Shirataki Brewing Company

Shirataki Brewing Company was founded in 1855 in Yuzawa, on a historic road that connects Echigo (current day Niigata prefecture) to Edo (current day Tokyo). Niigata is known as the prefecture with the most sake breweries, and is blessed with pure snowmelt water from the mountains, cold clean air suited for ginjo sake making, and an abundance of rice fields. The current brewmaster Mr. Matsumoto learned not only the skill but also the heart of sakemaking from prior brewmaster Mr. Yamaguchi. They pull very soft water from three different wells — which is essential to their clean style — while incorporating various new technologies.