The Story
Pursuing Purity, Softness, and Elegance
In the Edo period, Ishinomaki City in Miyagi Prefecture flourished as a strategic port for shipping rice from the Sendai Domain.
The name "Suminoe" is derived from Suminoe-no-Kami, the deity of navigation enshrined at the Sumiyoshi Taisha Shrine in Osaka.The central theme of their brewing is to craft sake that is "clean, soft, elegant, and rich in flavor," as expressed by the sixth-generation president, Yasunori Sawaguchi.President Sawaguchi returned to Ishinomaki in 1989 to take over the family business.
While traveling to sake tastings in Tokyo and Osaka to steadily expand his network, he eventually took on the role of Toji (Master Brewer) himself. After much trial and error, he established a signature style: standardizing the brewery's production on a single yeast—Miyagi Yeast—while allowing the distinct characteristics of various premium sake rices to define the breadth and complexity of the flavor profile.
A defining feature of Suminoe is the exclusive use of premium sake rice (Shuzo-kotekimai). They generously utilize renowned varieties, including Yamada Nishiki from Hyogo, Kura-no-Hana from Miyagi, and Gohyakumangoku from Fukui, to craft their exceptional brews.
The Sake
Repaying the Kindness of Our Supporters
During the Great East Japan Earthquake, the tsunami surged up the Kitakami River, flooding the brewery in the height of the brewing season. The damage was devastating; vital equipment such as boilers, pumps, and presses were completely destroyed. Yet, fueled by the immense support received immediately after the disaster, we were able to resume brewing as early as October of that same year.
The Sake
Traditional Brewing Method
"My deepest gratitude goes to those who first tried and came to know 'Suminoe,' even if it began as an act of supporting disaster recovery," says President Sawaguchi. "The fact that we are able to continue our craft today is entirely thanks to the support from people across the nation. That is exactly why I want to repay that kindness by further elevating our quality and bringing joy to everyone who drinks our sake."
The goal moving forward is to delve even deeper into our enduring theme: "Sake that is clean, soft, and radiates elegance."
From Suminoe Shuzo
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