Azumanofumoto Shuzo (東の麓酒造有限会社)
Azumanofumoto Shuzo is a brewery in Nanyo, Yamagata, at the foot of Ise Kumano Taisha in the Tohoku region. It makes sake with local rice and water and carries its ginjo brewing techniques on to the next generation.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 4 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
The brewery traces its roots to the sake-making side of a rural merchant in the Miyauchi area of the Yonezawa domain, who held privileges granted by the lord. The sixth-generation head took over that business and founded the brewery in 1896 (Meiji 29). In 1953 the seventh generation set up a company under the name Sanei Endo Shuzoten, and in 1970 a second son became president. The company took its present name in 2010. Since 2017 the company has been led by a new president. In recent years the brewery has co-developed the new brand Tenkyu with students of Tohoku University of Art and Design.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- The brewery focuses on local rice and water.
- Ingredients
- The daiginjo uses local rice and follows traditional methods, made by hand one batch at a time. Some junmai daiginjo are made with Yukimegami, a rice variety bred in Yamagata for daiginjo brewing. One sake uses Dewa Sanzan, a rice variety original to Yamagata.
- Yeast
- That sake uses rice, koji and yeast all born in Yamagata.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: azumanofumoto.co.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 6 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 4.
- Gold prize東の麓PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東の麓PDF
- Gold prize東の麓PDF
- Gold prize東の麓PDF
- Prize (nyusho)東の麓PDF
- Gold prize東の麓PDF
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association).