REGION: Yamagata

Sakata Shuzo was formed in 1946 when the five small breweries in the town of Sakata decided to merge together to pool resources and start distributing sake nationally instead of competing over the local market. The brewery has established a reputation as a leading producer in of premium grade sake.

In 1993 when Akitsuna Takagi took over his family brewery at the age of 21 he wasn’t setting out to change the sake world, but to develop distinctive sake of high quality.

Located in the northern port city of Sakata in Yamagata Prefecture, Tohoku Meijo has been making fine quality sake since 1893. Sakata is where the Mogami River meets the sea of Japan, bringing the excellent rice grown in Yamagata’s interior to port. They have been a major proponent of the labor intensive Kimoto style of sake that brings depth, richness and acidity to brewing.