Masumi Honjōzō Tokusen

Masumi Honjōzō Tokusen (宮坂醸造 真澄 本醸造酒 特撰), once cherished under the prestigious tokkyū-shu (特級酒) classification, is defined by its refined balance and elegant flavour profile. Brewed as a honjōzō using the brewery's own Kyokai No.7-type yeast, it is polished to 60% and has an alcohol content of 15%. It has a gentle sweetness and rounded body, combined with clarity and transparency. Its aroma is both refreshing and gently floral, with a well-balanced character. It opens with mild sweetness and smooth acidity, leading into a dry finish with a crisp and clean aftertaste. Light yet refined, this sake is a delight that can be savoured over time without fatigue. Recommended food pairings include dishes that highlight umami and natural sweetness. It complements ingredients such as scallops in sushi or salt-grilled chicken heart (hatsu). Its affinity with the sweet richness of meat fats makes it well-suited to simmered pork belly and daikon or chicken meatballs with napa cabbage in broth. For a matching smooth texture and flavour, try it with silken tofu topped with a savoury mushroom sauce.

Miyasaka Brewery (宮坂醸造株式会社) in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture, is one of Japan's most respected sake producers, renowned for its iconic brand Masumi (真澄). The brewery was founded in 1662 during the early Edo period by Miyasaka Echizaemon (宮坂恵右衛門), a member of a long line of retainers to the local feudal lords in Suwa. The name "Masumi" derives from the Masumi Mirror (真澄の鏡), a sacred treasure housed at the Suwa Taisha Grand Shrine (諏訪大社).

In 1946, its toji (master brewer), Chisato Kubota, discovered yeast strain no. 7 (協会七号酵母), which the Brewing Society of Japan later adopted as one of the standard sake yeasts used across the country. This discovery helped elevate the reputation of both Masumi and Miyasaka Brewery in the modern sake world. Masumi is renowned for its clean, crisp, well-balanced sake, characterised by a refined finish, crafted from local ingredients and pristine alpine water sourced from the Japanese Alps. The brewery remains family-run and is deeply rooted in its Suwa heritage, while also maintaining a global presence through exports and collaborations abroad.