Sake Brewing in Tsuchizaki
The Naba Shōten sake brewery makes flavorful sake that holds its own against the strong flavors of the local cuisine. The brewery’s most popular brand is called Ginrin, or “silver scales,” a name taken from the lyrics of a traditional folk tune sung by fishermen. Naba Shōten’s sake can be purchased at liquor stores in Tsuchizaki and around Akita Station.
The brewery grew out of an early brewing facility founded in 1807 by a merchant named Naba Sukenari (1772–1837) when he was ordered to brew sake on behalf of the local government. His descendants turned the family business into an independent enterprise in 1871. When the current building was completed in 1928, it was the only brewery in northeastern Japan to be built from reinforced concrete. It was designed by Hanaoka Masatsune (1883–1953), who is known as the father of sake brewing in Akita for developing a method of fermenting rice at low temperatures over a prolonged period.