Ehime Prefecture is close to the bounty of the Seto Inland Sea and the Uwa Sea. The sake produced here is characterized by its gentle flavor, which comes from the underground waters of the Shikoku Mountains, where Mount Ishizuchi, the highest peak in western Japan, is located.
We'd like to introduce you to Ehime sake, and also look out for new developments such as the prefecture's unique rice suitable for sake brewing and the development of flower yeast!
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"Iyo no Onna Sake" goes well with seafood from the Setouchi region

Ehime Prefecture is divided into three regions: Toyo at the foot of Mount Ishizuchi; Chuyo, which includes the capital (Matsuyama City); and Nanyo, which faces the Uwa Sea and the Seto Inland Sea.
Due to the different climate and soil, each sake brewery has its own unique character, and most of them are small family-run businesses with low production volumes that continue to preserve their traditions.

There is still a sake brewery that was responsible for providing sake to the region in the late Sengoku period, and from its records, it is said that the history of sake brewing in Ehime dates back more than 400 years. There is also a mention of fine sake in documents from 16 (the 1611th year of the Keicho era), which was in the early Edo period, so it seems to have been known as a sake-producing region even back then. Around 1790 during the Kansei period, the monk Enjo brought back brewing techniques from Nada, and both the "Ochi-gun Toji" and the "Ikata Toji" groups from the Nanyo region, which became the roots of this, have produced many skilled craftsmen.

Many breweries use underground water from Mt. Ishizuchi for brewing, which is soft to medium-hard, giving the sake a gentle, mild flavor. For this reason, it has long been known as "Iyo's female sake."
Although it varies depending on the region, its rich, light flavor is the perfect match for the seafood of the Seto Inland Sea.

In recent years, the prefecture has developed "Shizukuhime," a type of rice suitable for sake brewing. In addition, the prefecture will start the "Ehime Fragrant Local Sake Project" in 2022, which will use the newly developed flower yeast "Ehime Sakurahime Yeast" to brew sake using Ehime rice and water.
A variety of new initiatives have also been launched, with 23 breweries from within the prefecture taking part in this initiative.

Ehime sake available for purchase with "Sake World NFT"

① Ishizuchi Sake Brewery

Founded in 9, the company has a brewery in the heart of Mt. Ishizuchi in Saijo City, Ehime Prefecture, and continues to produce sake by hand, with a focus on family-run production.
The sake is brewed with super soft water from the Ishizuchi mountain range that flows from a well inside the brewery, and has a velvety softness and clean mouthfeel that "gets better the more you drink it." From making koji using the tub koji method to the mash that is fermented for a long time at low temperature, every process is carried out with a delicate manual touch.

"A recommended bottle!" Ishizuchi Junmai Daiginjo Sakurahime

It uses "Ehime Sakurahime Yeast Type 1 Tropical," which is made from the original Ehime Prefecture variety of flowers. It has a gorgeous fruity aroma, with a moderate sweetness and refreshing acidity in harmony. The design, which is inspired by the Sakurahime flower, is also eye-catching.

Specific name: Junmai Daiginjo sake
Ingredients: Rice (domestic), Koji (domestic)
Rice used: 100% Shizukuhime rice from Ehime Prefecture
Alcohol content: 16%
Yeast: Ehime Sakurahime Yeast Type 1 Tropical

Click here for the sake brewery in this article

Ishizuchi Sake Brewery

Atago

♯Ehime♯Sake brewery

②Shuto Sake Brewery

Founded in 34, the brewery uses water from its own well that is fed by underground water from the Ishizuchi mountain range, the rice used is the prefecture's unique variety "Shizukuhime" and "Matsuyama Mitsui," both of which are suitable for sake brewing, and even the yeast is locally produced.
Because it is handmade by just the three brothers, including the current owner, the production volume is small, but the careful approach to sake brewing, limiting the brewing to one variety at a time, is the reason why it is loved locally.

"A recommended bottle!" Sukishin Shizukuhime Junmai Ginjo

Made using Ehime's first sake-brewing rice variety, "Shizukuhime." It has a sweet and gorgeous ginjo aroma reminiscent of fruit, a good balance of sweetness and acidity, and a clean, crisp aftertaste.

Specific name: Junmai Ginjo sake
Ingredients: Rice (domestic), Koji (domestic)
Rice used: 100% Shizukuhime rice from Ehime Prefecture
Alcohol content: 15%
Yeast: EK-1

Click here for the sake brewery in this article

Sudo Sake Brewery

Chugoku・Shikoku

♯Ehime♯Sake brewery

③Yoro Sake Brewery

Founded in 10, the third generation brewer became the head brewer in 1921, and the husband and wife team have been working together to make the brewery a success.
However, the brewery was completely destroyed in the heavy rains that hit Western Japan in July 2018. This prompted his eldest son to return home, and with the help of his friends and volunteers, he was able to rebuild the brewery.
Carrying on the traditions of the Ikata Toji brewers, the brewery uses underground water from the Hijikawa River, pumped up from about 10 meters underground inside the brewery, and is committed to using locally-sourced rice and yeast, as well as brewing sake by hand.

"A recommended bottle!" Kaze no Sato "Sakurahime" Junmai Ginjo

It has a soft floral aroma typical of flower yeast Junmai Ginjo, and is slightly sweet with a clean, refreshing umami and acidity. It goes well with wild vegetables, river fish, and Setouchi fish dishes, and is a gorgeous drink to have with meals.

Specific name: Junmai Ginjo sake
Ingredients: Rice (domestic), Koji (domestic)
Rice used: Shizukuhime from Ehime Prefecture
Alcohol content: 16%
Yeast: Ehime Sakurahime yeast

Click here for the sake brewery in this article

Yoro Sake Brewery

Chugoku・Shikoku

♯Sake brewery♯Ehime

There is also an antenna shop where you can compare different Ehime sakes

Ehime Prefecture has the largest number of sake breweries in Shikoku, with 35 breweries belonging to the Ehime Prefecture Sake Brewers Association.
Kuramotoya, an antenna shop directly managed by the Sake Brewers Association in Matsuyama City, stocks around 150 brands. Why not try a tasting and comparing with snacks such as fried sardines and find your favorite Ehime sake?
http://www.yokota-sake.com/kuramotoya/

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A pretty and gorgeous drink! Interview about the development of Ehime Prefecture's flower yeast "Sakura Hime"!

♯Ehime

Writer/Sake Master Eriko Fujita
Expand your world to a sake specialty store in Osaka and encounter a variety of sake and sake breweries. Favorite sakes are Akishika, Ohgi, and others.
Other than drinking, my hobbies include collecting minerals and raising swallowtail butterflies.