is the young Nanbu Toji (Master Brewer), Junji Matsumori. Alongside the fifth-generation owner, Kosuke Kuji, he has faithfully inherited the techniques and spirit of the late Master Brewer Hajime Yamaguchi—a man honored as a "Contemporary Master Craftsman." With the motto "On-ko Chi-shin" (learning from the past to innovate for the future), they dedicate themselves daily to the evolution of their craft.
Both Matsumori and Kuji have received the "Young Outstanding Skilled Worker Award" from Iwate Prefecture. Such a dual recognition of both the owner and the master brewer is unprecedented in the region, serving as a testament to their exceptional technical prowess.
Under Matsumori’s leadership, Nanbu Bijin has achieved remarkable success, including six consecutive gold medals at the Annual Japan Sake Awards. Their excellence is further recognized globally, securing gold medals at the U.S. National Sake Appraisal and the Monde Selection. Nanbu Bijin continues to receive the highest acclaim both within Japan and on the international stage.
The Sake
Every year you are a first-grader
Nanbu Bijin faithfully carries on the refined techniques and traditions of the Nanbu Toji—the foremost of Japan’s three great brewing guilds. We approach our craft with unwavering sincerity, guided by the humble philosophy: "No matter how many years you spend brewing, every year is a new beginning."
Our craftsmen do more than just preserve tradition; they innovate for the modern age. To meet today's health-conscious demands, we pioneered a patented technology for "Sugar-Free Liqueurs," applying traditional sake-brewing methods to create fruit liqueurs without any added sugars or sweeteners.
Since 1997, we have been a pioneer in the global market, where we are affectionately known as "Southern Beauty." In 2013, we achieved a milestone by receiving Kosher certification—a global benchmark for food safety and purity—for both our Sake and our Sugar-Free Umeshu simultaneously.
By harmonizing ancient traditions with cutting-edge innovation, Nanbu Bijin remains dedicated to crafting sake that is forever "Pure and Beautiful."
From Nanbu Bijin
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