Tamagawa Junmai Ginjō Akiko

Tamagawa Junmai Ginjō Akiko (玉川 純米吟醸 あきこ) is made of Gohyakumangoku rice milled to 60%. With their new autumn sake, Kinoshita Brewery faced a naming dilemma: while not fitting the traditional "hiyaoroshi" category, it still required a fitting name. Despite brainstorming, a suitable name eluded the brewery and its staff. As the deadline approached, desperation set in. Hideki Hashimoto, the sales manager, suggested the name "Akiko," a proposal that elicited a wry chuckle from the brewery manager. While the suggestion may seem unconventional, it ultimately became the chosen name. The name "Akiko" evokes nostalgia, reminiscent of a bygone era.

Tamagawa Akiko is a Junmai Ginjō sake that offers a unique blend of fresh and aged flavours that have matured for over five years. This sake delivers a rich, complex taste profile while maintaining a light and easy-drinking character. The alcohol content has been carefully adjusted to around 14% to balance the flavour and ensure a smooth, enjoyable experience. While the brewery recommends room temperature, this sake can be slightly chilled or warmed. Warming the sake can enhance its flavours and make it even more approachable. Tamagawa Akiko's versatility makes it a perfect pairing for a wide range of dishes, especially those with autumnal and winter flavours. Its balanced taste profile complements both delicate and robust foods.

Kinoshita Shuzō, in Kōyama, Kyōtango, Kyōto Prefecture, was founded in 1842 by the fifth head of the Kinoshita family, Kinoshita Zenbei (木下善兵衛), who reportedly used the harvest from almost thirty hectares of rice fields and the copious spring water gushing from the mountain behind the brewery. The hereditary name Zenbei was passed down to the 6th and 7th generations. Then, the company was led by the 8th, 9th and 10th generations (Sentaro, Zenichiro and Juichi, respectively) before being handed on to Kinoshita Yoshito, the current president and the 11th in line.

The brand name Tamagawa can be translated as "Jewel River." The name is thought to refer to the Kawakamidani River, which flows by the brewery. The character 玉 (tama) means a jewel and has sacred implications in Japan's native Shinto . 川 (kawa or gawa in compound words) means river.

Kinoshita Shuzō is one of the few Japanese breweries with a foreign tōji, Philip Harper. Born in the UK, he graduated from Oxford University. He taught English under the JET programme until he discovered sake. He worked at Umenoyado Sake Brewery for ten years before taking and passing the Nanbu Tōji Association's qualification test in 2001, earning him the title of 'Tōji'. He was the first foreigner to become a toji (and the only one at the time). He then worked at Umenoyado Shuzō, Daimon Shuzō and other breweries before becoming tōji at Kinoshita Shuzō in 2008.

Kinoshita Yoshito gave him full responsibility for everything except following the locally favoured taste of regular sake and daiginjō. He immediately began producing kimoto sake, which does not use brewing lactic acid, and yamahai, which uses only natural yeast from the brewery. In addition to new sake types like 'Icebreaker' and 'Time Machine', Tamagawa's legacy is reflected in the sake he produces.

Along with the new master brewer, the brewery's logo was redesigned with an innovative design by Sakane Katsusuke to symbolise the new Tamagawa. It is now widely known as the 'Marutama mark' (丸玉マーク).