Moriki Shuzo

Known since ancient times as the land of the ninja, Iga is also the town that is home to Moriki Shuzo in Mie Prefecture. Rumiko Moriki is the 4th Generation of her family to own the brewery. Along with her husband Hideki, they are not only the Kuramoto (owners) of this tiny brewery, but also the Toji (master brewers). Rumiko’s fame is in being known as the first female Toji/Kuramoto in Japan, achieving that distinction in 1998. She has inspired a generation of female sake enthusiasts, and there is even a popular series of manga (illustrated novels) written about her life as a brewer. Much of the sake made by Moriki is Kimoto or Yamahai style and utilizes ambient natural yeasts. Nearly all work in the Moriki Shuzo is done laboriously by hand, including growing their own rice using organic methods.