Chiyogiku (千代菊株式会社)
Chiyogiku is a brewery in Hashima, Gifu Prefecture, making the Chiyogiku and Korin sake brands. It uses Nagara River groundwater and rice grown locally.
- Makes
- Sake
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
The Sakakura family settled at Takebanakamura in Mino province in the Azuchi-Momoyama period, and the seventh head of the family began brewing sake in 1738. The early sake was called by a name meaning thin autumn leaves, and its light, mellow taste was thought to recall autumn in Mino. In the mid-nineteenth century, when foreign ships pressed Japan to open its ports, the ninth head of the family created the brand Chiyogiku during the Bunka era, as a wish for the nation's prosperity in a time of crisis.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- Brewing water is drawn from Nagara River groundwater at a depth of 128 metres. The brewing water is soft, which the brewery says makes fermentation gentle and gives a mild taste.
- Ingredients
- The new-rice sake uses Akitakomachi grown locally in Hashima under special cultivation. The brewery also makes sake from rice grown by organic farming. The Korin Hidahomare sake uses Gifu-grown sake rice polished to 55%.
- Yeast
- Some Korin sake is brewed with Kyokai yeast No. 901.
Visiting
- Shop
The retail shop sells the year-round Chiyogiku products and seasonal sake. It is open 9:00 to 17:00, and closed on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: chiyogiku.co.jp