Tatenokawa Shield Sōbei Wase Junmai Daiginjō

Tatenokawa Shield Sōbei Wase Junmai Daiginjō (Shield 惣兵衛早生 純米大吟醸) is made of Sōbei Wase rice milled to 50%, a native variety of grown in the Shonai region, and Yamagata KA yeast. Sōbei Wase has become even rarer today than 'Kame-no-o'. The seeds for this variety were acquired from the Yamagata Prefectural Agricultural Research Center's Paddy Field Experiment Station (山形県農業総合研究センター水田農業試験場様から譲り受け), and over the years, Tatenokawa has increased the area planted to bring it back to life today. Tatenokawa's logo is a fusion of the Genji wheel, the crest of the brewer's family, and the shield, symbolising the brewery's dedication to continue to preserve their inheritance. The "Shield Sōbei Wase" flavour is a deeply original blend of beautiful sweetness and soft acidity.

Tatenokawa Brewery is nestled in Sakata, a city in the northwest of Yamagata Prefecture that boasts the region's most crucial port—surrounded by the Sea of Japan and Mount Chokai, the brewery crafts exquisite sake from the finest Shonai rice and pristine spring water. The cityscape is dominated by the verdant rice fields of the Shonai Plain and the Mogami River that flows through it.

The brewery's history dates back to 1832, when Heishiro, the founder, was inspired by a retainer of the Uesugi clan to start making sake with the exceptional local water. In 1854, the Sato family established Tatenokawa Brewery in Sakata and continued the tradition of sake production for 190 years. In October 2021, Tatenokawa Brewery announced its revival of sake made from Sobei Wakasa, an indigenous sake rice variety from Shonai and the ancestor of Kamenoo. In May 2022, Tatenokawa introduced Soryu, a low-alcohol seasonal sake perfect for summer, made from Yamadanishiki, a premium sake rice.