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H I D E Y O S H I
Suzuki Shuzoten – Founded 1689
Suzuki Shuzoten is one of the oldest continually operating sake houses in Japan, and one of Akita’s most
well known and respected breweries. Founded by Matsuemon Suzuki in 1689, the brewery has been run by
the Suzuki family for 19 generations.eir sake still bears the name Hideyoshi, given to them by a feudal
lord Satake. It is said that he tasted all of the sake in Akita and judged the sake of this brewery to be the
very best. Hide, “excellence,” and Yoshi, “goodness,” refer to the high quality of the brewery’s product, while
the combination of the two words form the name of the legendary feudal warlord Toyotomi Hideyoshi. For
over three centuries, Suzuki Shuzoten has strived to live up to the high standards set by the Hideyoshi name.
How has Suzuki Shuzoten been able to brew such premium sake generation after generation? The
answer begins with the sake rice they use, which is almost always of higher quality and milling than
is typical for the classification. This yields smoother sakes, with incredibly long finishes. Furthermore,
the brewery is committed to using only local Akita rice, imparting the deep, rustic flavors that make
their sakes so exceptionally food friendly. Add to that the skill and dedication of long-time toji