Asakai Junmai Ginjo Yumekari 1.8L Junmai Ginjo [J230]

Iwate is a sake producing region that has long been known as the home of Nanbu's chief brewers. Since its founding in 1894, Asakai sake has been refined by the rich nature of this land, which is blessed with rice, water, and craftsmanship, and has been nurtured by loving people. Even now, more than 130 years later, we have received high praise locally, nationwide, and overseas as a brand representing the sake village of Iwate.

The name "Asakai" is a pillow word for "rowing out". There are several works in the Manyoshu, including waka poems by the great poet Hitomaro Kakimoto. The company was founded by Genzo Murai, the seventh generation samurai of the Nanbu domain, who quit his samurai career and began producing sake at the current location in 1871. It is said that the name ``Asakai'' was given to him as a sign of his fresh start as a samurai as a merchant and the beginning of a new era, the Meiji era.

The basics of sake making are ``1 koji, 2 moto (shubo), and 3 zukuri (moromi).''
The words ``1 koji, 2 moto (sake mash), and 3 zukuri (moromi)'' are the major factors that affect sake brewing. The first step, making koji, is the most exhausting work and requires two days and nights. The fermentation process changes continuously depending on the environment such as temperature and humidity, and the degree of fermentation is constantly changing. Alcohol can truly be described as a living thing, as it can affect all flavors in just two days and nights.

Iwate sake with Iwate rice
The same goes for the basic raw material, rice. Among the rice suitable for brewing sake, there is no rice that rivals Hyogo Prefecture's ``Yamada Nishiki,'' but the yield is small and it used to be difficult to obtain in Iwate. In an effort to cultivate rice suitable for sake in Iwate, we conducted various trial cultivations and succeeded in cultivating Miyama Nishiki, which is native to Nagano, in Iwate. After that, they continued to research whether it was possible to make sake using rice developed in Iwate and a unique yeast, and ``Ginginga'', a rice from Iwate Prefecture suitable for sake brewing, was born. It is carefully refined to 50% and has a refreshing aroma and a light taste, making it very popular. From now on, our goal is to produce rice and sake that surpasses Yamada Nishiki.

Sake is fun and delicious
Recently, fewer people among the younger generation enjoy sake, but I want more people to learn about the delicious taste of sake. Sake is generally said to leave a residue the next day or get drunk easily, but it is good for your health if you drink it in moderation, and recently it has been attracting attention from women as being good for your skin. At Asakai, we make several types of ``Japanese liqueurs'' based on pure rice sake, but we also offer rich flavors such as ``sake made with soy milk'' that are liked not only by young people but also by older women. We would like to respond to diversifying needs such as these. Please enjoy the food, conversation, and the taste of alcohol.

2012 National New Sake Appraisal Gold Award Winner Daiginjo Sake

Received the most gold awards in Japan (since the Heisei era).

National new sake presentation. This is a ``Japanese sake competition'' where sake breweries from all over Japan put their prestige on the line and submit their entries.

On May 18, 2012, Asakai, a sake brewery in Iwate, Tohoku, received the Gold Award, the most awards (since the Heisei era) among sake breweries in Japan.

Sake Brewery Asakai's finest sake is so delicious that your heart trembles

It's delicious anyway. Simply delicious sake.

We ``work hard to brew'' carefully selected ``high-quality ingredients'' without making any compromises.

We do not use any special raw materials or manufacturing methods.

Only by repeating the basics without cutting corners will we be able to produce delicious sake that will impress the people who drink it.

Thoroughly build up the basics that you think are best.

But just by doing that, you can create incredibly delicious sake that touches people's hearts.