Nestled among the mountains of the Chūgoku Highlands, with the Chikusa River flowing gently through, this region is a rural mountainous area where life exists in harmony with nature. Blessed with pristine air and abundant water, it is truly a “sacred land for sake rice.”
It is here in Sayō Town that the cultivation of Hakutsuru Nishiki is being undertaken. Hakutsuru Nishiki is a rare rice variety sharing the same lineage as Yamadanishiki, developed in 2003 by the historic Nada-based brewery Hakutsuru Sake Brewing.
Compared to Yamadanishiki, it has a larger shinpaku (starch core) and shorter stalks, making it more resistant to lodging. With lower protein content, it tends to produce sake with greater depth and richness of flavor. It is highly regarded as a sake rice that achieves an exceptional balance between aroma and taste, combining elegance with delicate refinement.
Carefully polished to 45% and brewed with time and precision, this rice gives rise to Zaku “Naguwashi” Sayō Hakutsuru Nishiki 2022, classified as a Junmai Daiginjo.
Rice: Domestic rice
Rice polishing ratio: 45%
Alcohol content: 15%
