04 — Since 1858
Brewery
At the foot of the journey of rebirth
Chisan Chisho
TRUE TERROIR
Rice, water, people, spirit —
all one hundred percent local.
The Dewa Sanzan are sacred mountains of the “journey of rebirth”, a Japan Heritage site. At the foot of Mt. Haguro, Takenotsuyu has brewed since 1858, descended from Miyamoto-bo, a lodge of the Haguro yamabushi, carrying the memory of a land that has long made sake for the gods.
Our creed is TRUE TERROIR — Shindo Funi: brewing water and rice, and the soil and climate that shape them, can never be separated. We will keep brewing sake of this land, by hands of this land.
History & Awards
Our story so far
1858
Founded as Takenotsuyu, descended from Miyamoto-bo, a lodge for Haguro yamabushi pilgrims.
1988
The Haguro Sake Rice Research Group takes its current form as Miyama-nishiki becomes a Yamagata recommended variety.
2001–2010
Consecutive Gold Medals at the Japan Sake Awards, led by Dewasansan 39.
2016–2017
Miyama-nishiki 55 served in ANA International First & Business Class.
2023
Seventh consecutive Gold Medal at the Japan Sake Awards.
2024
Ultra Diamond wins GOLD at the Monaco Sake Award; Bono takes Platinum at the Milano Sake Challenge; Rashinban wins Gold at the Fine Sake Awards Japan.
2026
Dewasansan 39 wins Gold at the Fine Sake Awards Japan.
The Next Hundred Years
What we want to hand on
to the next century.
For us, sustainability means handing the next generation this region’s water, strata, rice and skills — intact. Paddy water and brewery water share one cycle.
Strata and watersheds we can keep drawing from
No over-extraction. In dry years, the community takes turns with the channels and shares the water.
Rice grown by people who know each other
Miyama-nishiki, Kairyo Shinko, Dewasansan. Younger growers are expanding, holding the group at 21 members and 81.6ha.
A brewer’s life the region can pass on
Shift work around the clock, commuting from nearby, and work built around home cooking.
As the Dewa Sanzan are a place of rebirth, we hope each cup of Takenotsuyu quietly sets the drinker’s day right again.
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