Chiyonosono

The brewery that makes Chiyonosono was founded in 1896, but the name Chiyonosono was first adopted in 1920. Before that, it was a rice wholesaler, and at that time even handled an old sake rice called Kyushu Shinriki (which they have recently revived). The brewery is located in Yamaga City in Kumamoto Prefecture, which is well known throughout the country for many ancient burial sites, especially the well-decorated sites known as Chibusankofun. It is also a well known hot spring resort location. They are comfortable and thriving in this perfect place for sake-brewing, with its wonderful water, protected by the magnificent natural environs near Mt. Aso.

Overall, this sake has a fairly unique and full flavor to it. The late Dr. Kinichirou Sakaguchi, an authority on fermentation known as "the sake professor," described this sake by saying "Usually sake can be classified as either heavy or light, but this sake conveys a subtle quality in which lightness comes out of heaviness." They have won many awards, both before and after the war, in various government sponsored contests. More recently, they have won gold awards in 1989, 1990, 1993, and 2004