SANKAN SHUZO - OKAYAMA PREFECTURE

Once covered by salt marshes, the coastline where the brewery is located is home to a freshwater spring called “mikoe no mizu”, once used as running water by local residents. Although close to the sea, this water is not salty, as it is naturally purified by passing through layers of granite. Ideal for brewing sake, it is characterized by an absence of iron, a high magnesium content, very little calcium and a hardness index of 94, particularly high for Japanese water.

All sakés from sakan are classified as Tokutei-Meisho-Shu and made according to Ginjo methods. The koji is prepared entirely by hand, with meticulous attention to detail, and fermentation takes place in small vats to ensure precise temperature control.

The Sankan style is characterized by dry, full-bodied sakes, designed to enhance local cuisine, especially seafood from the nearby port of Shimotsui. Two of the brewery's sakes won awards from the Emperor at the 1903 and 1911 exhibitions. This inspired the brand to take the name “Sankan”, which means “Three Crowns”, with the aim of obtaining a third distinction. Now run by the eldest son in a bid for renewal, the house welcomed a new brewmaster in 2019, tasked with developing cuvées that fully embody Sankan Shuzo's unique identity, true to its motto: “Sake brewing as the only passion”.