Founded in 1869 in Kōka Town, Kōka City, Shiga Prefecture—home of the famed Kōga ninja—this brewery has long crafted sake using locally grown rice and well water drawn from the Suzuka mountain range’s pure underground streams. Staying true to its founding philosophy of using local rice and water, the brewery launched the Ninja Terroir Series in recent years. This unique series features sake brewed with three types of Shiga-grown rice: Gin Fubuki, Tamae, and Miyama Nishiki. All other brewing parameters are intentionally kept the same to highlight the distinct characteristics of each rice variety. While preserving traditional techniques, the brewers pour their hearts and souls into each batch. Rather than aiming for flashy aromas, they focus on crafting sake that complements food—a true shokuchūshu (sake meant to be enjoyed during meals).