Brewery History
Yamanokotobuki Sake Brewery was founded in Kitano, Mii County (present day Kurume City, Fukuoka) in 1818. The Kurume feudal domain that it was a part of was rich in rice resources but not well off financially. The founder of Yamanokotobuki decided to begin his sake brewing industry under these circumstances, using locally grown rice and the subterranean waters of the Chikugo River.
In the past, the brewery primarily produced futsu-shu and only used the Yamanokotobuki brand for sake competitions, but 8th generation director Ikuyo Katayama had a vision to make all of their sake competition worthy. Since the adoption of that vision, the Yamanokotobuki name has been used upfront and the brewing process has been changed from the traditional toji based one to a team based style.
Regionality
Kurume City, where Yamanokotobuki Sake Brewery is located, has a population of 300,000 and is the third largest city in Fukuoka prefecture after Fukuoka City and Kita-kyushu. Flood control infrastructure has been constructed in the area since the 17th century, and continues to be built today. However, it is also a valuable source of water for brewing, and has historically been an important channel in the region, bringing wealth and trade to the area.
Yamanokotobuki does not grow their own rice but they have collaborated with contracted rice grower to deliver the tastes of different sake rice variety, including omachi and yamada-nishiki grown by Fukushima Farm in Fukuoka.
