Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. (President: Kengo Suzuki, hereinafter “Tsunan Sake Brewery”), a sake brewery located in Tsunan Town, Niigata Prefecture, participated in the 30th Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewing Technology Conference held on Thursday, July 17, 2025, at Hotel New Otani Nagaoka (Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture). At the event, our Toji (master brewer) Masaya Takizawa gave a presentation titled “My Ginjo Brewing.”
This conference, organized by the Niigata Sake Brewing Technology Study Council, brought together approximately 250 participants, mainly from breweries across Niigata Prefecture. The event featured a sake tasting, research presentations, and workshops, serving as a vital forum for sharing the latest techniques and initiatives within the sake industry. Mr. Takizawa shared his own experience and techniques, presenting Tsunan Sake Brewery’s approach to Ginjo brewing and specific practices. The presentation drew many questions from the audience, leading to lively discussions.
In his presentation “My Ginjo Brewing,” Takizawa introduced efforts based on Tsunan Sake Brewery’s philosophy, “Brew For Future: Brewing for a Coexistent Future,” highlighting three guiding principles: Circular Economy, Local Optimization, and Openness to Diverse Values.
Specifically, in the koji-making process, we used “Hikami Ginjo” koji mold, performed drying operations to evoke chestnut-like aromas, and carefully controlled temperature through manual handling. For the yeast starter (shubo), Association Yeast No. 1801 was used, with meticulous temperature and saccharification management to maximize enzymatic activity. During fermentation (moromi), fine adjustments were made according to the enzymatic strength of the koji. Post-pressing, even the sake submitted for competitions was rigorously managed in terms of hygiene and cold storage to pursue the ideal quality.
This presentation summarized a year of results in which Tsunan Sake Brewery not only honed its techniques but also reexamined the significance of each process and reaffirmed the importance of intuitive judgment. Moving forward, Tsunan Sake Brewery will continue contributing to the region and society through brewing that inherits tradition while emphasizing sustainability.
Event Overview: 30th Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewing Technology Conference
- Name: 30th Niigata Prefecture Sake Brewing Technology Conference
- Organizer: Niigata Sake Brewing Technology Study Council
- Date: Thursday, July 17, 2025
- Venue: Hotel New Otani Nagaoka (Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)
- Participants: Approximately 250 attendees
About Tsunan Sake Brewery
Tsunan Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a sake brewery headquartered in Tsunan Town, Nakauonuma District, Niigata Prefecture. Located in one of Japan’s heaviest snowfall regions, the brewery uses natural spring water sourced from 2,000-meter-class mountains. Sake brewing with locally grown rice varieties such as Gohyakumangoku and Uonuma-grown Koshihikari characterizes a style that fuses harmony with nature and innovation, under the brand concept “Brew for Future: Brewing for a Coexistent Future.” In 2025, the brewery won the Niigata Governor’s Award (1st place) at the Echigo-ryu Sake Brewing Technology Championship, a competition of brewing skills. (Tsunan Sake Brewery website: https://tsunan-sake.com/)
