Maihime (株式会社舞姫)
Maihime is a brewery, founded in 1894. A sake brewery in Suwa, Nagano, brewing with Kirigamine groundwater under the motto of visible craftsmanship.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 1 gold
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
The brewery's sake making began in 1894, when it split off from Kamegen Jozo, a soy sauce and miso maker, and started as Kameizumi Shuzo-ten. In 1912 it renamed its sake from its earlier name to Maihime. The Suiro brand was launched in 1999. In 2014 the company became Maihime Co., Ltd. and resumed brewing, which it describes as its second founding. In 2015 Takao no Tengu was introduced, made only with rice grown in Hachioji, Tokyo, and in 2018 the PRINCESS TIME series, created by female brewers, was released.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- Brewing water is groundwater from the Kirigamine area.
- Ingredients
- The brewery works with contract farmers and its own staff on rice growing, from planting to harvest. Some brands use Nagano-grown Miyamanishiki rice.
- Master brewer
- Brewing is led by company toji and female brewers.
- Style
- Brewing runs from late October to the end of February, in the cold season in Suwa.
- Yeast
- The Suiro Sankeinishiki release uses Alps yeast, developed in Nagano.
- Also
- Bottles are stored below freezing all year to keep the sake fresh.
Visiting
- Shop
Gallery Maihime, the brewery's own shop next to the head office, sells its sake. The pages do not mention tours or tastings.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: maihime.co.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 2 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 1.
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association).