Sake making at Iwate Meijo in Iwate prefecture

Oct. 20. 2024

by Yuki Imanishi

We experienced sake brewing at Iwate Meijo in Iwate Prefecture.

Iwate Meijo Co., Ltd. was established in 1955 by the merger of two sake breweries that have been in business since the Meiji era in Maesawa, Oshu City, Iwate Prefecture.
In terms of rice, they have been contracting with local farmers to grow “Kame no O" rice since 1993, and “Yui no Ka" rice, which is suitable for sake brewing in Iwate Prefecture, since 2017, and all of their designated sake is made with rice from southern Iwate Prefecture.
Maesawa in Oshu City is also famous for its high-quality food, Maesawa beef, and the brewery not only makes sake using local sake rice and water, but also pursues sake brewing that matches local ingredients, making sake that goes well with Japanese beef.

In particular, this time we were able to experience the moto-zuri method of kimoto for the recently branded “Oku-roku".

I also wore the same aprons as the brewery members when working on the preparation process, such as putting steamed rice into tanks.

We had the opportunity to talk to Master Brewer Kentaro Miura about various aspects of sake brewing, and also spent a fun time eating and drinking together at a Japanese sake restaurant called “Kojikoji" in Ichinoseki.

Here are some photos from the sake making experience!