Hasegawa Shuzo (長谷川酒造株式会社)
Hasegawa Shuzo is a small sake brewery in Setaya, Nagaoka, Niigata, founded in 1842, brewing mostly by hand in small tanks.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 4 prizes
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
The brewery first appears in records in the Tenpo era of the Edo period, when Setaya brewers were allowed to make sake under the name of sacred offering sake, and it was one of five such houses. In 1842 an ancestor, Shigekichi, a farmer, petitioned for permission to brew and sell leftover sake and was approved. The main house (1886) and brewing building (1919) are registered cultural properties; some parts collapsed in the Chuetsu earthquake, but most remain. The company was incorporated in October 1955.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- All sake is brewed with Shinano River subterranean water, which is soft.
- Style
- Rice is washed by hand and steamed in a traditional kettle rather than with steam. Brewing is done in small tanks within easy reach of the brewers' watch.
- Ingredients
- Sake rice includes Niigata-grown rice, selected by the brewery.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: sekkobai.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 4 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025.
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association). Brewing year 2019 had no final judging, so no gold prizes.