Visit a Sake Brewery in Shiga (6)] [Fujimoto Sake Brewery] / Koga

Leaf KYOTO Shiga [Visiting a sake brewery in Shiga ⑥] [Fujimoto Sake Brewery]/Koga

2022.6.22

[Visiting a sake brewery in Shiga ⑥] [Fujimoto Sake Brewery]/Koga

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 making. For the sixth installment, we visited the Fujimoto Sake Brewery in Mizuguchi, Koka City, which produces "amazing" sake made with water guided by the gods.

Contents of this article

1.: To keep the history alive, he was adopted into a brewery at the age of 19.

2.: Challenging Muromachi and Heian Period production methods.

3.: Just one person can give you a taste of the rave.

4.: The Fujimoto Sake Brewery's collection of sake that you should try at least once.

5.: ［Where to buy sake from the Fujimoto Sake Brewery

6.: Recommended by Mr. Fujimoto! Delicious Ate in the Neighborhood (1) [Fisherman's Store Kawada Shoten

7.: Recommended by Mr. Fujimoto! Delicious Ate in the Neighborhood (2) [Tane Shin

8.: ［More information about Fujimoto Sake Brewery

1.To keep the history alive, he was adopted into a brewery at the age of 19.

On the wall of a building in the rural landscape of Mizuguchi, Koka City, are the words "Shinkai" and "Nature" written in large letters. Shinkai" is the representative brand of Fujimoto Sake Brewery, which has been brewing sake in this area for more than 250 years since the Edo period.

The origin of the name "opened by God" dates back to around 1766. The people of the time, who were worried about the quality of their sake, dug a well at the oracle of the nearby Yamamura Shrine, and good quality water gushed out, enabling them to make good sake. The water from the well, located on the Fujimoto Sake Brewery premises, is still used for brewing sake today.

The water has a sweet and soft taste. Fujimoto Sake Brewery has been using this water to produce sake with a robust and robust flavor that is typical of Japanese sake," says Nobuyuki Fujimoto, president of the company, who is originally from Nara Prefecture. Nobuyuki Fujimoto, the brewery's president, is originally from Nara Prefecture. He came to this brewery when he was 19 years old.

The brewery was originally run by my uncle and aunt, but they told me that they had no successor. ...... I heard that the brewery had been running for more than 200 years, and I wondered if I should let it go out of business. I was worried about whether I should shut down the business since I heard that it had been running for more than 200 years. Mr. Fujimoto was underage and had never had a drink. Moreover, he was attending college to become an elementary school teacher. However, an intuition that "this sounds interesting" pushed him toward the path of sake brewing. He re-enrolled in an agricultural university and studied brewing.

2.Challenging Muromachi and Heian Period production methods.

He took over the brewery and has been pursuing his own sake as the toji (master brewer) since about five years ago. He is so enthusiastic about sake brewing that he says, "It's my calling now.
When I entered a sake brewery at the age of 19 and continued my studies, I felt the thought, "If it were me, I would.... Now, I am giving shape to those thoughts one by one. I think we probably make the most unusual sake in Shiga. Looking at the lineup, there is certainly a wide variety.

For example, sake made using the "mizu-hashiro" method, which originated in the Muromachi period (1333-1573), tastes like a sweet and sour milk beverage. Usually, rice is steamed before brewing, but this sake is made from raw rice. Instead of steaming the rice, it is left at 25 degrees Celsius for a week to attract lactic acid bacteria. In addition, kijo-zake, which uses sake in the brewing process, is also available.
There is a This is a Heian-era method of making ice wine, which is said to have a sweet taste like ice wine.
When I finally decided to build it myself, people around me asked me if I was sure I could do it. Then I said, "I can make such an unusual sake! I said, "I can make such unusual things," and all I got was unusual sake (laughs).

3.Just one person can give you a taste of the rave.

Currently, about 30% of the product lineup is "unusual sake. Mr. Fujimoto knows that they "are not for everyone. Nevertheless, Mr. Fujimoto's belief is the reason why he continues to make them.
I want to make sake that only one person out of ten will say it's really good, rather than nine out of ten people who think it's good. We are aiming for "great" rather than "delicious. We have sake that tastes like grapefruit or banana shake. Anyway, my stance is to give it a try first. Recently, I've had customers ask me, "What are you going to do at Kamikai this time? I've been receiving comments from customers such as, "What are you going to do next at Kamikai?

The "Shiga-ness" of the labels, such as the Otsu-e design, is also typical of the Fujimoto Sake Brewery. This can also be seen in their attention to rice. Most of the rice used is grown in Shiga Prefecture, and this year the brewery began growing Yamada-Nishiki, known as an excellent sake rice, in Mizuguchi, where the brewery is located. The brewery is surrounded by rice fields. We want to brew sake with rice grown in a visible place, so we ask farmers to grow it for us. Since rice production is so active, I think we can produce good sake rice. We also have rice paddies, so eventually I would like to grow my own rice.

Divinely guided water and Shiga rice. And Mr. Fujimoto's spirit of challenge. We will continue to pay attention to this sake brewery, which continues to produce more and more "amazing" sake by adding uniqueness to traditional sake brewing.

4.The Fujimoto Sake Brewery's collection of sake that you should try at least once.

Shinkai Special Junmai Dainen Shinkai 720ml 1155 yen / Junmai sake that has been produced for about 70 years. The taste has been slightly changed to be lighter than before. It can be served cold or warmed. Sold all year round.

