Uzume

Uzume has been brewed by Ito Shuzou since 1847, at the foot of the Suzuka Mountains in Yokkaichi, Mie Prefecture, where award-winning mineral water from the Sakura district forms the foundation of every sake. Named for Ama no Uzume, the Shinto goddess of entertainment and laughter, the brand reflects the fifth-generation brewer Ito Shun's intensely hands-on philosophy; he describes the brewery, run by just three family members, as feeling more like a personal laboratory than a production facility. Despite its small team, Uzume's range spans junmai daiginjo, yamahai, AWA sparkling sake, and aged expressions, all crafted largely by hand.