Collection: Kaze no Mori / Yucho shuzo
A Trailblazer in Sake Brewing, Rooted in the Birthplace of Japan and Looking 100 Years Ahead
Gose City, Nara Prefecture – the heart of Yamato, the cradle of Japan’s origin. This is where Japan’s first emperor, Emperor Jinmu, is said to have ascended the throne, marking the beginning of the nation.
It was here, surrounded by ancient traditions, breathtaking nature, and the spirit of mythology, that Yucho Shuzo was founded in 1719. The brewery’s iconic label, Kaze no Mori (Wind Forest), was named by the former president after the nearby “Kaze no Mori Pass” and was first released in 1998.
What makes this sake unique is its identity as a namazake (unpasteurized sake). Today, approximately 99% of sake in Japan is heat-pasteurized—a technique standardized during the Edo period to ensure stability and prevent spoilage, given sake’s delicate nature.
However, freshly pressed, unpasteurized sake offers an entirely different experience. Alive with active yeast and enzymes, it bursts with vibrant freshness and a soft, juicy character—flavors that are lost in most sake available today. For many years, namazake was a hidden treasure enjoyed only by brewery workers or locals living nearby.
Driven by a desire to share this vivid expression with the wider world, Yucho Shuzo established a comprehensive system for producing, storing, and distributing unpasteurized, non-filtered sake. This bold initiative made fresh, living sake accessible to the general public—and sparked a national sensation that transformed the sake industry.
The brewery uses subterranean water from the Kongō-Katsuragi mountain range, considered one of Japan’s hardest waters. This mineral-rich water gives Kaze no Mori its signature strength and clarity, contributing to a sake that is truly one-of-a-kind.
Yet, their spirit of innovation didn’t stop there.
Choubee Yamamoto, the 13th-generation heir, inherited the brewery’s legacy from his father in 2014 and has since continued to pursue further exploration and innovation. His philosophy, vision, and fresh approach to sake brewing have captivated many sake enthusiasts.
Nara is also the birthplace of the traditional Bodaimoto brewing method, a prototype of modern sake. Building on this heritage, Yucho Shuzo launched their ALPHA series, as well as the Mizuhana series, which is brewed entirely in traditional ceramic pots. These series aim to reinterpret ancient techniques with modern precision—often uncovering new discoveries along the way.
They have also expanded into new territory: they’ve established a distillery on an adjacent property to craft GIN using local Nara botanicals. And in 2024, they launched a new initiative: “S Kaze no Mori”, a sustainable project that integrates sake brewing with rice cultivation on the traditional terraced fields of the Gose basin’s mountain slopes. This marks a new chapter, connecting agriculture and sake in a symbiotic, future-forward model.
While creating delicious sake is at the heart of their mission, Yucho Shuzo’s philosophy is rooted in honoring tradition, respecting history, and proposing sustainable solutions for the future. Their continuous pursuit of innovation places them at the very forefront of the modern sake world.
Should you come across a bottle of their sake in Europe, don’t hesitate—this is a sake you absolutely must try.
日本始まりの地で、
奈良県御所市。日本国の始まりである「大和」、
初代・神武天皇が即位されたまさに日本の始まりの場所だ。
古代からの風土、美しい自然、
しかし、
日本酒は、製造後の保管管理・
彼らが使う仕込み水は、
風の森の発表以後も、彼らの挑戦は止まらない。
奈良は近代清酒の元となる、菩提酛造りの発祥の地であるのだが、
美味しい日本酒を造ることが彼らの使命の中核を成す一方で、油長酒造の哲学は、伝統を重んじ、歴史を尊重し、
もしヨーロッパで油長酒造の日本酒を見かけたら、
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Kaze no Mori - Alpha 3 720ml
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