Shinkai Junmai Daiginjo Miyano Shiki 720ml 3300yen / Junmai Daiginjo unfiltered unpasteurized sake with delicate craftsmanship. It is characterized by its mellow ginjo aroma and deep flavor. Serve cold. Sold all year round

Shinkai Long-aged old sake brewed Umeshu (plum wine) 500ml ¥1,320/Use old sake that has been aged for more than 10 years. It has a refreshing acidity, and the flavor of green ume and the richness of old sake. Serve cold. Sold all year round

Shinkai Junmai Ginjo Cocomero & Limone 720ml, 1,540 yen / In Italy, they eat watermelon with lemon. The name of the bottle is cloaked in such freshness. Cold. Summer only

Jinkai Mizu-Hashirogo 720ml, 1,540 yen / Sake brewed with raw rice, using the Muromachi period method. Sweet and sour like a lactic acid drink. Serve cold. Sold all year round.

5.［Where to buy sake from the Fujimoto Sake Brewery

■ Shiga Prefecture
[Ogawa Liquor Store] 077-524-2203 / 2-1-31 Hamaotsu, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
[Kato Liquor Store] 077-522-4546 / 13-1 Kinoshita-cho, Otsu City, Shiga Prefecture
［Takatsu Sake Shop] +81-77-563-0650/18-2, Nomura 1-chome, Kusatsu City, Shiga Prefecture
[Omasuya] 0748-27-0014 / 447 Yamagamicho, Higashiomi City, Shiga Prefecture
［Nakagawa Sake Shop] 0748-83-0388 / 605 Miyamachi, Shigaraki-cho, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture

■ Kyoto Prefecture
［075-221-2441 / 194 Higashi Uoya-cho, Tominokoji Higashi-iru, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
［Nishimura Sake Shop] 0120-678-910/3 Kitanoshirakawa Kubota-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto
[Nishimoto Sake Store] 075-221-0452 / 480 Aneyakoji-dori Nishinotoin Nishiimiyakicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto Prefecture
［AEON MALL KYOTO Sakura building 1F, 1 Nishi-Kujo Toriiguchi-machi, Minami-ku, Kyoto City, Kyoto Prefecture, Japan
［Ueda Sake Shop] 075-781-5265 / 7 Yamahata Kawahara-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto-shi, Kyoto

6.Recommended by Mr. Fujimoto! Delicious Ate in the Neighborhood (1) [Fisherman's Store Kawada Shoten

Ayu fish tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce and sugar) covered with a candy-colored sheen. The moderately sweet taste makes it hard to stop eating. Small packs are 500 yen, large packs are 1,000 yen.

[Fisherman's Store Kawada Shoten] Urori Tsukudani

Urori tsukudani (food boiled in soy sauce). You can pick it up as it is or eat it over tofu or rice. It is also called "gori" in some areas. Small pack 500 yen, large pack 1000 yen

Shrimp Bean Tsukudani is a local dish of Shiga Prefecture. It is made from the finest shrimp landed from a depth of 80 meters. Small packs are 500 yen, large packs are 1,000 yen.

Fisherman's Store Kawada Shoten

free on rail
48-20 Chomeiji, Omihachiman City, Shiga Prefecture
Approx. 15 min. by car from JR "Omi Hachiman Station
Approximately 23 minutes by car from Meishin "Ryuoh IC
Tel. 0748-32-3140
8:00-18:00

Click here for details

7.Recommended by Mr. Fujimoto! Delicious Ate in the Neighborhood (2) [Tane Shin

Mouth-watering Hororin with four different flavors. The Shiga Haniue rice cake from the southern part of Shiga Prefecture is used to make the cake as local as possible. 330 yen for each type.

new strain (e.g. of bacteria)

star anise (spice)
Tel. 0748-65-2533
Dealer/.
Hananokaichi Mizuguchi Store
6111-1, Mizuguchi, Mizuguchi Town, Koka City, Shiga Prefecture
... [Cocopia].
4528-1 Iwane, Konan City, Shiga Prefecture

Click here for details

8.［More information about Fujimoto Sake Brewery

Fujimoto Sake Brewery

(sake) brewing using natural yeast and no mashing
696 Ban-nakayama, Mizuguchi-cho, Koka-shi, Shiga
Approx. 10 minutes by car from JR Migumo Station
15 minutes drive from Meishin "Ryuoh IC".
Tel. 0748-62-0410
9:00-17:00
Closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays
10 parking lots
http://f-shinkai.com/
PHOTO/Takahiro Takami, TEXT/Tomomi Uryu

The information is subject to change. Please contact each store or facility directly for the latest information.
All prices include tax.
※内容の誤りや閉店情報などお気づきの点がございましたら、info@leafkyoto.co.jp までお知らせください。
*Since this site uses automatic translation, the translation may differ from the original Japanese content.

Kyoto's local gourmet at home! Leaf KYOTO mall

Over 600 interviews per year! An order site carefully selected by the editors who knows Kyoto and Shiga.
nowOfficial LINE friend registration500 yen OFF coupon is being issued!

Get the latest news from Kyoto on Leaf KYOTO's official LINE!

Distributed every Friday morning at 8:00 am! From new restaurant information to event information that we want to share with you, We deliver articles about Kyoto that are useful to know. About 20,000 people have registered.Click here to add a friend!