Sakata Shuzo was assembled in 1949 from a coalition of five Edo-period breweries in Sakata City, a former port town that once flourished as one of Japan's most important rice-trading hubs on the Sea of Japan coast. President Shoichi Sato serves the rare dual role of company head and master toji, and is widely regarded as a mentor figure among Yamagata's brewing community. The Junmai Daiginjo is made from Dewasansan rice, a variety that Yamagata Prefecture's research institute spent nearly 20 years developing specifically to elevate regional sake quality, milled to 45%. Close to 80% of Sakata Shuzo's entire output consists of honjozo grade or higher, placing the Junmai Daiginjo at the pinnacle of a portfolio built entirely around premium-tier craft.
Mar 17, 2024, 2:09 AM
