Mitobe

Mitobe Shuzo, located in Tendo City, Yamagata Prefecture, crafts sake using underground water from the Ouu mountain range, sourced from the famed Yamadera temple area. With a hardness of around 120—among the hardest brewing waters in Japan—this water gives rise to the brewery’s signature sharp and clean finish, often described as having the “cutting edge of a fine blade.” Since 2010, the brewery has produced only junmai sake, combining traditional fune pressing and meticulous temperature control with a relentless focus on quality. In 2004, Mitobe Shuzo began cultivating its own rice fields, and in 2018 established its agricultural corporation, now managing about 25,000 tsubo of rice paddies. Centered on local varieties such as Dewasansan and Kame-no-O, alongside premium Yamadanishiki from Hyogo and Omachi from Okayama, the brewery seeks to express the individuality of each terroir. With facilities that showcase traditional Japanese craftsmanship and a mission to preserve the region’s rice fields, Mitobe Shuzo continues to refine its sake while aiming to share Yamagata’s excellence with the world.