HANAHARU SHUZO
Brewery: Hanaharu Shuzo Co., Ltd.
Founded: 1718
Striving for the “finest sake with mild aroma that is clean, smooth, and soft to the palate”, Hanaharu Shuzo continues to mill their own sake rice and brew sake in Aizu, Fukushima. Their sake reflects the umami and sweetness of the rice at maximum and brings warmth to everyone's heart.
FUKUSHIMA
The Spirit of Aizu
The Aizu Region, surrounded by mountains, is blessed with nature rich in various seasonal changes swiftly taking place in every village and mountain. Here you can experience spring full of flowers, summer when it’s hot and humid, autumn with beautiful red leaves, and winter when everything covered in deep snow.
“Not immediately, but slowly express the feelings shut in the back of one’s mind later....”. This shows a touch of the modest characteristic of the Aizu region and its people which we are proud of. “The beauty of Aizu is the quality of its sake” is a catchphrase that represents “The Spirit of Aizu”.
How Sake Brings Comfort to the Citizens
During the era of the 8th Shogun Tokugawa Yoshimune, a man named Izutsuya Kyuemon started a brewery in 1718 at the corner of the Tennei Temple’s entrance outside the Tsurugajo Castle. They started to ship a brand called “Tenmasamune” not only within Aizu, but to the surrounding areas as well, which gained popularity quickly. In the midst of the famous Boshin War, the Aizu clan saw their castle fall, and there were a large number of houses lost due to the fires caused by the war. Izutsuya’s brewery was unfortunately among those that burned down. The people were at a loss and miserable, but Izutsuya took no time at all to rebuild his brewery. He changed the brand to “Hanaharu” (which means Spring Flower) after a Chinese poem that reads: “One should take back the peacefulness of spring and the brightness of flowers in one’s own heart”. The sake called “Hanaharu” was above all comforting to the people who were in complete despair from the defeat of the war.
Now and in the future as well, communication between people can be best done face to face. It is then that alcohol comes in handy as a communication tool. Sake, in particular, is expected to be appreciated worldwide because of its characteristics. With the catchphrase “The beauty of Aizu is the quality of its sake”, “Hanaharu” is characterized by its “gentle aroma, softness on the palate, clean taste and smoothness.” The brewery continues to diligently brew sake that resonates comfortably in every corner of the body with a sense of ease, all for the sake of the customers and the local community.
