Having just reached its 100 year old mark, the Sumikawa Brewery was first established in 1921 in Hagi City, Yamaguchi prefecture, along the southwestern coast of Japan’s main island.
Mr. Takafumi Sumikawa, the 4th generation Kuramoto, was someone who was sure of his path to brewing. He studied at the Brewing department of Tokyo Agricultural University and trained at the Takagi brewery even while he was still a student under the tutelage of Mr. Takagi Akinori, the makers of the ever popular Jyuyondai brand. He joined his family’s brewery thereafter, and became both Kuramoto and Toji. Mr. Sumikawa is considered a top brew master of his generation.
創業100年の節目を迎えた澄川酒造は１９２１年、本州の最西部山口県荻市にて創始しました。四代目となる澄川貴史氏は、酒造りの道を確実に歩んできた人物です。 東京農業大学醸造学科で学び、在学中より高木酒造で高木昭典氏の指導を受けながら修行を積んできました。 その後、実家の蔵に入り、蔵元と杜氏を兼任するようになった 澄川さんは当代きっての杜氏です。
The brewery incurred great hardship back in 2013, having been completely inundated by a landslide leading to the need for a complete rebuild of the brewing facilities to carry on their business. Despite this tragedy, Mr. Sumikawa and his brewers carried on and have continued to strive to make the best Sake on the market.
2013年、澄川酒造は土砂崩れで蔵が浸水し醸造設備の全面的な改修が必要になるなど、大きな苦難を経験してきました。澄川氏と蔵人たちはこの悲劇に屈することなく事業を継続し、最高の日本酒を届ける努力を重ねています。
Aiming for a gorgeous sake which is clear and umami rich, Toyo Bijin Sake is refined and elegant, with just the right balance of floral and fruity notes.
The name Toyo Bijin, which means Eastern Beauty, fits the pristine style of the brew and its aesthetic perfectly, so much so that the Junmai Daiginjo Ichiban Matoi was even chosen to be served at the Japan Russia Summit in 2016.
「東洋美人」は透明感があり、旨味のある華やかな酒を目指し、華やかさとフルーティーな香りのバランスがとれた上品な酒に仕上がっています。 東洋美人という名前はその清らかなスタイルを纏った美学にぴったりと当てはまり、2016年に開催された日露首脳会談では純米大吟醸「一番まとい」が振る舞われることになったほどです。
