Kaetsu Shuzo (下越酒造株式会社)
Kaetsu Shuzo is a sake brewery in Tsugawa, Agano town, Niigata Prefecture. Its main brand is Kirin, with the Kanbara and Homare Kirin series also made here. It was founded in 1880.
What kind of brewery is Kaetsu Shuzo?
Founded in 1880 in Tsugawa as the sake shop Kanbara-ya, the brewery has kept the traditional cold-season brewing since its beginnings. The name Kirin comes from Kirin Castle, built in Kamakura times, and from the mythical beast said to appear before good fortune. The late chairman Sato Heihachi and the current president Sato Shunichi, both former National Tax Agency sake appraisers, have shaped the sake style.
- Water
- Located where the Agano river and the clear Tsunami river meet, the area is humid with mist for much of the year. The brewing water comes from a spring that does not dry up even in midsummer.
- Ingredients
- Rice is milled in-house, and the rice for mid and premium grades is hand-washed in stainless steel baskets.
- Master brewer
- The toji checks the steamed rice by hand and eye before moving on.
- Style
- The brewery keeps the traditional cold-season brewing, fermenting at low temperatures. Pressing methods vary by grade, using a press, fune pressing or bag pressing.
- Other
- Before shipment, stored sake is tasted by eye, nose and mouth in a check called nomikiri.
Can you visit Kaetsu Shuzo?
- Tours
Brewery tours need a advance phone reservation, and may not be accepted depending on bookings.
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Niigata
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: sake-kirin.com
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 2 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.