
Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmaishu
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture) | Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture)
Tochigi's "Shikizakura" is the product of sake brewing techniques passed down since the Meiji era and the blessings of the region. The flavor of this sake, brewed using the pure waters of the Kinugawa River and locally grown rice, has won numerous awards both in Japan and overseas.
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Utsunomiya Sake Brewery is located in the Yanagida district, close to the center of Utsunomiya City, Tochigi Prefecture. Its history dates back to 4, when the first generation, Suikichi Imai, founded the Imai Sake Brewery in Hiraishi Village, Kawachi County, Tochigi Prefecture (present-day Utsunomiya City).
The representative brand is "Shiki Sakura." When the company was first established, the brand was "Shiki no Tomo" (Friend of the Four Seasons), but it was renamed to "Shiki Sakura" after the first generation's haiku, "Tsukiyuki no Tomo wa Nashi Shiki Sakura."
Not only do they brew a wide variety of sake, from designated name sake to regular sake, as Tochigi's local sake, they also produce seasonal limited edition sakes such as special junmai unpasteurized sake and nigori unpasteurized sake, which can be enjoyed with the flavors of each season.
For over 150 years since its founding, the company has continued to brew a variety of sake in line with the times while continuing to pass down traditional sake brewing techniques, based on the deep belief that "A drink of sincerity. Sake reflects the attitude of the brewer."
The brewing water is from the underground water of the Kinugawa River that flows through the southeastern part of the city, and the rice used is from the sake-brewing rice varieties "Gohyakumangoku" and "Miyama Nishiki" that are carefully cultivated by the local Yanagida Sake Rice Research Association, as well as "Asahi no Yume" and "Yume Sasara" that are grown in the prefecture. The carefully selected ingredients are the key to the flavor of "Shikizakura," which has a rich aroma, a gentle mouthfeel, a sharp taste, and a subtle sweetness.
In recent years, Utsunomiya Sake Brewery has achieved many brilliant results in competitions both domestically and internationally. At the Australian Sake Awards held in Sydney, Australia in 2024, Shikizakura Manyohisai (Daiginjo Sake) won the Platinum Award and Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmai Sake won the Gold Award.
Furthermore, in the food matching category of the same competition, Shikizakura Tochigi no Hoshi Junmai Sake won the highest award, the Best Food Matching Award, for pairing with Aussie beef, a typical Australian food.
Shikizakura Junmai Ginjo ARUSHIROI, planned as a "junmai ginjo sake made by women for women," won the platinum award in the junmai sake category at the 2022 Kura Master, a French sake competition. The sake is made using Gohyakumangoku rice, a variety suitable for sake brewing, which was first cultivated at Momo Farm in Tochigi Prefecture, and was produced by women from product planning to brewing. It is a dry undiluted sake with a moderate umami acidity that is said to be popular with a wide range of drinkers, not just women.
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery, which brews the local sake "Shikizakura," is steadily spreading its name from Tochigi to the world. The brewery will continue to brew delicious sake with a global perspective while remaining rooted in the local area, opening up new horizons for Japanese sake culture.
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture) | Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture) | Tochigi Prefecture
Utsunomiya Sake Brewery (Tochigi Prefecture) | Tochigi Prefecture