Seikyō Junmai Chōkarakuchi

Seikyō Junmai Chōkarakuchi (誠鏡 純米超辛口) is a pasteurised Junmai sake brewed by Nakao Brewery (中尾醸造) in Hiroshima Prefecture using Shinsenbon rice polished to 65%. Fermented with Kanazawa K1401 yeast, it has an alcohol content of 16%, an SMV of +8, and an acidity of 1.5, placing it firmly in the extra-dry category.

Made using only rice, kōji and water, this sake is brewed to a notably dry style while retaining the natural umami of the rice. Producing such a dry sake requires fermentation to continue until very little residual sugar remains. With almost no sweetness to soften rough edges, the quality of the brewing process is exposed, making balance and precision particularly important. Here, the rich character of the rice kōji is preserved, giving the sake depth alongside its crisp, dry finish.

Served chilled, it displays a clean, sharp finish, while gentle warming brings out a fuller expression of the rice's savoury character. Its dry profile and pronounced umami make it well suited to a wide range of Japanese cuisine. It can be enjoyed chilled, at room temperature or gently warmed.

Nakao Shuzō was established in 1871 in Takehara on the picturesque Seto Inland Sea under the name 'Hiroshimaya' (廣島屋). In 1927, the brewery began developing its own yeast under the guidance of agricultural chemist and microbiologist Sakaguchi Kinichiro (坂口謹一). Fourteen years of experiments on more than 2,000 yeast varieties later, Nakao Kiyoma, the fourth-generation owner, finally found a yeast variety that released an extraordinary bouquet (ginjoka): it had powerful alcohol fermentation capabilities and refreshing acidity. Kiyoma had discovered the miracle apple yeast. In 1948, Nakao Shuzō was chosen to provide the sake for the Imperial Household New Year Celebration. In 1974, 'Maboroshi'-branded sake made with apple yeast was launched (for the then-astronomical price of JPY 8,000 for a 1,800ml bottle) and presented to the Imperial Household.

The brewery's logo on the right says 'Seikyō' (誠鏡), the signature Seikyo brand of Nakao Shuzō. Seikyō means "true mirror" and reflects the founder's wish that "sake poured into a cup may be like a mirror, with its quality revealing the sincerity in our brewers' hearts as they devote themselves to sake brewing."