Ryozeki Shuzo, founded in 1874 in Yuzawa City, Akita Prefecture, operates from a cluster of historic buildings that were the first in Akita Prefecture to be designated as national tangible cultural properties. The brewery developed its own low-temperature long-term brewing method in the late Meiji era, and Hanamura, the brewery's premium second brand launched in 2011, is produced only once a year in small quantities using this labor-intensive process. Hanamura is considered one of Akita's most difficult sakes to obtain, prized for its gorgeous, fruity character and the smooth, lingering finish that defines Ryozeki's long-fermentation style.
