Saké brewers’ associations were established in various parts of the prefecture after the promulgation of the “Policy of Trade Associations” in 1897. It is said that liquor tax covered most of the war costs of the First Sino-Japanese War of 1894-95 and the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-1905. Since the era of feudal lords, alcohol has been a valuable source of finances, and that idea was inherited in the Meiji era where it contributed greatly to the nation’s finances.

Under the Alcohol Brewing Tax Law of 1891 and a partial revision of 1931, saké brewers’ associations were legally established and under the supervision of the government. The MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION was established in 1891. Yoshihei Takeda was appointed as the first chairman, and since then the government-established association has carried on to the current 14th generation chairman, Mitsuru Onuma.

As one of the commemorative projects for the 70th anniversary of establishment in 1980, the MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION erected a stone monument titled “Birthplace of Sendai Domain Saké” to mark the location where prefectural saké was first made, at the ruins of the first brewery, and famous water gushes out from the ground.

In November 1986, members of the MIYAGI SAKE AND SHOCHU MAKERS ASSOCIATION made a promise to increase efforts to “make good and delicious” junmai (“pure rice”) saké created from local Miyagi rice which has a reputation for its delicious taste.

Furthermore, since it was saké-loving Daté Masamune that invited a master brewer to come to Sendai and built a saké brewery inside the Sendai Domain’s castle, with much fanfare it was decided that 10,000 bottles of “Saké Drank By Masamune” be made as a souvenir.

It has been 30 years since the declaration of “Miyagi as a Junmai Saké Prefecture” announced on November 1, 1986. Together with delicious Miyagi rice, this declaration caused great excitement in the brewing industry nationwide, and the previously unknown junmai saké now accounts for half of all the saké produced in Miyagi.

In addition, due to the diligence of brewers to apply their skill and encourage each other, high quality and delicious Miyagi Junmai Saké has been loved by many saké fans. We would like to extend our deep gratitude to all of you for your continued support.

On the other hand, in recent years, junmai saké brewed with high quality and individuality has become popular nationwide. At the same time, delicious rice varieties and rice suitable for saké brewing have been developed one after another, and the overall influence of the region as a saké producer is increasing.

As we mark the 30th anniversary of “Miyagi as a Junmai Saké Prefecture,” we promise that we will continue to devote ourselves to making the best junmai saké from the best Miyagi rice with the cooperation of our many supporters.

Currently, most of the active master brewers in Miyagi Prefecture are “Nanbu Toji,” members of the Nanbu Guild of Master Saké Makers. The Nanbu Toji, who have a history of more than 350 years since first establishing in the feudal era, is one of Japan’s top three saké brewing guilds, along with Echigo Toji (Niigata Prefecture) and Tanba Toji (Hyogo Prefecture). The work of Nanbu Toji is not limited to Tohoku, but can be found throughout Japan, except for San’in (southwest Honshu) and Kyushu. The high reputation of the Nanbu Toji is due to their advanced skill and proven techniques.

Nanbu Toji saké brewing, which originated in Tohoku, is characterized by a “clean crispy dryness.” The low-temperature long-term fermentation technique and technology suited for the harsh winters of Tohoku produce a clean and dry sake, which has now become synonymous with the general taste of sake.

For six months from November to April of the following year, the toji’s (master brewer’s) work continues without a break. The toji’s enthusiasm for carefully steaming rice, making koji, preparing the yeast starter, and mixing the mash in a three-stage process slowly manifests from a dream into delicious saké inside the brewery.

Miyagi Saké is one of the highest quality saké in Japan. Since the “Proclamation of Miyagi as a Junmai Saké Prefecture” in November 1986, the brewers have increased the production ratio of high-quality “tokutei meishō sake,” (premium sake) that is saké in which it is obligatory to display the ingredients and the rice polishing rate. Currently, about 90% of Miyagi’s saké is classified as premium sake, far exceeding the national average of about 30% and the average in the Tohoku region of about 50%.

At the Annual Japan Saké Awards co-sponsored by the National Research Institute of Brewing and the Japan Saké and Shochu Makers Association, the Gold Prize award rate for saké submitted from Miyagi Prefecture was the highest in Japan for 3 consecutive years from 2016 to 2018.

The number of Gold Prizes awarded compared to the number of entries were 15 out of 23 in 2016, 20 out of 23 in 2017, and 13 out of 23 in 2018. The average winning rate of Gold Prizes across Japan is 27.3% (2018), so the winning rate in Miyagi is extremely high.

The number of prizes received, including Gold Prizes, was 18 out of 23, which is actually 78%, the highest in Japan. That is why some people say: “No matter what saké you drink in Miyagi, you can’t go wrong.”

The “Annual Japan Saké Awards” held since 2001 and “The Joy of Sake” event, which promotes the award-winning sake, are very successful every year. The International Wine Challenge (IWC), one of the world’s largest wine contests, created a saké section in 2007, rising the recognition and reputation of saké worldwide. Miyagi Saké has also won awards from early on in the contest, and expectations are high for further progress.

Miyagi Saké is supported by many enthusiastic fans, including members of the “Saké Supporters Club” who gather with other saké lovers to join in tasting sessions and events. All the while, the circle of people who love Miyagi Saké is steadily widening.