Hojun Karakuchi Futsushu Sake

The producer of Hojun Karakuchi is Zuyio, founded in Kumamoto in 1867. Kumamoto is located in the center of Kyushu. The region is rich in water and greenery, surrounded by hot springs of volcanic origin and a lot of untouched nature. At 1,592 meters, Mount Aso is the highest active volcano in Japan. The layers that have formed from the deposits of the primeval eruption of Mount Aso in the Kumamoto region allow water to seep through easily. Rain that falls in the Kumamoto region quickly turns into groundwater, and plenty of high-quality water is thus stored underground. At the Zuiyo brewery, this abundant groundwater from Mount Aso is pumped up from a 120 meter deep well and used in the sake brewing process. This high-quality water naturally affects the taste of the sake and is what makes Zuiyo sake so complex and exciting.

Tasting notes

Nose: Rice, caramel and wild mushrooms, cake batter

Taste: Dry, earthy-tart, slight sweetness-acidity interplay, full body

Character: Intense and classic

Futsushu sake (table sake)
Japanese alcoholic drink based on rice
Sake meter value: +6
Net quantity: 720 ml
Alcohol: 15% vol.
For sale to persons of legal age only
Importer: Ginza Berlin GmbH,
Pfalzburger Straße 20, 10719 Berlin

Taihachi Yoshimura founded the Zuiyo company in Kawashiri in 1867 and was one of the pioneers of sake production in Kumamoto. Previously, only the local specialty Akazake was produced here. Akazake, or "red" sake, is mainly used today as a condiment, but was the only alcoholic beverage produced in Kumamoto at the time. In addition, the Kumamoto Prefectural Sake Institute was founded on its land in 1909 in order to optimize brewing techniques there. This made Zuiyo an important player in Kumamoto's sake history. In 1922, the institute was relocated to Shimasaki, Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City.

The brewery is very proud to be the birthplace of Kumamoto sake culture. The company was once founded with the aim of producing high-quality products rooted in the local climate. Almost 160 years later, the founder's vision continues to be realized by the following generations. Every day, the company faces the challenge of producing authentic, strong sake that is typical of Kumamoto. The 2016 earthquake caused significant damage to breweries in the prefecture, including Higashihigura, where Zuiyo Akazake brews. Fortunately, the company received support from all over the country and was able to resume production within a very short time.

Today, Zuiyo is still one of the few breweries in Kumamoto to produce Akazake. The company is also famous for its Nihonshu, which has won numerous national and international awards. In addition to sake, Zuiyo also very successfully produces delicious shochu.