The Oldest Sake Breweries in Japan
The Oldest Sake Breweries in Japan
In Japan, 42,966 long-established companies will celebrate over 100 years in business in 2023. The oldest business in Japan is Kongo Gumi Co., Ltd., a construction company founded in 578 AD that fuses traditional construction methods with the latest technology, celebrating 1,446 years in business this year. The top ten long-established businesses in Japan include sake breweries as well. Although there are 850 Japanese sake breweries with over 100 years in business, this report introduces the top five oldest sake breweries in Japan.
No. 1: SUDOHONKE CO., LTD. (Kasama city, Ibaraki prefecture)
Founded in 883 AD. The family precept of Sudohonke is, “Quality sake is brewed from quality rice, quality rice is harvested from quality soil, quality soil is nourished by quality water, quality water is generated by quality trees, and quality trees ensure the survival of our sake brewery to uphold the highest quality of sake.” The sake brand of the oldest sake brewery in Japan is popular worldwide in Asia, North America, and Europe.
Founded in 883 AD. The family precept of Sudohonke is, “Quality sake is brewed from quality rice, quality rice is harvested from quality soil, quality soil is nourished by quality water, quality water is generated by quality trees, and quality trees ensure the survival of our sake brewery to uphold the highest quality of sake.” The sake brand of the oldest sake brewery in Japan is popular worldwide in Asia, North America, and Europe.
No. 2: Hiraizumi Honpo Co., LTD (Nikaho city, Akita prefecture)
Located in the southern region of Akita prefecture, Hiraizumi Honpo brews sake in nutrient rich soil from Mount Chokai. Hiraizumi Honpo is notable for preparing their yeast starter using the “Yamahai” (short for “Yamaoroshi Haishi”) brewing technique.
Located in the southern region of Akita prefecture, Hiraizumi Honpo brews sake in nutrient rich soil from Mount Chokai. Hiraizumi Honpo is notable for preparing their yeast starter using the “Yamahai” (short for “Yamaoroshi Haishi”) brewing technique.
No. 3: Kenbishi Sake Brewing Co., Ltd. (Higashinada ward, Kobe prefecture), founded in 1505
No. 4: Yamaji Shuzo Brewing (Kinohoto town, Shiga prefecture), founded in 1532
No. 5: Yoshinogawa Co., Ltd. (Nagaoka city, Niigata prefecture), founded in 1548
歴史ある日本の酒造メーカー
2023年に創業100年以上を迎える老舗企業は、日本全国で4万2,966社あり、最古の企業は大阪にある社寺建築の金剛組で578年に創業、今年で1446年を迎える。日本の老舗トップ10には、日本酒造メーカーも入っている。創業100年以上の日本酒製造業は850社あるが、上位5社を紹介する。
1位：須藤本家（茨城県笠間市） 1141年創業
創業から883年。「良い酒は良い米から、良い米は良い土から、良い土は良い水から、良い水は良い木から、良い木は蔵を守り酒を守る」を家訓として酒造りを続けている。日本一古い蔵の銘柄は、アジア、アメリカ、ヨーロッパと世界で親しまれている。
2位：飛良泉本舗（秋田県にかほ市） 1487年創業
秋田県南部にあり、鳥海山からの恵み豊かな土地で酒造りを続けている。飛良泉の特徴は、酒母を「山廃仕込み」で作ること。
3位：剣菱酒造（神戸市東灘区） 1505年創業
4位：山路酒造（滋賀県木ノ本町） 1532年創業
5位：吉乃川酒造（新潟県長岡市） 1548年創業