ILLUMINA, produced by Nishibori Shuzo in Tochigi Prefecture, is billed as the world's first LED color-light-irradiated fermentation sake — a method inspired by the effect of colored light on hydroponic lettuce. During the roughly 25-day moromi fermentation, LEDs illuminate the transparent tanks continuously: blue light suppresses yeast activity to produce a fruity and gently sweet style, while red light accelerates fermentation for a drier, more acidic character. The name itself comes from the Latin for 'illuminated,' reflecting the brewery's intent to bring a new dimension of scientific craft to Japanese sake.
