Kokken

The history of Kokken Shuzo traces back to "Hosoi Jozo Honpo," operated by the Hosoi family. Once brewing sake under brand names such as "Nanko" and "Kameno-i," tradition holds that a traveling monk who stayed at the brewery bestowed the name "Kokken." Against the backdrop of the post-Meiji-Restoration Freedom and People's Rights Movement, the name is said to have been given with the meaning of "the rights of an independent country" — a spirit inherited to this day.

The water used for brewing is well water from Minami-Aizu-machi, Oku-Aizu — known as one of Japan's leading heavy-snow regions. The soft water blessed by nature protected by virgin forest is drawn up and combined with carefully selected sake rice for brewing. Though a small brewery, Kokken focuses entirely on tokutei meishōshu, continuing careful brewing with small-batch production particular about rice, water, koji, and yeast.

As a result, with award histories of gold medals at the Annual Japan Sake Awards and other competitions, the brewery has become a presence supporting the improvement of Fukushima's sake reputation. From aromatic daiginjo to junmai that fits the dining table, to a powerful yamahai-brewed bottle — every sake bearing the name "Kokken" is loved by sake fans nationwide for its flavor that stays close to drinkers and its reliable production.

A small Oku-Aizu brewery making exclusively premium-class sake

Founded in 1877. Currently, the brewery sticks to a production where all sake is tokutei meishōshu (premium class) — daiginjo, junmai ginjo, junmai, etc. — and polishes sake quality through careful rice milling, with an average polish ratio of about 57%.

Soft brewing water blessed by heavy-snow virgin forests

In the mountains of Minami-Aizu with heavy snowfall, the brewery draws well water protected by virgin forest for brewing. The soft water quality derived from snowmelt water supports an elegant and gentle mouthfeel.

Balance of aroma and flavor, and clean crispness

What the toji (master brewer) values most is "harmony between aroma and flavor" and "crispness after swallowing." Without leaning only on showiness, the brewery finely manages everything from brewing to storage — aiming for sake with a core that pairs well with food.

Award history at the Annual Japan Sake Awards and a presence leading Fukushima's sake brewing

With repeated gold medals at the Annual Japan Sake Awards and other competitions, Kokken is known as one of the most accomplished breweries in Fukushima Prefecture. The techniques and know-how cultivated have also contributed to raising the level of the entire prefecture.