Takashimizu history began in 1944 after merging of 12 small breweries during World War II. In this column, we will trace the history of 12 breweries which are the foundation of current Takashimizu one by one. We will introduce “Toshimagawa” this time as the eighth brewery out of 12. Masanosuke Okabe started sake brewing business in 1905 at Toyoshima village, current Kawabe area, Akita city. Sake brewing business itself started at late Meiji period, but as Okabe family, it is dating back to the end of Edo period. Masanosuke’s old brother “Shozo” was born in 1845 and until his death in 1918, he contributed to the development of education and […]

After the third Toji Isao Takahashi had resigned the Toji and assumed brewing counsellor, Noboru Minagawa assumed the Fourth Toji of Takashimizu head office brewery. Minagawa came from Nakasen, current Daisen city. Minagawa entered the company as a seasonal worker in 1962 when he was 19 years old. He assumed a chief of Shubo in 1986 and Moromi in 1991. After the transfer from head office brewery to Nakasen brewery in 1995, he assumed a deputy Toji, and in 1998, he was appointed to Toji of Nakasen. He finally worked as Toji of head office brewery from 1998 to 2014. His years of experience in sake brewing covered 52 years […]

When drinking at Izakaya (informal Japanese style bar) in Japan, sometimes sake is served in this style: server put a glass inside the Masu or sake saucer and pour until sake overflows from the glass. This serving style is called “Mokkiri” and it is said that the degree of overflowing shows the degree of the server’s denerosity. How would you drink this style of sake? The most familiar style in sake country Akita is that sipping a bit of sake with kissing the brim. In order to spread this “kissing drinking style” throughout the world, we will continuously introduce the attractive “Mokkiri face” of beautiful Akita’s ladies to you. This […]

Takashimizu history began in 1944 after merging of 12 small breweries during World War II. In this column, we will trace the history of 12 breweries which are the foundation of current Takashimizu one by one. We will introduce “Satonoi” today as the seventh brewery out of 12. Kenji Hirakawa started his sake business in 1902 at current Toga area, Oga city in Akita prefecture. Kenji’s grandfather Tokichi established a branch family from the head family based at current Asauchi area, Noshiro city during 1818 to 1830. Family contributed to reclamation of Wakami area, Oga city with the agricultural advisor Onomatsu Watanabe, who rendered significant achievement to Akita’s water supply and reclamation work at that time by completing […]

After the second Toji Riichiro Nagaswawa had resigned the Toji and assumed brewing counsellor, Isao Takahashi assumed the Third Toji of Takashimizu head office brewery. Takahashi also came from San-nai area in Yokote city same as his predecessors. Takahashi entered the company as a seasonal worker in 1951 when he was 17 years old. Continuingly, he assumed a chief of Shubo in 1960, Moromi in 1979, and as a deputy Toji in 1989. After that, in 1996, he was appointed to Toji and received prizes over and over at various sake competitions. Then all Takashimizu breweries at the time (Head office, Nakasen, and Goshono) received Akita Governor’s Prize at Akita […]

When drinking at Izakaya (informal Japanese style bar) in Japan, sometimes sake is served in this style: server put a glass inside the Masu or sake saucer and pour until sake overflows from the glass. This serving style is called “Mokkiri” and it is said that the degree of overflowing shows the degree of the server’s generosity. How would you drink this style of sake? The most familiar style in sake country Akita is that sipping a bit of sake with kissing the brim. In order to spread this “kissing drinking style” throughout the world, we will continuously introduce the attractive “Mokkiri face” of beautiful Akita’s ladies to you. This […]

When drinking at Izakaya (informal Japanese style bar) in Japan, sometimes sake is served in this style: server put a glass inside the Masu or sake saucer and pour until sake overflows from the glass. This serving style is called “Mokkiri” and it is said that the degree of overflowing shows the degree of the server’s generosity. How would you drink this style of sake? The most familiar style in sake country Akita is that sipping a bit of sake with kissing the brim. In order to spread this “kissing drinking style” throughout the world, we will continuously introduce the attractive “Mokkiri face” of beautiful Akita’s ladies to you. This […]

When drinking at Izakaya (informal Japanese style bar) in Japan, sometimes sake is served in this style: server put a glass inside the Masu or sake saucer and pour until sake overflows from the glass. This serving style is called “Mokkiri” and it is said that the degree of overflowing shows the degree of the server’s generosity. How would you drink this style of sake? The most familiar style in sake country Akita is that sipping a bit of sake with kissing the brim. In order to spread this “kissing drinking style” throughout the world, we will continuously introduce the attractive “Mokkiri face” of beautiful Akita’s ladies to you. This Mokkiri […]

Takashimizu history began in 1944 after merging of 12 small breweries during World War II. In this column, we will trace the history of 12 breweries which are the foundation of current Takashimizu one by one. We will introduce “Suehiro” this time as the sixth breweries out of 12, and this is just the half of total. Toyoji Hiroshima started the sake business in 1900 at current Kyokunan 2cho-me, Akita city under the brand name “Suehiro”. The word “Suehiro” expresses the situation that something becomes wider toward the end, and also grows more and more prosperous. Therefore, for the future of the brewery, he might put such a desire into […]

“Japanese Sake Fair 2016” presented by Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association will be held at Sunshine City, Ikebukuro Tokyo on Saturday, June 18. This is one of the biggest sake events which you can sufficiently enjoy the sake world in Japan and this is the 10th anniversary! In this event, of course you can enjoy tasting and purchasing sake from 45 prefectures across Japan, and moreover, you can also enjoy some snacks which perfectly go well with sake, and seminars for enjoying sake. Tasting 410 award-winning sake at 104th Annual Japan Sake Awards 2016 is also possible! Why don’t you enjoy tasting the finest fresh sake filled with passion […]