our breweries
We are proud to partner with some of the most prestigious breweries in Japan and the leading UK sake brewery. Each one has a unique history but all take great pride in the quality of their ingredients and brewing heritage and between them they’ve produced bags of award-winning sake.
Kanpai
Truly unique in the sake world, Kanpai London Craft Sake Brewery brings the joyful experimentation of modern craft beer brewing into the ancient world of sake, all with a particular London flavour.
At-a-glance
Established in 2017 by husband and wife team - Tom & Lucy Wilson
The first of only two breweries in the UK and the only brewery in London, located in Peckham (SE15)
Local, experimental styles taking inspiration from craft beer and spirit movements with seasonal sake and unique collaborations with local beer breweries
SHIRAKABEGURA
Located in Nada, Hyogo, one of Japan's most famous sake producing regions, Shirakabegura is part of the Takara group producing sake, shochu and other Japanese delicacies. This brewery produces consistently award-winning premium sake with distinctive production methods such as kimoto and muroka genshu, as well as the popular MIO sparkling sake.
At-a-glance:
Brewing since 1842, using the hard water of Miyamizu, uniquely suited to sake production
One of the longest gold medal streaks of any brewery in the Annual Japan Sake Awards
A master of the rare traditional kimoto style producing unique flavours
Urakasumi Brewery, Miyagi
Urakasumi
Urakasumi, located in the town of Shiogama, Miyagi prefecture, on Japan's North East coast, translates in English as “Misty Bay” (ura is “bay” and kasumi is “mist”), simply capturing its picturesque seaside surroundings.
At-a-glance
295 year old, 13th generation family-run brewery
37 Gold Prizes in Annual Japan Sake Awards & won more Gold Prizes than any other sake producer in Japan.
Medalled every year in the London IWC (International Wine Challenge) since 2007
Painstakingly rebuilt after being devastated by the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011
Nanbu Bijin
Founded in 1902 in Ninohe city, Iwate, the original brewery, Kuji Shuzo, named after founding Juji famliy, originally produced soy sauce. In the 1950s the brewery joined the Nanbu Toji, a Master Brewers guild, eventually employing Hajime Yamaguchi who had learned from brewing legend, Sagoro Hirano, who was said to be the best brewer in Japan.
At-a-glance
Multi-award winning, IWC 2017 winner
Use local, specially developed rice
Passionate about local area
Experiments with new technology
Ichinokura
Ichinokura
Set deep in the forests of northern Miyagi, Ichinokura, which literally means "One Brewery", was formed when four long-standing local breweries joined forces to become one. Today Ichinokura is the largest brewery in the prefecture and produces award-winning sake with a sustainable philosophy.
At-a-glance
Founded in 1973 when 4 local breweries merged around a vision of handcrafted sake
Set in Northern Miyagi Prefecture famous for it’s soft underground water ideal for making sake
Over 90% of the rice used is grown locally
In-house team to promote sustainable agriculture that minimizes our environmental impact and helps support local farmers
Dassai (Asahi)
Home to the world renowned DASSAI brand, the Asahi brewery is dedicated to the pursuit of high quality, premium sake. DASSAI translates as "otter festival," based on an ancient tale of otters playing in the rivers of Yamaguchi running alongside the brewery.
At-a-glance
Based in Yamaguchi on the West coast of Japan
One of the leading global sake brands focussing on high grade sake
Names of the signature sake (45, 39 & 23) famously relate to the polishing ratio of the rice used
Tosatsuru
Located on the island of Shikoku in Koichi Prefecture, the Tosatsuru sake brewery is a place that uses the natural wonders around it to produce beautiful sake. From the crystalline water of the Yasuda River which flows near the brewery, to carefully selected rice, Tosatsuru has built a reputation for quality ingredients and exceptional brewing techniques.
At a glance:
Founded in 1773 by the Hiromatsu family
The largest sake brewery in Shikoku
The name Tosatsuru is inspired by an ancient Japanese poem
Miyasaka / Masumi
Set up in 1662 in the town of Suwa in Nagano Prefecture, the Miyasaka brewery are the craftsmen behind the famous Masumi sake brand. Throughout its history, Miyasaka has been a favourite brewery of many famous figures such as Matsudaira Tadateru, the sixth son of the first Tokugawa Shogun.
At-a-glance:
The family behind the brewery were originally retainers to the Suwa lords of ancient Japan
The Masumi sake name was first used by the brewery at the end of the Edo period
The brewery was revitalised in the early 20th century by a young sake prodigy
Dewazakura
Situated in Tendo City in Yamagata Prefecture, the Dewazakura sake brewery is one of the most famous sake producers in the world. As a pioneer in ginjo sake making, the brewery brought premium grade sake into the mainstream and have continued to build on its impressive legacy over the years.
At a glance:
An innovator of ginjo sake in the 1980s
Helped to set up the Dewazakura Art Museum in 1988
The climate of Yamagata Prefecture infuses a unique regionality and flavour into Dewazakura sake