🍶 Honda Shoten: Reviving a Legendary Sake Rice for the Ultimate Pairing

🌾A Legacy Reborn: The Story of Shinriki Rice

In the heart of Hyogo Prefecture, where pristine waters flow and sake craftsmanship thrives, Honda Shoten is on a mission to reconnect with its roots. Near the renowned Tatsuriki Brewery in Nakajima Village, a sign marks the birthplace of Shigejiro Maruo, a pioneer in Japanese agriculture. In 1877, Maruo discovered Shinriki rice, a revolutionary strain that once flourished across Japan for both consumption and sake brewing.

Shinriki rice was prized for its superior koji-making properties, excellent rice melting characteristics, and lack of off-flavors, making it a dream ingredient for sake brewers. However, due to advancements in rice cultivation and increasing competition among new rice strains, Shinriki rice faded into obscurity by the early Showa period.

Recognizing the historical and brewing significance of this "ghost rice," the fourth-generation brewer of Tatsuriki, Shinichiro Honda, took on an ambitious challenge—to revive Shinriki rice in its birthplace after nearly a century of disappearance. With the collaboration of dedicated agricultural and brewing experts, Honda Shoten successfully brought Shinriki rice back to life in 1992, and by 1994, the first batch of Tatsuriki no Shinriki was brewed, marking a triumphant return of this legendary grain.

🦪Tatsuriki Oyster Fried: A Sake Crafted for the Sea

With this deep respect for tradition and innovation, Honda Shoten has crafted the perfect sake to complement the ocean’s finest delicacy—oysters.

The Tatsuriki Oyster Fried is a Tokubetsu Junmai sake brewed exclusively with Shinriki rice, highlighting its unique acidity and refined umami. Sourced from the crystal-clear Ibo River, the same waters that nourish the rice fields also flow into the Harima Nada Sea, home to some of Japan’s most sought-after oysters. This natural synergy inspired the creation of a sake designed to elevate the flavors of fresh, briny oysters.

With delicate banana aromas, a hint of sweetness, and a crisp acidity, this sake smooths out the richness of oysters while enhancing their ocean-kissed minerality. The result? A harmonious pairing that lingers on the palate, refreshing and unforgettable.

🔍Specifications:

• Class: Tokubetsu Junmai

• Rice: Shinriki

• Rice-Polishing Ratio: 65%

• ABV: 16%