Heiwa Junmai Ginjō Kido Hiyaoroshi

Heiwa Junmai Ginjō Kido Hiyaoroshi (紀土 純米吟醸 ひやおろし) is a seasonal sake made with the rice variety Gohyakumangoku, carefully polished to 50% for the kōji and 55% for the kakemai. The sake is brewed in early spring, then matured slowly through the summer to reach full balance by autumn. It offers a gentle, subdued ginjō fragrance with a calm, rounded depth typical of hiyaoroshi — sake that has matured for one summer. The palate unfolds softly, showing a smooth, full-bodied umami that broadens with warmth. Layers of mild sweetness and a faint acidity give the flavour depth and a clean, lingering finish. The result is a versatile sake that can be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature, or gently warmed.

It pairs particularly well with autumn dishes such as dobinmushi, grilled saury (sanma), swordfish (tachiuo), and seared bonito (katsuo tataki), as well as lighter pairings like shirasu pizza, persimmon with prosciutto, lotus root tsukune, and gunkan-maki.

Heiwa Shuzō in Mizonokuchi, Kainan City, Wakayama, was founded in 1928 by Yamamoto Yasushi. When he assumed the headship of the Yamamoto family, who had been Buddhist temple caretakers for generations, from his father-in-law, Taniguchi Taro of the Edo-era Taniguchi Brewery, he decided to start his brewery, driven by his passion for sake. The brewery is sometimes still called "Chōgan-ji" because the mountain and temple were named "Muryōzan Chōgan-ji" (無量山超願寺) at the time.

Heiwa Brewery faced numerous challenges throughout its history, including being forced to suspend operations during World War II due to war mobilisation. Even after the war, resuming sake brewing took significant time. Yamamoto Yasumasa, the second-generation owner, passionately pleaded for the brewery's reopening in the Diet, inspiring many with his heartfelt plea to brew sake in a peaceful era. Thanks to his efforts, the brewery was eventually allowed to reopen. This aspiration for peaceful times led to the brewery's name, "Heiwazake" (Peace Sake).

Despite the reopening, challenges persisted. The brewery could not reclaim its original building and had to rent a building from Taniguchi Brewery in Wakaura temporarily. During this challenging period, the "Wakatsuru" brand, named after a poem from the Manyōshū, provided support. After over a decade, the brewery finally returned to its original location in Mizunokuchi. However, rebuilding the brewery from scratch proved challenging, and for a time, Heiwazake operated as a subsidiary of a significant Kyoto-based sake manufacturer. Determined to produce their own sake, the brewery shifted its focus to selling its brand. Since then, Heiwa Brewery has won numerous awards at the National New Sake Appraisal Competition and continues producing sake that reflects Wakayama Prefecture's character.