Kitamurajouzoujo produces Kikubummei in Shobara City, Hiroshima Prefecture, using hard spring water from the Chugoku mountain range, a water profile that, like the famous Nada district, causes the sake to deepen in character through the autumn. The brand name combines the chrysanthemum, the imperial household's crest, with the character for civilization, and was originally the brewery's predecessor label Bunmei enriched with that royal symbol. Since 2004, all brewing has been converted to fully handcrafted production by order of the owner, with the lineup anchored by a ginjo genshu known for its soft floral aroma.
