Inaba Shuzo

Japan | Ibaraki

Sake Producer

Ever since its establishment back in 1867, Inaba Shuzo has been brewing sake on the same plot of land in the foothills of the Ibaraki Prefecture, with pure natural spring water derived from Mount Tsukuba. 

In 1999, Nobuko Inaba became the 6th generation of her family line to take the reins of the family sake brewing business. At the time, she represented just one of a handful of women in charge of sake brewing. The industry was heavily male-dominated, and she stood even against her own family in taking on the responsibility to keep her family’s legacy in motion. Despite the resistance and even ridicule from some in the brewing community, she persevered and fought to find her footing as a brewer and brewery owner. 

In 2000 she established her unique signature by launching her very own new brand “Stella”, of Junmai Daiginjo classification. Since she took over in 1999, the brewery has continued to increase its production of high-quality sake. In 2016, The Tsukuba 100 Junmai Ginjo made with Tsukuba-grown sake rice was born and presented to the world with the objective of putting the region on the map. 

From 2018 onwards, it was decided that all production would be dedicated to Junmai-Only sake (sake with no added brewer’s alcohol). Since then, the brand has been recognized as a top-quality brand, being awarded several Gold Medals at national sake awards ceremonies such as the National New Sake Awards and internationally through silver and bronze medals at the IWC Awards among other prestigious accolades.

It had long been a goal of the brewing team at Inaba Shuzo to make greater efforts to promote their local rice farmers and commit further to sustainability.  In 2019 this goal was reached through the commitment made by the brewery to exclusively use sake rice grown on the terraced rice paddies at the foot of Mount Tsukuba in the vicinity of the brewery. In this way, they have been able to express the true soul of the terroir of the area in their sake through the soil and the water within which the brewing rice is grown, at a stone’s throw from the brewery.

At every step, Inaba Shuzo commits itself to making the sake of the highest quality through handmade traditional techniques and with the strongest support for its environment and its community. Minanogawa and Stella represent sake elegance, soft textures and gentle delivery.