HOURAI

Watanabe Shuzo is a sake brewery located in Hida Furukawa, a town in Gifu Prefecture, Japan. The brewery produces Hourai sake, which is known for its high quality and unique flavor profile.

Hourai sake is made using locally sourced rice and water from the Hida Mountains, which is said to contribute to its distinct taste. The brewery produces a range of sake, from light and crisp to full-bodied and rich. The rice they primarily use is local ‘Hida Homare’.

Watanabe Shuzo has received numerous awards for their Hourai sake, including the Gold Prize at the National New Sake Awards and the Gold Prize at the International Wine Challenge in London.

The history of Watanabe Shuzo dates back to 1868, when it was founded as a small family-owned brewery. Over the years, the brewery has continued to prioritize traditional methods of sake-making, while also incorporating modern technology to ensure consistency and quality.

In recent years, Watanabe Shuzo has gained recognition both domestically and internationally for their Hourai sake. The brewery has become a popular destination for visitors to Hida Furukawa, who can take a tour of the facilities and sample the different types of sake produced by the brewery.Here in Hida the sake is all about “Joie de vivre” — living life and enjoying it to the full. Laughter is a key aspect in their life and they make their sake to be enjoyed with family and friends. Even during the sake making process this philosophy is observed by having continuous Japanese comedy soundtracks playing to entertain the feisty yeast going around its job converting the starches and sugars into alcohol. It is said that this sake will incorporate the essence of laughter and enjoyment and promote these feelings to whoever will drink it.

Head toji Kitaba oversees the entire brewing process, from selecting the rice and water to managing the fermentation and aging of the sake. He ensures that the quality of the sake is consistent and meets the standards set by the brewery. The toji's expertise and experience are essential in creating high-quality sake that is unique to the brewery's style and region.

Whether or not this is so we can certainly attest to the great fun times we had when we went there and we can assure you that when you drink this sake you will indeed laugh (if you’re in good company). Takeshi san, reminded us of Takeshi from ‘Takeshi’s castle’ spreading his unique Japanese sense of humour at every opportunity. It’s true that every shuzo has its own personality and at Watanabe Shuzo they are a very jolly lot indeed. Even their ochoko (small sake cups) have a smiley face in the bottom.

But they are serious when it comes to making their sake. We would describe them as having a bold taste, full bodied, clean and powerful. Also present is a higher than normal level of umami especially with junmai. Able to be eaten with a large variety of foods especially sukiyaki, tempura and tofu dishes. The Irooko Daiginjo is more delicate and would suit sashimi and sushi.

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