Shimazaki Shuzo

Within Tochigi Prefecture, north of Tokyo, stands Shimazaki Shuzo: a sakagura whose origins date back to 1849, founded by Hikobe Shimazaki in the small town of Nakagawa after acquiring an ancient cellar over 200 years old. A family story, tradition, and sake excellence that continues to this day.

It was the second generation, with Kumakichi Shimazaki, who launched the famous brand 'Azuma Rikishi' — which in Japanese means "Eastern sumo wrestler" — paying tribute to Kumakichi’s great passion for sumo and making the sakagura famous throughout Japan.

The underground caves: where sake ages in silence

Since 1970, Shimazaki Shuzo has produced aged sake, mainly of the prestigious Daiginjo category. For maturation, evocative 600-meter underground caves are used, built at the end of World War II as a tank factory. Sheltered from light and kept at a constant temperature of 10°C year-round, over 100,000 bottles of sake now rest there.

Ingredients and territory

• Rice varieties Asahinoyume, Akitakomachi, Gohyakumangoku, and Yukinosei
• Water from the underground streams of the Naka River, fed by springs from Mount Nasu — a volcanic peak in Nikko National Park
• Fermentation at low temperature to enhance aromas and aromatic complexity

The result is sake of unique elegance and expressive depth, among the best in Tochigi Prefecture.

Discover and purchase Shimazaki Shuzo sake on maltese.beer — shipping throughout Italy in 24–48h. The Japanese tradition of 1849, delivered straight to your home.