Rihaku

Founded in 1882 in Matsue City, Shimane Prefecture, Rihaku Sake Brewing takes its name from the Tang dynasty Chinese poet Li Bai, a name given by former Prime Minister Wakatsuki Reijiro, himself a native of Matsue. The brewery commits entirely to sake-grade rice sourced from local Shimane varieties, focusing on producing food-friendly sake that complements rather than overwhelms a meal. Since the 1980s, Rihaku has been an active exporter, now shipping to fourteen countries and regions, with its English-nicknamed products like Dreamy Clouds and Wandering Poet gaining particular recognition abroad.