The Story
Suzuka: The Ancestral Land of Exquisite Sake
Our brewery is located in Suzuka, Mie Prefecture—a region long celebrated as "Umasake Suzuka no Kuni," the land of exquisite sake.
This title is steeped in history, appearing in the Yamato Hime no Mikoto Seiki, an ancient text chronicling the journey of Princess Yamato Hime no Mikoto as she searched for a permanent home for the sun goddess Amaterasu Omikami, eventually founding the Ise Jingu Shrine. The text records the phrase, "I come from the land of delicious sake, Suzuka." Even in modern lexicons like the Daijirin dictionary, the term "Umasake" is defined as "a land of fine wine" and serves as a Makurakotoba (a poetic pillow word) traditionally associated with Suzuka. This demonstrates that Suzuka’s reputation for superior brewing has been widely recognized since antiquity.
Suzuka’s terroir is truly blessed. Crystal-clear underground water from the Suzuka Mountains flows into the vast Ise Plain, nurturing high-quality rice. This synergy of water and grain has enabled us to brew exceptional sake since ancient times. At the Kawamata Shrine near the Suzuka River, the annual "Umasake Festival" is held to offer prayers of gratitude to the gods for this bountiful land.
Since our founding as Daikokuya Shimizu Seizaburo Shoten in 1869 (Meiji 2), we have been brewing on this hallowed ground for 150 years. We embrace our destiny as Suzuka brewers: to honor the legacy of "Umasake Suzuka no Kuni" by continuously refining our craft and brewing the "Exquisite Sake of the Modern Era."
The Sake
Our Brewing Philosophy
The more care we invest, the rounder the umami of the rice becomes, and the more refined the sake matures. Yet, superior sake is never the result of mere repetitive labor. Just as the harvest varies with each year's climate, the fermentation process—driven by koji and yeast—is deeply influenced by the environment. Therefore, the most essential task is the constant, daily "dialogue with the rice" throughout the entire brewing process.
Our singular wish is that today, we move even one step closer to our ideal sake than we did yesterday.
In an age where efficiency and mass productivity are often the primary focus, one could choose to respond to market demands by installing large-scale industrial systems. However, such a path would prevent us from achieving the ideal brew we seek. Instead, we utilize smaller fermentation tanks that allow us to pay meticulous attention to every detail, carefully managing the delicate movements of the microorganisms and the pace of fermentation. While our output is limited, we believe this is the most honest and superior method we can offer.
Rice is the lifeblood of the Japanese people. Each year, we receive the precious harvest with a profound sense of awe and gratitude. Our mission is to cherish the life force of every grain, utilizing its essence to its fullest potential, and to brew sake that we can stand behind with pride. This is the essence of our craft.
The Sake
Weaving Time, Connecting People
Sake brewing is a craft that transcends the eons. In Mie Prefecture, home to the sacred Ise Jingu Shrine, sake has flourished alongside divine rituals, walking hand-in-hand with the rhythms of daily life since antiquity. To this day, the eternal traditions of Ise Jingu continue unchanged.
In recent years, however, the global sake market has experienced a profound resurgence. An array of sakes with unprecedented flavors and aromas has emerged, sparking what many call a "Sake Renaissance." This momentum has reached far beyond Japan—from the United States and Asia to Europe, where wine is the mainstay. Today, prestigious wine competitions are establishing dedicated "Sake Categories," and the global energy behind this movement shows no signs of slowing down.
Our mission as brewers is to ensure this momentum takes root as a lasting global culture—to make "SAKE" a natural part of daily life across the world. To achieve this, we are more committed than ever to refining our craft.
Our ultimate wish is for the sake we create to be present wherever people gather. May the first glass spark a smile and soften the atmosphere. In that relaxed space, we hope to connect people across nations and generations, helping them share irreplaceable moments. If we can play a part in "weaving time and connecting people" through our work, we would be truly honored.
From Shimizu Seizaburo (清水清三郎商店)
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