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Meet the Brewery

Tatenokawa Brewing Com​​pany

Founded in 1832, this Yamagata prefecture brewery devoted itself entirely to junmai daiginjo in 2010. Tatenokawa Brewing Company famously polished rice to a world-first 1% for its Komyo bottling and partners with farmers reviving heirloom Shonai grains.

Jumpei Sato, sixth president

Yamagata prefecture

Foo Fighters × TATENOKAWA “Hansho” Blue

Foo Fighters × TATENOKAWA - Hansho - Blue

$60.00 $45.00

The Junmai Daiginjo Specialists of Yamagata and their Relentless Pursuit of 1%

Founded in 1832, this Yamagata prefecture-based brewery was bestowed the name Tatenokawa, meaning “Castle Brook,” by the daimyo Sakai Tadakatsu in 1855. In 2010, they made the bold decision to focus entirely on producing only junmai daiginjo sake, becoming the first brewery in their region to do so. Driven by a mission to create sake for modern times, they have relentlessly pushed the boundaries of rice polishing, achieving an astonishing 1% rice polishing ratio. They have also expanded their reach globally through unique collaborations with international musical artists such as Phoenix and Foo Fighters. Today, they continue to impress on the global stage, consistently earning top awards at competitions around the world.

A modern leader with a collaborative spirit

Our team has always been deeply impressed by the passion and agility of this brewery. While many traditional breweries leave the entire brewing process solely to the brewmaster, Tatenokawa takes a refreshingly different approach. Their forward-thinking president, Jumpei Sato, encourages everyone on the team to think and work together. This creates a highly rewarding work environment filled with passionate employees. This collaborative ethos allows them to be incredibly light on their feet, developing exciting new products faster than many of their peers.

Pushing the boundaries of rice polishing

What truly sets this brewery apart is their stoic, unwavering determination to craft game-changing junmai daiginjo. They made history in the sake industry by releasing “Komyo,” a world-first sake polished down to just 1%. To achieve this unprecedented feat with the soft and challenging Yamadanishiki rice, it takes approximately two and a half months of careful milling until each grain is a mere 0.04 inches in diameter. This extreme rice polishing requires an incredible amount of resources, patience and precision; it’s truly a testament to the brewers’ dedication and skill.

Rather than stopping at this single masterpiece, they have developed a diverse portfolio to explore the full spectrum of this premium category, from their highly popular Basic series — which consists of more traditional junmai daiginjo — to unique seasonal releases. To ensure flawless quality across all their labels, they constructed a dedicated brewing facility where they manage fermentation temperatures in meticulous increments as fine as 0.18 F.

Reviving 150-year-old history and embracing local roots

Beyond extreme polishing, the brewery is deeply connected to the terroir of Yamagata prefecture. They engage in contract farming with local growers to source nearly all of their rice, including regional sake rice varieties like Dewasansan and Miyamanishiki. Their dedication to local agriculture led them to spend over three years reviving Soube Wase, an ancient ancestral rice strain native to the Shonai region that had not been used for 150 years. They are currently the only brewery crafting sake with this historic grain, transforming it into beautifully complex, aged beverages that reflect their local geography. 

Their commitment to terroir is further solidified by the fact that 100% of their local Yamagata and heirloom varieties are grown using sustainable and organic farming practices. By significantly reducing or completely eliminating the use of pesticides and chemical fertilizers, they ensure that the unique character of the region’s soil and climate is purely expressed in every drop of sake.

Why this matters

Tatenokawa Brewing Company’s uncompromising focus on junmai daiginjo creates a rare consistency; regardless of the specific bottle, you are guaranteed a sake defined by crystalline transparency and a perfect harmony of delicate aromas and subtle umami. At the same time, you can always expect the unexpected, because they are constantly finding daring new ways to evolve the craft. They represent the pinnacle of modern Japanese craftsmanship, making the discovery of premium sake an effortless and beautiful experience. 

Tatenokawa Brewing Company has been a cherished partner of ours for years. While it is already one of the most internationally adored and respected breweries, we are now able to bring you labels of theirs that are exclusively imported by us. Our team works closely with the brewery to ensure these world-class brews travel directly from Yamagata to your table.

Meet the brewer

Jumpei Sato, sixth president

Jumpei Sato became the sixth president in his early 20s, inheriting a brewery on the brink of bankruptcy. He led a bold revival, pivoting exclusively to junmai daiginjo in 2010 and transforming the region's smallest brewery into an industry leader through relentless innovation. Guided by his philosophy, “Sake brewing is people building,” Sato empowers his passionate young team to strive for excellence, making sake a global lifestyle choice for future generations worldwide.

Products from this brewery

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