episode 4 Brewing Harmony, Living Culture
Where Myth, Craft, and Daily Joy Meet in a Drop of Sake
A sake that softens the air and opens the heart
Fermentation is a dialogue with nature.
Sake, at its best, creates a place—
a space where people feel at ease, where smiles begin to bloom.
At Ito Shuzo, each drop carries with it not just flavor,
but a quiet offering of culture and prayer.
We believe in the gentle power of sake—
its ability to soften silences and bring people together.
A force not only of taste,
but of presence.
The spirit of opening:
Inspired by Uzume and Sarutahiko
In our home of Mie Prefecture, ancient myths still breathe.
Our signature label “Uzume” is named after Ame-no-Uzume,
the goddess of laughter, performance, and joyful defiance.
In Japan’s oldest myth, when the sun goddess hid herself away,
it was Uzume who danced boldly before the sealed cave,
making the gods laugh—until light returned to the world.
Her story is the essence of what we aim to craft:
a sake that opens the room, eases the spirit, and creates new harmony.
A sake that guides with grace
Alongside Uzume stands another revered figure—
Sarutahiko-no-Okami,
a deity known for opening the path forward.
A guardian of new journeys,
Sarutahiko appears at beginnings and turning points,
guiding people in the right direction.
We aspire for our sake to do the same—
to accompany moments of change,
to quietly illuminate times of uncertainty,
to become a companion in life’s transitions.
Handcrafted in small batches,
each bottle a vessel of culture
Our sake is made entirely by hand,
in small volumes—often just a few hundred bottles per year.
Each drop is part of a larger story.
A quiet memory waiting to be formed.
A cultural artifact meant to be felt, not just consumed.
Whether shared at the table, offered as a gift,
or opened in celebration,
our sake exists for those grateful moments when hearts meet.
To play, sincerely
Our work as a brewery of culture
is not bound only by tradition.
We believe in the quiet power of play.
Of delight.
Of simple joy.
Playfulness, when sincere,
can connect people just as deeply as reverence.
That’s why we create sake that surprises and celebrates:
- Dessert-like sake with vibrant sweetness and gentle acidity
- Sparkling AWASAKE with elegant effervescence
- Collaborations with local artisans and rare regional ingredients
Every experiment is born from sincerity,
crafted not just for novelty—
but to accompany celebration, generosity, and shared time.
A brewery where earth and myth converge
The gods of Uzume and Sarutahiko reside here,
in the spirit of this land.
And so do we.
Our sake is an offering—
not only of craft, but of story.
It is made with the blessings of Mie Prefecture—
its water, its rice, its culture—
and with the timeless will to open hearts,
soften spaces,
and connect people with grace.
May our sake,
like the gods who inspired it,
continue to open new paths and bring harmony wherever it is shared.