Toko Dewanosato Junmai Ginjo Genshu is a Japanese sake produced by Kojima Sohonten, a historic sake brewery in Yonezawa City, Yamagata Prefecture. Made with 100% Dewanosato sake rice grown in Yamagata, this unpasteurized and undiluted junmai ginjo offers a rich, fruity aroma and a full-bodied umami flavor.
The sake has also been selected for Yamagata Selection, a program that recognizes outstanding products according to Yamagata Prefecture’s own strict standards. Introduced as one of the “Treasures of Yamagata,” it has helped showcase the prefecture’s high-quality food and beverage culture both in Japan and overseas.
Its soft, generous flavor is balanced by the clean finish characteristic of junmai ginjo sake, making it an appealing choice for those who enjoy both rich aromas and a refreshing finish.
This sake is made entirely with Dewanosato, a sake rice variety grown in Yamagata Prefecture. The brewing process brings out the natural umami of the rice while creating an elegant, fruity aroma.
It has a rich yet gentle mouthfeel, followed by a full-bodied savory flavor and a pleasant, clean finish. It is well suited not only to those who enjoy savoring sake slowly, but also to anyone looking for a fragrant and aromatic Japanese sake.
Toko Dewanosato Junmai Ginjo Genshu has met the prefecture’s own “Yamagata Standards” and has been recognized as a product of Yamagata Selection, a program that identifies exceptional products as “Treasures of Yamagata.”
The program highlights products that embody Yamagata through their use of local ingredients, traditional and specialized techniques, and high standards of quality. Through Yamagata Selection, the prefecture has promoted the appeal of its regional products throughout Japan and around the world.
Toko Dewanosato Junmai Ginjo Genshu has received recognition at international sake competitions, including the 2010 U.S. National Sake Appraisal and the International Sake Challenge 2010. It is one of the Yamagata sake products that has attracted attention from sake enthusiasts outside Japan as well.
The sake was also featured in “30 Japanese Sakes You Should Try at Least Once”, a book published by Takeshobo, where its rich and expressive aroma was highlighted.
Kojima Sohonten, the brewery behind Toko, is one of the historic sake producers of Yonezawa City. The brewery is believed to have been founded in 1597, during the early Edo period, and served as an official sake supplier to the Uesugi family, the lords of the Yonezawa domain.
During the Edo period, when authorities occasionally imposed bans on alcohol consumption and brewing, Kojima Sohonten was reportedly one of the relatively few breweries permitted to continue producing sake. The tradition of brewing has been passed down through the generations, and the brewery has continued for more than 420 years and through 24 generations.
Yonezawa is a snowy region blessed with abundant water and high-quality rice. Kojima Sohonten has developed its long-standing brewing tradition by making use of this natural environment.
The Toko brand itself represents the local climate and brewing heritage of Yonezawa, carrying the region’s sake culture into the present day.
For visitors who want to learn more about Kojima Sohonten and its brewing traditions, a visit to the brewery’s Toko Sake Brewery Museum is highly recommended. The museum provides an opportunity to see a traditional sake brewery and displays tools and equipment that were historically used in the sake-making process.
Visitors can also enjoy sake tasting and browse the brewery’s directly operated shop, where a variety of Toko products are available to sample and purchase. It is a great place to discover Yonezawa’s sake-making history and culture while finding a bottle that suits your taste.
Toko Dewanosato Junmai Ginjo Genshu is a Japanese sake that captures the character of Yamagata’s locally grown rice and Yonezawa’s long sake-brewing tradition. Its fragrant and fruity aroma, soft mouthfeel, full-bodied umami, and clean finish are among its defining qualities.
When visiting Yonezawa, consider stopping by the Toko Sake Brewery Museum to learn about the long history of Kojima Sohonten. Through sake tasting and shopping at the brewery’s direct store, visitors can experience the sake culture of Yamagata in a more personal and enjoyable way.