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2022.2.16
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Takeuchi Sake Brewery

[Visit a sake brewery in Shiga ④] [Takeuchi Sake Brewery] / Ishibe

Shiga has a plain centered on Lake Biwa, the largest lake in Japan, and the subsoil water from the surrounding mountains still serves as the brewing water for many sake breweries. We will focus on sake breweries with rich individuality and their passion for sake brewing. For the fourth installment, we visited the Takeuchi Sake Brewery in Ishibe, Konan City, which has a reputation for sake so good that it is hard to tell anyone about it.

1.It has been about 150 years since the company inherited the "sake without words" concept.

The cold air of the newly dawned day stings my skin. Morning comes early in the brewery.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

At Takeuchi Sake Brewery in Ishibe, Konan City, steam is already rising from a large steamer.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

Ishibe was a town that welcomed many travelers as an inn town on the 53rd leg of the Tokaido Highway during the Edo period. As the phrase "Kyotachi Ishibe Hatsuyomari" (Kyotachi Ishibe first night) suggests, it is said that travelers stayed there for the first night after departing from Kyoto to recover from fatigue. The sake drunk in Ishibe was so delicious that people refrained from telling others about it lest it become too popular and become unavailable, hence the name "sake without talking.
The flavor is created by the subterranean water of the Suzuka Mountains, the rich local rice of Omi, and the climate of Ishibe.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

[Takeuchi Sake Brewery was founded in 1872. Even though the Edo period gave way to the Meiji era, the atmosphere of an inn town probably remained. And the taste of sake that made travelers' mouths water was the same then as it is now.
Takeuchi Sake Brewery has been brewing sake for about 150 years. [Takeuchi Sake Brewery] has inherited Ishibe's sake brewing tradition, which was loved as "sake without words.

2.A sharp taste created through teamwork.

The sake brewery was surprisingly neat and tidy, and the craftsmen were working diligently. What was to be placed where, who was to do what next, and so on were all decided without a word. Everything is decided without any words, and the work proceeds one after the other with a "A-Un" spirit.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

The company's philosophy, written on a piece of paper on the wall, is "to brew good sake with harmony and to continue to inspire people. This is the company's philosophy written on a piece of paper on the wall. True to these words, the teamwork of the brewers is evident as the rice is taken out of the steamer, passed through the cooler, and then transferred to the next stage of the brewing process.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

The representative brand "Kou no Izumi" has been produced since the establishment of the company. Tadasada" was created eight years ago with the aim of creating the ultimate food sake. What these two brands have in common is a crispness that lets you fully appreciate the umami flavor. Our goal is to make sake that is full-flavored and crisp. To achieve this, it is important to bring out the umami of the rice in the sake," says Naoto Nakamura, the young 42-year-old master brewer.

Mr. Nakamura, the toji of Takeuchi Sake Brewery

[Mr. Naoto Nakamura, the toji (master brewer) of Takeuchi Sake Brewery Co.

[Takeuchi Sake Brewery uses different rice for different brands of sake, but they use mostly rice grown in Shiga Prefecture, such as Ginfukiyuki, Tamakoe, and Watabune. We make sake by taking advantage of the local climate and ingredients. Ishibe's dry winters are ideal for koji making," he says. This is Nakamura's seventh year brewing sake in Ishibe, coming from Akita Prefecture every winter. He feels that he is getting a good response.

3.Adapting to the times while preserving traditions.

We have both dry and sweet sake. We want beginners who are not familiar with sake to try our sake," said Taizo Matsumoto, managing director of the company. There is even a sake named "Otoko-no-back. The lineup is characterized not only by sake drinking, but also by a playful spirit of enjoyment.

Mr. Matsumoto of Takeuchi Sake Brewery

Mr. Taizo Matsumoto, Managing Director. Born in Otsu City, he has been working at Takeuchi Sake Brewery for about 20 years. He is in charge of sales, product production, and overseas exports. He is currently struggling to make young people aware of the good qualities of sake.

Sake consumption is decreasing. That is why we are trying to make sake available to as many people as possible so that they can experience the taste of sake. Liqueurs and sparkling sake are also popular these days.
Of course, Mr. Matsumoto is a big sake lover. His love for sake overflows, and he creates products that are in tune with the times.
In a borax tank in the back of the brewery, the sake continues to grow quietly, mumbling.

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

The "sake without words" has become so famous that it has regularly won gold medals at the National New Sake Competition. However, the attitude toward sake brewing has not changed over the past 150 years. The hospitality and hospitality of the inn town that entertains people is still alive today.

4.Takeuchi Sake Collection

Takeuchi Shuzo's Amakamosu

Amakamosu 720ml ¥2,750 This is a luxurious daiginjo of high purity and whiteness. It is characterized by its mellow flavor and gorgeous aroma. (Sold year-round. (Sold all year round, recommended at room temperature or cold)

Takeuchi Sake Brewery's Yui Yui Morning Walk

Tadai Asa no Stroll 720ml, 1,485 yen (Seasonal product) It has a slightly gorgeous aroma as well as a label depicting a spring scene. Limited quantity (rather recommended at room temperature)

Contract farmers' rice Special Junmai Sake

Special Junmai-shu made with 100% "Tamakae" rice specially contracted with local farmers. The original taste of the rice is fully appreciated. (Sold all year round. (Sold all year round. Can also be served lukewarm.)

