Kaetsu Sake Brewery was founded in 1880 and is located at the confluence of the Agano and Tokonami rivers in Niigata Prefecture, where fog-laden air and pure river water create ideal brewing conditions. The brewery produces sake under three complementary brands, Kirin, Homare Kirin, and Kambara, with Kirin and Homare Kirin evoking the mythical kirin, a symbol of serenity and prosperity in Asian culture. Homare Kirin Tokubetsu Junmai, a blend of Junmai and Yamahai Junmai brewed from Gohyakumangoku rice, won a Gold Medal at Kura Master 2017, and the brewery's technical leadership has included two successive National Taxation Bureau Liquor Appraisers.
