Morito Shuzo (森戸酒造株式会社)
Morito Shuzo is a small sake brewery in Higashiizumi, Yaita, Tochigi, at the foot of Mt. Takahara, making sake including Juichimasamune, Takahara and Shojinzawa. It was founded in 1874.
What kind of brewery is Morito Shuzo?
The brewery was founded in 1874 under the trade name Juichiya, when the first head, Seibei Morito, began making sake as Juichimasamune Honpo. It was incorporated in 1952 as Morito Shuzo Co., Ltd. Honjozo Takahara was released in 1975 and Shojinzawa in 1991. The fifth head, Yasuo Morito, became representative director in 2001, and sake brewing with the natural ginko yeast began in 2006. The president serves as toji himself, combining traditional hand methods with newer techniques.
- Ingredients
- Rice such as Gohyakumangoku is grown in fields near the brewery.
- Water
- The brewing water is abundant subsoil water from the foot of Mt. Takahara.
- Yeast
- NY is brewed with a natural ginko yeast purely cultured from the air of the brewing room.
- Master brewer
- The president, Yasuo Morito, also serves as toji.
Can you visit Morito Shuzo?
- Tours
Brewery tours are accepted; advance reservation is requested.
Hours and booking rules change, so check before you go. Official website
Other brewery tours in Tochigi
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: morito-brewery.com
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 5 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 3.
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.