Founded in 1871 in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture, Asabiraki takes its name from a makurakotoba in the ancient Man'yoshu poetry anthology, evoking ships setting out at the break of dawn, a name chosen to mark both the Meiji era's opening and the brewery's own new beginning. Sake is brewed using Daiji Shimizu, an on-site spring water recognized among Japan's Heisei-era waters of excellence, combined with the Nanbu Toji brewing tradition for which Iwate is historically renowned. Asabiraki has earned 18 consecutive years of recognition at the National New Sake Competition, including 15 gold medals.
