Collection: Hokusetu Sake Brewery

A challenging sake brewery rooted in a port town on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture.

Founded in 1872 in the port town of Akadomari on Sado Island, Hokusetu Sake Brewery has for over 150 years dedicated to producing "Sado sake" in a land surrounded by the rough waves and snow of the Sea of ​​Japan in winter. The belief that "making good sake is more important than profit" remains the foundation of the brewery today. By successively introducing innovative technologies such as centrifugal separators, automatic koji-making machines, and music-based aging, they continue to refine the quality of their sake with tradition and innovation as their two driving forces. Craftsmanship rooted in the land and its people, and this spirit of challenge, are the origins of Hokusetu Sake Brewery.

Sado's natural environment nurtures meticulously crafted sake rice.

With its majestic and rugged Osado Mountain Range, the gently rolling hills and sandy beaches of Kosado Mountain Range, and the soft, natural spring water from the hills ideal for rice cultivation , Sado Island in Niigata Prefecture boasts a blessed climate and truly provides the perfect conditions for sake brewing. At Hokusetu Sake Brewery, we believe that sake loved by people is built upon safety and security. They are committed to farming methods that prioritize water quality and do not rely on pesticides or chemical fertilizers. Because of their environmentally friendly farming methods, their rice is certified as "Rice Certified for Creating a Village Where People Live with Crested Ibises" (Crested Ibis Certified Rice) in Sado. Working hand in hand with contract farmers, we cultivate "Koshi Tanrei" and "Gohyakumangoku," representative sake rice varieties of Niigata, in terraced rice paddies. Furthermore, we have formed a research group with local farmers. By refining our rice cultivation techniques, we are producing high-quality sake rice that results in exceptional Junmai Daiginjo and Daiginjo sakes with outstanding taste and aroma .

Sado's sake, recognized by celebrities worldwide.

Hokusetu Sake Brewery opened the door to the international stage after encountering "NOBU," a global brand led by Nobuyuki Matsuhisa, a top figure in the Japanese food industry. NOBU's restaurants and hotels now number over 50 across five continents, and Hokusetu sake is served in almost every high-end establishment in each country. Junmai Daiginjo NOB is an exceptional product made using "Gohyakumangoku" rice from Sado Island and carefully crafted through long-term low-temperature fermentation. Its delicate aroma and the umami of the rice harmonize perfectly, making it beloved by gourmets around the world. Hokusetu sake has established itself as a "world-class sake," and it can be said that it has made the name of Sado Island known to the world.

Beyond tradition and innovation, towards the future of sake.

Hokusetu Sake Brewery respects tradition but is not afraid of innovation. They have introduced a centrifugal separator for pressing, which extracts the mash without applying pressure, thus preserving the pure ginjo aroma and umami flavor. They incorporate music and ultrasound into the fermentation process to enhance the aroma and flavor, and they convey the transparency of the brewery to visitors through glass tank tours. These are all expensive pieces of equipment, but they are a testament to their commitment to "making good sake." While continuing sake brewing across generations, they hone their skills and sensibilities, and their constant pursuit of the next perfect sip is what makes Hokusetu Sake Brewery a "proactive brewery."