Sake Brewery

Koikawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Koikawa Sake Brewery in Shonai, Yamagata Prefecture, has a 300-year history
A deliciously dry, matured pure rice sake brewed with "Kame-no-o"

Koikawa Sake Brewery has been preserving the tradition of sake brewing in Shonai Town, Yamagata Prefecture for about 300 years. They revived the legendary sake rice "Kamenoo" and are passionate about brewing pure rice sake using locally produced ingredients.

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300 years of sake brewing that makes use of the blessings of Shonai

Koikawa Sake Brewery was founded in 10. The brewery is located in Shonai Town, Yamagata Prefecture, the birthplace of the legendary sake rice "Kamenoo." The brewery is committed to using locally produced ingredients and pursues matured pure rice sake that carefully brings out the natural flavor of the rice.

The sake is brewed by a local master brewer using traditional techniques, using yeast developed by the Yamagata Prefectural Industrial Technology Center, high-quality Yamagata rice such as Kame-no-o grown by local farmers, and clear meltwater from the Dewa Sanzan and Mt. Chokai.
In particular, their representative brand "Koikawa" is brewed from rice that is more than 9% rooted in "Kame no O". As a local sake that is the fruition of the blessings and techniques of Shonai, it has a crisp, deliciously dry taste and is delicious whether it is served cold or warm.

Kame no O, the sake rice that has been revived through the ages

"Kame no O" is a variety developed during the Meiji period by Abe Kameji, a dedicated farmer in Shonai Town, Yamagata Prefecture, from rice ears that had survived cold damage. As a high-yielding variety that is resistant to strong winds and cold damage, it was widely cultivated in the Tohoku and Hokuriku regions during the Taisho period. It became such a representative rice variety that it was known as "Omachi in the West" and "Kame no O in the East," and was highly regarded both as table rice and as sake rice.
However, as times changed, its vulnerability to pests and its low compatibility with modern farming methods meant that cultivation ceased in the 1970s, and it became a "phantom variety."

Later, in the 1980s, Koikawa Sake Brewery acquired the seeds from the Abe family and revived Kame no O. Kame no O is known as a variety of rice with a light white color and fine grains for eating, but as sake rice it requires advanced techniques to be brewed. Sake brewed with Kame no O is characterized by its smooth mouthfeel and deep richness.

Aged Junmai sake cultivated by Kame no O

Koikawa Sake Brewery, which has been producing all-junmai sake since 2016, aims to bring out the full power of Kame no O, creating a dry yet rich sake that allows you to enjoy the natural flavor of the rice, making it a perfect pairing with meals.
The brewed sake is carefully aged in a cool warehouse, where the umami components are developed and refined into a mellow, dry sake. This exquisite balance of rich umami and a dry taste that goes well with food is what makes Koikawa Sake Brewery's aged dry sake so special.

You can enjoy its delicate flavor, which changes with temperature, from room temperature to hot sake, and when it is warmed, the aroma and flavor are enhanced, making it a perfect match for food. Its deep flavor, which you will never tire of, shows its unique character as an ideal drink to have with a meal.

Koikawa Sake Brewery, which revived Kame no O and has continued to use it as sake rice, is involved in the cultivation itself and is committed to protecting and popularizing this precious variety.
We will continue to weave the tradition of sake brewing that brings out the true value of Kame no O by combining ingredients grown in the rich Shonai soil, brewing techniques honed over 300 years of history, and the finest skills passed down by local master brewers and brewers.

List of brands of this sake brewery

Koikawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Koikawa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.

Start a business
1725
Representative stock
Carp River
Address
42 Okino, Yome, Shonai-machi, Higashitagawa-gun, Yamagata PrefectureOpen with Googlemap
TEL
0234-43-2005
HP
https://sake-koikawa.jp/
Opening hours
8:30-17:00 (Lunch break: 12:00-13:00)
Closing days
April to September: Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays; October to March: Sundays and holidays

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