”Yamamoto Honke” Tradition and Innovation

Sake Many People Love

”Hey dear, wanna have a glass of sake with me?” This was a phrase by popular comedian, Ban Junzaburo in 1962 from the TV commercial for ”sake” brand ”Shinsei” in 1962. Perhaps many readers were still not born. Shinsei was a ”sake” brand popular long before the hit of the commercial. Japanese artist Tomioka Tessai, active from the Meiji to Taisho eras was also a big fan. The 8th generation of Yamamoto Honke had been a man of refined tastes and had many correspondences with many artists of the times, Tomioka Tessai being one of them. His calligraphy print is still used on the label of the sake, taken from a card he sent as a wedding gift for the 9th generation.

Incorporating Innovative Techniques

It is a long-established firm, yet is always on the pursuit for innovative ideas. One that is worth noting is the incorporation of bio-technology for the preparation of pure yeast in 1966. This is an innovative technique of creating unrefined ”sake” without the usage of ”sake” yeast, which has been authorized by the Japan Society of Biotechnology and has been awarded the ”Eda” award, which is the most prominent award for the brewery industry. The popular ”Genbei San no Onikoroshi” is a ”sake” brand made with this technique, and is ”sake” with a refreshing taste. The leading brand of ”sake” of current Yamamoto Honke is the ”Matsuno Midori”, which is a dedicated brand to the Urasenke tea. Yamamoto Honke also runs the izakaya ”Tori sei” that is listed as one of the gourmet spots of Fushimi. Everything is for ”sake” to be enjoyed to the fullest. They do not take their long history for granted, and on the contrary challenge themselves to the new, and enjoy transformation. Perhaps that is the reason for its popularity.

ACCESS

Yamamoto Honke Co., Ltd.: 36-1 Aburakakecho, Fushimi-ku, Kyoto; URL http://www.yamamotohonke.jp/