The Story
The Excellence of Tatenokawa Since 1832
Since its founding in 1832, Tatenokawa Shuzo has remained steadfast in its pursuit of absolute quality, contributing to the enrichment of Japan's "Sake," "Food," and "Agriculture" cultures. By staying ahead of shifting global trends and creating high-value products, we strive for sustainable growth as a comprehensive beverage company. Our mission is to share the prestige of "MADE IN JAPAN" with the world, establishing ourselves as a premier global brand in the international spirits market.
The Sake
Walking with Our Farmers Reclaiming the Soul of Our Sake
Rice is the one and only raw ingredient in Junmai Daiginjo. Yet, even in the Reiwa era, the standard practice in the sake industry is to leave procurement entirely to trade unions, cooperatives (JA/Zen-Noh), or brokers.
The Turning Point: Questioning the Status Quo
About 15 years ago, I began to feel a profound sense of doubt regarding this "industry common sense."
I thought: "It is strange that we cannot procure our own raw materials."
"It feels as though the very throat of our brewing business is being held by others."
"We are entirely dependent on outsiders, and we don't even know the faces of the people growing our rice."
The Frustration with External Systems:
The middlemen would say: "Submit your usage requirements for two years from now immediately, and you must purchase every grain you request."
Or: "Despite your prior request, due to various circumstances, we can only supply a smaller amount."
The Sake
A Bold Leap Forward
Tired of these constraints, I decided: "If I’m going to take a risk, I’d much rather do it under my own responsibility." Thus, in an era when contract farming was still rare, I launched our program with a "leap-of-faith" mindset. We started with 10 local farmers growing Dewa Sansan and Miyama Nishiki across 13 cho (approx. 13 hectares).
Growth and Vision:
Time has passed, and as of 2020, our family of contract farmers has grown to 23, with over 70 cho of land. Furthermore, from 2020 onward, we have established a policy to transition 100% of our Yamada Nishiki to contract cultivation, fully realizing our vision of self-determined quality.
From Tatenokawa Sake Brewery
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