In Aomori, sake breweries, sake rice farmers, and research institutes have been coming together to produce excellent sake brewing ingredients since its beginning. One of the outcomes is ‘Gin-eboshi’, which became a certified sake rice of the prefecture in 2018.

Collaboration Between Agriculture,
Industry, and Professionals
Beyond Barriers

Sake rice ‘Gin-eboshi’ is a new variety produced in collaboration with both the Agricultural Research Institute and the Hirosaki Industrial Research Institute of the Aomori Prefectural Industrial Technology Research Center. Until then, since sake rice from Aomori had poor cold resistance, it was cultivated in the relatively warm Tsugaru area, not in the Nambu and Shimokita area where cold wind called Yamase blow in the summer. Therefore, Agricultural Research Institute, a professional group of researchers specialized in variety development, had developed a rice with cold resistance and qualified as sake rice. The Hirosaki Industrial Research Institute, a brewing professional, conducted brewing and high-polish testing. After repeated examinations, they have finally selected varieties that are resistant to the cold and suitable for brewing.

A Beautiful and Strong Rice Overcome
the Cold and Disease

The new variety carefully examined by agricultural / industrial professionals showed outstanding ability to impress them even in trial cultivation in the Nambu area and Shimokita areas. ‘Gin-eboshi’, in the trial, had grown proudly regardless of that it was in the Yamase-prone area where the water temperature does not rise easily.

A Dream for Years Finally Came True.
Nambu part of a prefecture /
Shimokita Terroir

‘Gin-eboshi’, which grows strongly in cold regions and has a wide range of brewing aptitude, is exactly what sake breweries in the Nambu and Shimokita have been waiting for many years. Each brewery brewed sake trying to make the most of characteristics of ‘Gin-eboshi’. By combining the developers, producers, and sake breweries, finally “local sake with local sake rice” was born.

Kameya liquor shop

As a liquor store manager, I think my job is to tell customers passion and stories of the breweries in a bottle of sake." Megumi Ito, the third generation of Kameya Liquor Shop said. The shop has been opening its door since 1958 right next to the Aomori City Hall. Megumi is also a sake sommelier who is highly trusted by sake breweries. When you put your feet in to the store, perfectly lined up sake bottles on the wall will catch your eyes and you will soon be make yourself comfortable in a stylish yet warm atmosphere. They don’t talk to you much out of respect for your time in the place. But if you ask, they will respond to you in a friendly manner, sometimes with full of fascinating stories on each sake, breweries, and even brewers.“I would like to support sake breweries that are doing their best even if they are not well known,” says Megumi, who positively handles the hidden sake of each brewery and limited sake that is produced in small numbers. In addition, with other liquor stores in Aomori city, she launched "Nana no Kai" to develop their own brand "Shichiriki" and produced label designs to promote Aomori sake for potential customers. Megumi tells "The number of young people who like sake is actually increasing. It's fun to think how to promote sake in their perspective."

＊Kameya Sake Ten (liquor shop)＊
Address /1-26-22 Chuo, Aomori-shi,
Aomori-ken 030-0822 Japan
Tel/017-735-1620
Business hours / Weekdays 8:00-19:30
Saturday 9:00〜18:30
Regular holiday / Sunday
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Sasaki Tsuru liquor shop

"We sell sake in the best condition, which we tasted ourselves and was convinced that it’s actually good." Naomi Sasaki, landlady of Sasaki Tsuru said. The shop located near Mutsu-Tsuruda Station. Naomi, qualified as a sake sommelier and sake quality appraiser, will guide you into slightly dark and cool room filled with sake. This equipment called "Cool Wrap" and a refrigerated showcase enable the room to be in the best condition for sake. The Sasaki Tsuru Liquor Shop, which was founded in 1946, started digging for Aomori sake from the third-generation owner, Naomi's husband, Takahiro. At that time, famous brands of sake were preferred in Aomori Prefecture. But Takahiro has increased fans of sake through his elaborate activities such as increasing the selection of sake produced in the prefecture and hosting events. Such efforts and commitment have constructed a deep relationship of trust with the micro-breweries. Today, customers come from all over japan, and even from overseas to find the one that they are looking for with fascinating guidance by Naomi. "If you drink after knowing the episode of sake brewing, you would feel more delicious. And the taste of sake changes depending on the food, so feel free to talk not only about sake but also combination cuisine!"

＊Sasaki Tsuru Sake Ten (liquor shop)＊
Address / 122-4 Hayase, Tsuruta, Tsuruta -machi,
Aomori-ken 038-3503 Japan
Tel / 0173-22-3745
Business hours / 9:30〜19:30
Regular holiday / Third Sunday