Welcome to Issue #83 of SIN.
As we head into spring, the countdown begins to the end of the brewing season and the beginning of the season for sake related festivals, tastings and events.
As evidenced by a couple of stories in this issue, this year looks like the year that sake events will finally come back to their pre-COVID glory. No doubt, there will be some tweaking of operations and a certain level of COVID counter-measures, but it's still wonderful to see these events returning after such a long hiatus.
We can't wait to get amongst it!
And speaking of triumphant returns, this issue features no less than three(!) new brewery/comeback stories. When so much is often made of the ever declining number of sake breweries, it's fantastic to see growth in the industry - regardless of what form it takes.
And now for the news...
Nagano Brewery Gets A Second Shot
Nagano - Yamasan Shuzō resumed brewing in February, with the current president, Shinji Hagiwara, taking over the business, which had been on hiatus since 2015.
Founded in 1867, Yamasan Shuzō was named after the crest of the Sanada family, and was a popular brand among locals. However, after more than 150 years of business the brewery was forced to close due to succession issues.
Not long after, Hagiwara, a native of Saku City, took his experience in IT and business management and made the bold proposition to step in and rebuild the business, starting from scratch. Hagiwara plans on maintaining the original spirit of the brewery by leaving the name unchanged.
Hagiwara recruited Yuki Kurihara, a relatively young toji at 38 years old, who brings with him a number of years of brewing experience at Hakurei Shuzō in Kyoto, where he rose to toji in 2019.
The worn down brewing facilities have been completely renovated, and now with an injection of new ideas and modern brewing techniques courtesy of Kurihara, it is hoped that Yamasan Shuzō will enjoy a rebirth of its original brand and the introduction of some new projects.
Plans are already underway to expand into the overseas market, so keep an eye out.
Source - PR Times
JG: Congratulations to Yamasan Shuzō , and everyone behind it. It is like a dream come true to see sake breweries come back from the brink, and even more so from the other side of that brink. And what a cool historical anecdote regarding their name! Add this to the list of sake to try soon.
山三酒造 , ハクレイ酒造（白嶺）
Forging New Paths In Hiroshima
Hiroshima- Fukumitsu Shuzō was founded in 1933, but after the third generation owner became ill and passed away, the brewery ceased operations in 2006.
In 2017 fourth generation Hiroyasu Fukumitsu made the decision to revive the family business, but was met with a large hurdle upon discovering the business brewing license had already been surrendered to the National Tax Authority.
Rather than attempt the impossible task of procuring a new seishu brewing license, Fukumitsu decided to brew doburoku under the town of Ōasa (where the brewery is located) special-zone licensing, which permits certain farmers and establishments to brew doburoku under conditions such as using rice from the brewery’s own fields grown in the region.
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