HIRAKO SHUZO
Brewery: Hirako Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Founded: 1861
Hirako Shuzo was founded in Ishinomaki City, a port town in Miyagi Prefecture in 1861, by branching out from Kikunotsukasa Shuzo in Iwate Prefecture. Ishinomaki City is located at the mouth of the Kitakami River that runs through the northeastern part of the country. It is home to the Kinkazan Fishing Grounds, one of the three major fishing grounds in the world, where warm and cold currents meet. Based on such regional characteristics, Hirako Shuzo continues its pursuit to produce elegant sake with a moderate aroma that would be paired perfectly with seafood and sushi.
MIYAGI
PRODUCTS
Tasting Notes
Round on the nose with the scent of concord grape, honeysuckle, sweet steamed rice, and ripe Asian pear. Incredibly well balanced on the palate - it envelops the entire mouth quickly, with a gentle sweetness and a reserved acidity. Less than 2000 bottles made in a year. Aged in-bottle, completely undiluted, exclusively from the nakadori (middle) portion of the sake's pressing process, which is considered the best portion of the press. Finally, all the Yamada Nishiki used is “Special A” grade - the highest grade rice harvested in the famed fields of Yoshikawa.
Overview
Food Pairings: While it certainly can be had on it's own - would work beautifully with cooked shellfish - clams are the first to come to mind, but roasted oysters, steamed crab, cooked shrimps or lobster would all do well with this. Roasted winter vegetables would love this sake as well, cooked with a touch of color but not too hard. Also works well before or after a meal, or served together with Edomae style Tamago.
Specifications
Class: Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Style: Genshu
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 40%
ABV: 17.5%
Size: 720ml
Brewery Profile
Trade Resources
Specification Sheets & Bottle Images
Tasting Notes
Expressive and luxurious on the nose, with aromas of ripe apple, steamed rice, chestnut, lychee, and fresh grass. The palate is bold and focused, showing the intensity and sharp definition of genshu, supported by lively acidity. Savory and complex, it finishes long yet clean, leaving a refined impression. This sake is bottled undiluted and aged in bottle, using only nakadori—the prized middle cut of the press, known for its elegance and balance. Crafted exclusively from “Special A” grade Yamada Nishiki grown in Hyogo, this limited release is produced at just 2,000 bottles annually.
Overview
Food Pairings: Chawanmushi (savory egg custard), Sea bream, fatty tuna, Caesar salad
Specifications
Class: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Style: Genshu
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 40%
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 720ml
Brewery Profile
Trade Resources
Specification Sheets & Bottle Images
Tasting Notes
This special brew's "Sake Meter Value", which is a measurement of the residual sugar remaining (or in this case not remaining) in a sake is quite high, clocking in at +11. In a world where higher is drier, this is quite high, and the sake quite dry! Structured and crisp, delicious at any temperature but especially slightly warmed, and delicious with all kinds of seafood. Hitakami sake are highly sought after by top sushi chefs in Japan for their careful consideration and decades of practice with precisely what kinds of sake will match best with seafood and sushi.
Overview
Food Pairings: Sushi and seafood dishes, especially those featuring lean meat, from silver-blue skinned fish to red fleshed fish.
Specifications
Class: Junmai
Rice: Hitomebore
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 60%
ABV: 15.5%
Size: 720ml
Brewery Profile
Trade Resources
Specification Sheets & Bottle Images
Tasting Notes
Hitakami sake are highly sought after by top sushi chefs in Japan for their careful consideration and decades of practice with precisely what kinds of sake will match best with seafood and sushi - especially the difficult-to-pair white fleshed fish or delicately sweet ingredients and vinegars used in high end restaurants. Yasuke displays a restrained yet nuanced aromatic profile, and soft, elegant flavor characteristics that protect the delicacy of white fish and the freshness of vinegared silver fish, the maturity of red akami, and even the full body of conger eel. Crisp, dry, and delicious at any temperature. The name Yasuke is old slang for Sushi, used in the red-light districts and Kabuki theatre houses of Meiji-era Japan long ago.
Overview
Food Pairings: White-Fleshed Fish, Shrimp, Shellfish, Squid and Octopus Dishes, Sushi.
Specifications
Class: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Kura no Hana
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 50%
ABV: 16.0%
Size: 720ml
Brewery Profile
Trade Resources
Specification Sheets & Bottle Images
Tasting Notes
Named after the classic Kabuki play Sukeroku Yukari no Edo Zakura, this sake reflects the enduring cultural connection between Hitakami, sushi, and Edo-era food traditions, where sukeroku sushi was a beloved dish of the common people and remains popular today. Crafted to be equally approachable and food-friendly, it offers a restrained aroma, a mellow yet dry profile, and generous umami, with a soft, enveloping flavor that shines best alongside a meal.
Overview
Food Pairings: Uni sushi, Anago sushi, Sukeroku sushi, Tamagoyaki.
Specifications
Class: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 50%
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 1800ml (CA Only), 720ml
Tasting Notes
Floral but reserved on the nose; consider honeysuckle, sweet banana and rice cake, white pepper. Elegant and smooth, a touch of sweetness but finishes with a deft dryness. Medium light weight, light acidity, long finish. Gentle and clean, this sake matches well with the delicate flavors often found in Japanese cuisine. Aged in-bottle completely undiluted, this sake's Yamada Nishiki - which is the highest grade available of Hyogo's rice harvests - is grown in the famed fields of the Toujo District. Less than 1700 bottles made in a year.
Overview
Food Pairings: Drink on it’s own or with super light dishes – raw fluke, tilefish or bass, crudité, cucumber, chilled crab or raw oysters. Matches well with the flavor of dashi. Also consider lightly dressed green salads; young arugula with lemon, olive oil, and the barest amount of pecorino would be lovely with this.
Specifications
Class: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki
Style: Genshu
Rice-Polishing Ratio: 35%
ABV: 16.5%
Size: 720ml
Brewery Profile
Trade Resources
Specification Sheets & Bottle Images
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