Miyasaka Brewing Co. | 宮坂醸造

Miyasaka Brewing traces its roots back to 1662 in Suwa, Nagano Prefecture. The area is known for its pure water from the Japanese Alps, which plays a crucial role in sake production. The Miyasaka family, who had a background in the local samurai class, founded the brewery to capitalize on the region's ideal conditions for sake brewing. From the beginning, their goal was to produce high-quality sake, and the brewery became known for its craftsmanship.

The brewery's signature brand, Masumi (真澄), was named after the Masumi Mirror, a famous national treasure housed at the Suwa Taisha, a nearby Shinto shrine. The name reflects clarity and purity, qualities that the brewery aimed to imbue in their sake.

One of the most significant moments in the history of Miyasaka Brewing came in 1946, a discovery that would change not just their fortune but the entire sake industry. During a national sake competition, the toji (master brewer) at Miyasaka Brewing produced a sake that was notably vibrant, fragrant, and well-balanced. Upon investigation, it was found that a unique yeast strain was responsible for this exceptional sake. This yeast, now known as Kyokai Yeast No. 7, was isolated by the Brewing Society of Japan and distributed to sake breweries across the country.