Aihara Shuzō is a sake brewery in the Nigata area of Kure, Japan’s Hiroshima Prefecture, founded in 1875. It is best known for its Ugo no Tsuki brand, whose name means “moon after the rain” and comes from the essay collection Nature and Life by Roka Tokutomi.

A major turning point came in 1988, when Jun’ichirō Aihara took over management and shifted production toward high-quality ginjō sake. His approach centered on making sake he would personally enjoy drinking, with quality as the guiding principle.

The brewery uses groundwater from Mount Noro and seeks a clean, elegant taste through Ugo no Tsuki, reflecting the brightness and clarity of the moon after rainfall. Its range includes tokubetsu junmai, junmai ginjō, daiginjō, and junmai daiginjō sake, including releases made from different rice varieties.

Today, Aihara Shuzō sells its sake through a broad network of specialist retailers across Japan and its official online store. Its continued development focuses on improving quality and preserving the distinctive, clean, and elegant character of Ugo no Tsuki.