Another World Sake Day is done for the year and that means the countdown is on until we see the first sake for BY8. This year the summer was significantly shorter than usual which has wreaked havoc on the nation’s agriculture, however things are looking quietly optimistic for the rice harvest. The latest forecast puts the national crop at only around 1% below last year, with ample stocks and prices easing in some regions, offering a glimmer of hope for brewers. For sake rice, however, it’s not only about how much rice will be available but about how well it performs in the tank. And for those details we will have to wait…
And now for the news…
Niigata- Yoshinogawa, Niigata Prefecture’s oldest sake brewery, founded in 1548, has announced a major restructuring of its product portfolio, including the discontinuation of its longstanding flagship brand Gokujō Yoshinogawa.
Following a four-year review, the brewery is reducing its range from more than 50 products to around 30, with approximately 80% undergoing method and/or spec changes. The revamped portfolio will be organised into four tiers, with everyday food-friendly sake at its core. Two new ranges, Seiryūbi, reflecting traditional Niigata sake styles, and Keiryūbi, offering lower-alcohol, higher-acidity styles including sparkling sake, will target both established and newer consumers.
Yoshinogawa has also invested approximately JPY300 million (USD1.8million) in production and storage upgrades, enabling year-round brewing and refrigerated bottle storage for around 300,000 bottles. Sake from the new lineup began shipping on September 11, marking a whole new chapter and huge strategic shift for the 478-year-old brewery that will likely serve as an interesting case study for other breweries.
Source – Tjniigata | Pr Times | Asahi
JG: Yoshinogawa has had some challenges recently, and it looks like they are moving toward stability and a new era of leadership. This is great news, as the company has such a long history, and in such a sake-storied place as Niigata. I look forward to tasting their new product lines.
吉乃川 清流美 渓流美
Fukuoka- Takagi Shōten, the former operator and producer of Fukuoka Prefecture’s iconic Isonosawa, has entered special liquidation following a court ruling on August 24.
Established in 1893, the original company saw annual sales decline from a peak of ¥2.9 billion (USD19.3million) in 2001 to JPY1.1billion (USD7.3million) in 2019, amid falling sake consumption and changing consumer habits. Financial difficulties worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a restructuring in 2021 that saw the brewing business transferred to a separate company, originally established as Ukiha Shōten. The original company was renamed from Isonosawa Ltd. to Takagi Shōten, ceased brewing operations and was formally dissolved in April 2026.
