Fujioka Shuzo

藤岡酒造

Prefacture

Kyoto

Fujioka Shuzo, located in the historic sake district of Fushimi city, Kyoto, stands as a testament to perseverance, tradition, and innovation. This small brewery has overcome significant challenges to craft something truly unique in the world of sake.

Fushimi is famous for its pure, soft water, which plays a key role in the flavour of Fujioka’s sake. By using this pristine local water and carefully sourced rice, including the famed Miyamanishiki variety from Nagano, Fujioka Shuzo creates a product rooted in its Kyoto heritage. Recently, Masaaki even began growing his own rice in Ohara, further connecting the brewery to its ingredients.

The brewery’s story took an unexpected turn in 1994 when Yoshifumi Fujioka, the third-generation owner, passed away suddenly at the age of 56. Just one year later, the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake forced the brewery to close, seemingly ending a 90 year legacy. However, the passion for sake lived on in Yoshifumi’s son, Masaaki, even if his path to brewing took some time.

Rather than immediately stepping into the family business, he moved to Tokyo and worked as a salaryman. Though he had left the brewery, he stayed connected to the industry through his job at a liquor wholesaler, remaining close to the world of sake but from a different vantage point. As the sake industry faced challenges of declining consumption and a reduction in sake brewers, Masaaki watched friends and former classmates from Tokyo University of Agriculture succeed in their family breweries. This success stirred something deep within him. He couldn’t shake the feeling that he, too, should be brewing sake, if only his father were still alive.

The taste of the last sake brewed at Fujioka lingered in his memory, along with the desire to revive the family craft. Determined to learn sake-making firsthand, he spent three years training at a rural sake brewery, mastering the techniques required to become a Toji. In 2002, with renewed passion and a wealth of experience, Masaaki returned to Kyoto, determined to revive the Fujioka tradition.

Rebuilding the brewery on the original premises, Masaaki faced the challenge of making sake in a way that felt true to his own vision, while honouring his father’s legacy. He decided to break from tradition by focusing exclusively on junmai sake. His father had specialized in a more common type of sake that included added alcohol to enhance aroma and flavour. Masaaki, however, felt drawn to junmai for its simplicity and depth, believing it allowed the natural flavours of rice and water to truly shine.

“I didn’t want to make flashy, showy sake,” Masaaki explains in our Singapore office. “I wanted something more subtle, a sake that makes you feel relaxed, like looking up at the blue sky.” This ethos led to the birth of Fujioka Shuzo’s new brand, "Soukuu", which translates to "Blue Sky." The brand represents a break from the past but also embodies a return to the essence of what sake could be—calming, simple, and deeply satisfying.

Fujioka Shuzo may be one of the smallest in Fushimi, but it’s known for its meticulous attention to quality. Each bottle is made in small batches, from junmai to junmai daiginjo, ensuring that every step of the process is carefully controlled.

In keeping with this careful approach to brewing, Fujioka Shuzo pays attention to even the smallest details in how their product is presented. Their standard bottle holds 500ml, slightly smaller than the typical 720 ml sake bottle. This size is thoughtfully chosen—it’s just the right amount for a couple to enjoy in one sitting. The bottle itself is designed to fit neatly into a refrigerator door pocket, showing the brewery’s dedication to convenience without compromising quality. These subtle touches reflect the care and excitement that Masaaki and his team pour into their craft.

Beyond its taste, Fujioka’s sake stands out for its thoughtful packaging. Each bottle of Soukuu is wrapped in indigo-dyed cloth, which serves as a symbol of the brewery’s craftsmanship. The cloth label adds a touch of elegance and can even be reused as a coaster—an eco-friendly gesture that mirrors the brewery's broader philosophy of sustainability and attention to detail.

Though small in size, Fujioka Shuzo has made a big impact by combining tradition and innovation. Masaaki Fujioka’s journey has been one of rebirth, and today, Soukuu isn’t just a brand of sake—it’s a philosophy. It’s about patience, simplicity, and finding joy in the little things, like gazing up at a calm, blue sky.

Fujioka Shuzo

藤岡酒造

Selection from Sokuu Collection 藤岡酒造セレクション一覧

Selection from Sokuu Collection 藤岡酒造
セレクション一覧