Sohomare Shuzo (惣誉酒造株式会社)
Sohomare Shuzo is a brewery in Ichikai, Haga District, Tochigi Prefecture, making sake under the Sohomare brand. The sake is aged and blended from several base sakes before release.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 6 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
Sohomare Shuzo traces its roots to a sake brewing business in Hino, Shiga Prefecture, which operated from the Edo period. In 1872 it began making sake at its current site in Ichikai, Tochigi, as a branch of the Shiga brewery. In 1974 the fourth-generation head, Soemon Kono, became president in Tochigi and focused on ginjo brewing with Yamada Nishiki rice. The fifth-generation president, Jun Kono, took office in 1995, and the brewery revived yamahai brewing in 2001. The earthquake of 2011 damaged buildings and equipment, a new building was completed in 2015, and the sixth-generation president, Michihiro Kono, took office in 2026.
What makes it distinct
- Style
- The brewery has worked on yamahai (kimoto-style) brewing since 2001.
- Ingredients
- The sake uses Yamada Nishiki rice from the Hyogo Prefecture Special A district, which gives the flavor softness and body.
- Yeast
- Each year the brewery uses carefully selected rice and classic yeasts.
- Master brewer
- The toji has led brewing since 2014.
- Also
- Finished sakes are tasted and blended in set ratios to reach the final flavor.
Visiting
- Tours
Brewery tours are by advance reservation and include a guided visit, tasting, and a blending experience with base sakes. The brewery does not make sake in summer.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: sohomare.co.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 8 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 6.
- Prize (nyusho)惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
- Prize (nyusho)惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
- Gold prize惣譽PDF
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.