Let's talk about rice. When you look at the Japanese character for rice(米), you see the number 88(八十八). The reason, legend has it, is because in every grain you'll find 88 blessings from the gods.
Add to each grain the prayers of the farmers who grew it, and together with excellent water you have the vital ingredients for brewing sake. Kokuryu is a member of a nationwide brewer's association, Frontier Tojo 21, named for Hyogo Prefecture's famous Tojo rice-growing region. It is from Tojo that we get our "Designation A" Yamadanishiki rice.
Tojo's fields and farmers deserve every accolade they receive. Their superb Yamadanishiki rice, the best brewing rice of all, produces truly delicious sake. Frontier Tojo 21 works to give them recognition for their efforts.
Kokuryu sakes are brewed exclusively from sake-brewing rice varieties, chief among them Tojo Yamadanishiki and Fukui's own Gohyakumangoku rice. We carefully select and polish only the highest grades in our quest to brew the best sake. This is the essence of Kokuryu's brewing practice.
