Hananoka

Hananoka Shuzo, located in Nagomi Town, Tamana District of Kumamoto Prefecture, was founded in 1902 by Mr. Kakuji Kanda and Mr. Shosaku Kanda. The brewery’s origins lie in the sacred spring water of Myoken Shrine and rice harvested from its shrine fields. Its name, Hananoka (“flower’s fragrance”), was inspired by the scent of plum blossoms drifting through the air at the time of its founding. Now led by the sixth-generation owner, Mr. Kiyotaka Kanda, the brewery embraces the philosophy of Ubusuna—crafting sake rooted in the local land and culture. Using rice grown in the Kikuchi River basin through natural farming, and employing traditional techniques such as wooden-pressing and kioke fermentation, Hananoka Shuzo creates sake that reflects both its terroir and heritage, earning recognition in Japan and abroad.