Isojiman Shuzo

磯自慢

Prefecture
Shizuoka

Isojiman Brewery, established in 1830, is located in Yaizu City, Shizuoka, where the Suruga Bay, Izu Peninsula and Mount Fuji lie to the east and the Southern Alps can be seen in the north.  To the southwest, the Oi River flows in bringing excellent runoff water from the Alps, a water source exquisitely suited to sake brewing.

Around the year 1975 the brewery owner at the time made a commitment to brewing only high quality sake as a strategy for the brewery’s survival during a time when Japan was thriving economically and alcoholic beverages and cuisines from other countries were consumed more and more, and sake less and less. This commitment is carried out in several different ways including painstaking efforts to source top quality sake rice from famous rice growing regions in Hyogo prefecture as well as investments in refrigerated brewing facilities to ensure top quality brewing can be guaranteed.  

天保元年（1830年）創業の磯自慢酒造は、東に駿河湾、伊豆半島、富士山、北に南アルプスを望む焼津市に所在しています。また、蔵の西南部にはアルプスからの良質な伏流水が流れ込む大井川が流れ、酒造りにおいて最適な環境が整っています。

当時の蔵元が高品質な日本酒だけを造ることを約束した１９７５年頃、その背景には日本経済の繁栄が大きく影響しています。日本国内において海外の食品や飲料が手に入りやすくなったことにより、日本酒の国内消費量は減少を続けていました。こうした背景の中、蔵が生き残るための戦略として、磯自慢酒造は兵庫県の名産地より良質な酒米を取り寄せ、冷蔵設備に投資し、高品質な酒造りへ向けて新たな歩みを進めていきました。