Takeuchi Shuzo's 8 Awabijin Ado Berry Flavor

8Awabijin Ado Berry Flavor 300ml ¥715 Sake-based flavor sparkling liqueur. Made with adobely, a specialty of Takashima City, a "fantastic fruit". (We want you to drink it chilled.)

Takeuchi Shuzo's Tadai Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo

Tadai Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo 720ml 1793 yen The ultimate bottle of Daiginjo, pursuing to be enjoyed with a meal while enjoying the aroma of Daiginjo. (Sold all year round. Try it cold or at various other temperatures.)

5.[Where to buy Takeuchi Sake

■ Shiga Prefecture
[Ogawa Sake Shop] 077-524-2203 1-31, 2-chome, Hamaotsu, Otsu City
[Kato Sake Shop] 077-22-4546 13-1 Kinoshita-cho, Otsu City
[Tokuchi Sake Shop] 526-3, Shimokasa-cho, Kusatsu-shi, Kusatsu
[Takatsu Sake Shop] 1-18-2 Nomura, Kusatsu-shi, Kusatsu
[Kintetsu Department Store Kusatsu] 077-564-1111 1-1-50 Shibukawa, Kusatsu City
[AOKIYA] 1317-3 Harimada-cho, Moriyama City, 777-582-2522
[Doi Sake Shop Wainya] 0748-33-9408 327-4, Nakamomori-cho, Omihachiman City
[Takedasakaten] 0748-77-2273 3-5-12 Ishibe Chuo, Konan City
[Sake wholesaler Nakamura] 0748-77-3839 2-6-30 Ishibe Higashi, Konan City
[Marufuku] 2200 Fukagawa, Konan-cho, Koka-shi, Koka, Japan
[Masuya Sake Shop] 2071 Fukagawa, Konan-cho, Koka City, Koka Prefecture
[Hinoya Sake Shop] 220 Kitaduchiyama, Tsuchiyama-cho, Koka City, Koka Prefecture, Japan 0748-66-0092
[Sazanami Sake Shop] 0749-22-1201 10-4 Sawa-cho, Hikone City
[Sake Shop Maetani] 0749-22-0575 5-10 Funamachi, Hikone City

■ Kyoto Prefecture
[Nishimura Sake Shop] 075-781-3049 3 Kubota-cho, Kita-Shirakawa, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto City
[Takimoto] 075-341-9111 Rokujo-dori, Takakura-higashi-iru, Shimogyo-ku, Kyoto City
[Liquor Inn SHIMA]075-841-0026 18 Mibu-Sennen-cho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto City
[Osaki Shoten] 075-601-0137 479 Misuhan-cho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto City
[Sagawa Sake Shop] 075-611-1188 12-318 Shinmachi, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto
[Kitamura Sake Food Store] 075-982-8935 14-111 Yawata Kakigaya, Yawata City
[Kikuya] 075-981-0553 2-1 Otokoyama Takezono, Yawata City
[MARUMAN SHOTEN]0774-52-3582 92-4 Terada Kitayamada, Joyo City
[TAGAI SAKE STORE] 075-951-2836 29-1, Tojo, Okukaiji, Nagaokakyo City
[Yamashita Sake Shop] 0773-76-0127 1517 Kuratani, Maizuru City

6.Recommended by Mr. Matsumoto! Delicious Ate in the Neighborhood (1) [Koka Mai

Koukamai's Hila Perilla, Tsuyako Fromage, Tsutu

Clockwise from top, the cheese is a marbled mixture of red shiso extract, which is produced in Hira. Hira perilla, an original product with a subtle aroma and sourness of red shiso, is 880 yen. The cheese, Tsuyako Fromage (830 yen), is made by coagulating and aging milk with the power of lactic acid bacteria, and its flavor changes as it matures, so you can enjoy a variety of tastes. Tutu, with a subtle salty taste and yeasty aroma, is a sake-washed type that is washed with whey brine and sake during the maturation process.

kokka-dance

  • (plant's) new bulb
  • 1183-1 Fudo-mae, Oguchi, Ryuoh-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga
  • 12 minutes by car from JR Shinohara Station
  • Tel. 0748-58-2040

7.Recommended by Mr. Matsumoto! Delicious neighborhood food (2) [Funa-flavored

Carp flavored carp sushi

The plate shown in the photo is for two LL size crucian carp sushi. One LL size nigororo crucian carp is 7992 yen. There are three types of funa-zushi: Nigoro funa, Gengoro funa, and smoked funa.

crucian carp caught in midwinter

  • seaside
  • 617-1 Hashimoto, Ryuoh-cho, Gamo-gun, Shiga
  • 11 minutes drive from JR Shinohara Station
  • Tel. 0748-58-2535

8.[More information about Takeuchi Sake Brewery

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

Takeuchi Sake Brewery

  • sake brewing using bamboo, tobacco, etc. as the main ingredient in making sake casks, etc.
  • 1-6-5 Ishibe Chuo, Konan City, Shiga Prefecture
  • 16 minutes walk from JR Ishibe Station

  • Tel. 0748-77-2001
  • 9:00-17:00
  • Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
  • 30 parking lots
  • https://takeuchishuzo.co.jp/
  • PHOTO/Takahiro Takami, TEXT/Tomomi Uryu
*Please note that the information contained herein is subject to change without notice.
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

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