Aihara Shuzō
Ugo no Tsuki Tokubetsu Junmai Jūsanya
Alcoholic
Beverages
Ugo no Tsuki Tokubetsu Junmai Jūsanya is a sake produced by Aihara Shuzō in the city of Kure. It belongs to the tokubetsu junmai category and stands out for its lower alcohol content while retaining a full rice flavor and an elegant aroma.
It is made exclusively from Yamada Nishiki rice, rice kōji, and water, without added distilled alcohol. The rice is polished to 60% of its original grain weight, and the sake contains 13% alcohol. Through a distinctive production method, the brewery achieves a lighter character while preserving rice umami and the refined aromas associated with ginjō sake.
It features fruity aromas of white grapes, white peaches, and bananas, with a fresh palate that harmoniously balances umami and acidity. It is recommended served chilled, at approximately 5–15 °C, alongside fish and seafood tempura, shrimp salad, or carpaccio.
Producer
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.