相原酒造 | 広島県
Aihara Brewery
Founded in 1875. A luminous expression of clarity and elegance, inspired by nature's beauty.
About Hiroshima Prefecture
Hiroshima Prefecture is in the south west part of Honshu, along the Sea of Japan. The name Hiroshima "Wide Island" originated from the natural shape of the land, which is a combination of large delta islands.
Hiroshima is famous for its delicious foods like Oysters, Tree onion and Figs. Hiroshima is renound to be one of the three major city of producing sake,Surrounded by the Chugoku Mountains, the Seto Inland Sea and basins. As so Hiroshima is blessed with a mild climate and produces a variety of different kinds of sake with distinct features, from sweet, to dry, to highly fragrant.Having existing high quality brewy's such as Aihara shuzo, Suishin yamane honten, and Kirie shuzo With numerous sake breweries in Japan, the Prefectural Industrial Technology Center is developing a new ginjo sake. Yamagata Sanga is the unified brand of Yamagata Prefecture, with its Junmai Daiginjo made using Dewa TheSansan rice. This title is reserved for sake that passes rigorous screening. Yamagata produces various sakes like "Jyuyo Dai" with a rich flavor and "Kudoki Jozu," which emphasizes taste and label aesthetics. Dewazakura is one of the delicious sakes, known for its enhanced crispness when chilled.
About Ugo No Tsuki
Founded in 1875, located in Kure City, Nigata Honmachi. Aihara Sake Brewery embraced the Hiroshima tradition of soft water brewing, under the influence of Miura Senzaburo, the father of ginjo brewing.
Inspired by the novel written in Kure by renowned author Tokutomi Roka, "Ugo no Tsuki" is a tribute to the rich history of this naval port, once home to Japan's largest shipyard. In the mild Seto Inland Sea climate, Aihara Brewery spares no effort to achieve a remarkably clear sake quality. They have invested in state-of-the-art technology, from thermal tanks to precision rice washing machines, continuously refining their process through trial and error. Committed to excellence, they use only premium sake rice to produce a sake that is refined, crisp, and beautifully balanced. Among their offerings is a sake with a 13% alcohol content, delivering surprising depth and flavor. Even in Hiroshima's competitive sake scene, Aihara stands out for its elegant, refreshing profile, a true testament to their dedication.Nigata Honmachi
Nestled between three mountains and the Seto Inland Sea in eastern Kure City, Hiroshima, lies the quaint town of Nigata Honmachi. Blessed with the pure spring water from Mount Noro and a once-thriving port, this area flourished as a key hub in the Meiji era, home to nine sake breweries and ten soy sauce distilleries. Today, only two remain, continuing this rich tradition: Ugo no Tsuki and Houken.Founding and History
Founded in 1875, our brewery quickly became one of the top three in the region, producing 1700 koku of sake by 1895. Despite a brief pause during wartime, our dedication to sake brewing never wavered. A pivotal transformation occurred in 1988 when Junichiro Aihara took leadership, focusing on crafting sake that he would love to drink himself. With a commitment to "quality first," the brewery was reborn as a dedicated ginjo sake producer.The origin of "Ugo no Tsuki" (Moon After the Rain)
Our signature sake, "Ugo no Tsuki," is named by our second generation owner, Akira Aihara, inspired by the essay "Nature and Life" by the renowned novelist Tokutomi Roka, published in 1900. This sake embodies the clarity and beauty of a moon shining brightly in a post-rain sky, illuminating its surroundings. It is a constant inspiration for our craft.
