Imanishiki

Yonezawa Shuzo was founded in 1907 in Nakagawa Village, Nagano Prefecture, and named its flagship brand Imanishiki after the sumo ring name adopted by its founder, a nod to the strength and elegance the brewery aspires to in each bottle. All sake is pressed using the traditional sakabune method, where mash-filled bags are laid inside a wooden press box, producing a notably soft and smooth texture that has earned the brewery a place in the World Sakagura Ranking's top ten for five consecutive years, reaching seventh in 2024. Locally grown Miyamanishiki rice anchors the lineup, with rare cultivars including Kinmonnishiki used in select limited expressions.