All about seto shuzo

Our philosophy

Spreading the Joy of Saké

Saké and the fermentation essential to its brewing symbolize a rich culture of food with intricate links to regional climate and geography. Seto Shuzo-Ten is dedicated to exploring the allure of saké and fermentation and by crafting and promoting it both domestically and globally, we aim to become a symbol of our hometown, Kaisei-machi, and invigorate our area.

Saké may be an age-old traditional culture in Japan, yet its potential remains vast. While respecting tradition, by taking an unbounded, free-thinking approach we seek to discover new delights, ways to enjoy, and richness in this timeless drink. By sharing our discoveries, we aspire to further develop the culture of saké, thereby enriching cuisine around the world.

The ingredients of saké, rice and water, are inextricably part of the beautiful landscape that is one of Kaisei-machi’s charms. Our collaboration with local farmers to promote rice cultivation helps preserve the timeless pastoral scenery of our region. Additionally, by producing saké that values and utilizes local water sources, we hope to heighten local residents’ love for and appreciation of nature. Seto Shuzo-Ten believes that it is through saké brewing that we can create and maintain our town's beautiful landscape.

Our history

Past, Present, and Future

1865: Founding

Founded in 1865, Seto Shuzo-Ten is a saké brewery located in Kaisei-machi, Kanagawa Prefecture. Kaisei-machi is situated on the Ashigara Plain, with flat land and abundant water sources making it perfect for rice cultivation. Indeed, most of this area was once occupied by rice paddies. In particular, the area around the brewery was once a thriving center for saké rice cultivation, giving it the name "Sakata" or “Saké Field” Village.

Seto Shuzo-Ten prospered, with its flagship "Sakata Nishiki" brew gaining popularity. At its peak, the brewery produced 600 koku (approximately 100,000 liters) of saké. However, due to challenges in securing a chief brewer and other workers, in-house brewing was suspended in 1980.

2018: A New Beginning

Inspired by Kaisei-machi’s charm, the decision was made to put the local clean, delicious water to use and revitalize the brewery town. Coming a full 38 years after brewing had ceased, this was truly starting over from scratch. The old brewery building was demolished, and a new one built in its place. We were also fortunate to find a wonderful chief brewer. Now came the critical task of brewing–but what kind of saké to brew? We identified three guiding principles to help answer this question: Tradition, Innovation, and the Spirit of Kaisei-machi.

Tradition
Seto Shuzo-Ten’s saké-making history had been interrupted. To reconnect with that history, yeast still living in the old brewery was gathered and dubbed "Sakata Nishiki." The revival of this former flagship brand signifies Seto Shuzo-Ten’s respect for tradition.

Lineup of “Sakata Nishiki” ▶︎

Innovation
To truly unlock saké’s potential, it should be enjoyed in even more diverse ways. This thinking led to the "Setoichi" series, a lineup of 16 brands born from our Chief Brewer’s creativity. Each has its own distinct personality and label design – just looking at them is a delight. This delight embodies the potential of saké.

Lineup of “Setoichi” ▶︎

The Spirit of Kaisei-machi
Kaisei-machi is famous for its hydrangea festival which brings many visitors to see the town’s official flower blooming in our countryside. Yeast derived from the hydrangeas has resulted in a saké with a fresh and clean taste, evocative of the town's spirit: the "Ashigari Go" series. Despite being a small brewery, Seto Shuzo-Ten offers a diverse range of brews. Come ponder over which you should try–that’s part of the joy of saké.

Lineup of “Ashigari Go” ▶︎

Go Forth Into the World, Drunkenly

While it wasn’t always smooth sailing, word about our little brewery’s saké began to spread little by little. Along the way, as we faced challenge after challenge, we settled on a slogan: “Go forth, drunkenly!” It’s our way of reminding ourselves that it’s okay if we don’t arrive at the right answer by the straightest possible path. Sometimes it takes a little buzz, a mindset that’s just a little off-kilter, a willingness to face challenges without being bound to convention.

Once we were confident in our saké, we began to dream. What if saké were elevated to the same rarified heights as wine? Wine is drunk all over the world. In contrast, global consumption of saké is only a few percent that of wine. Although interest in saké has been growing overseas in recent years, it's still relatively niche. The world is yet to truly discover saké.

One of the distinct characteristics of saké is its ability to complement and enhance the flavors of food. Pure-rice ginjo saké, in particular, pairs exceptionally well with a variety of dishes. But in a world filled with unique cuisines, to truly complement every one requires more than just one or two varieties of saké. That’s why we brew a diverse array of pure-rice ginjo saké, enough to pair with dishes from all over the world.

We want people worldwide to enjoy our saké, and we hope you find that one bottle that perfectly complements your favorite dish.

All about seto shuzo

Spreading the Joy of Saké

Past, Present, and Future

Go Forth Into the World, Drunkenly

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