The spirit of "Shiho-wajo (brewing with the harmony of the four treasures)"

The three most important elements in sake-brewing are said to be "rice," "water" and "people," and you could add "Sado Island" to them as another element. MANOTSURU has coined the word "Shiho-wajo (brewing with the harmony of the four treasures)" and considers it the motto of MANOTSURU. The motto fits right in with the company crest "Yotsume (The Four Diamonds)." MANOTSURU always works in pursuit of brewing a "well-balanced sake," making the most of all these elements.
Sado Island is making efforts to conserve the natural environment and eco-system with an eye to releasing toki (Japanese crested ibises) into nature. An island that is friendly to toki is a safe island that is friendly to humans as well. MANOTSURU cultivates "Koshitanrei," a new rice strain suitable for sake-making, and a conventional strain "Gohyakumangoku" under contract with local farmers on Sado.
Hand in hand with "rice," "water" and "people" that have been grown on Sado, MANOTSURU keeps on brewing rice wine―MANOTSRU's sake with nature and tradition condensed in it―each day with the spirit of Shiho-wajo.

The traditional art of sake-brewing handed down from generation to generation

Obata Shuzo, established by its founder Mr. Yososaku Obata, started brewing sake in 1892. At present, young brewers are taking a leading role in "sochojikomi (early-morning sake-making) through "tomarikomi (living in the brewery)," the practice that has been done away with at most breweries for the purpose of rationalization in recent years.
MANOTSURU is a rare brewery where brewers work intently face to face with the living thing called "sake" and practice sochojikomi by means of traditional complete tomarikomi throughout the long brewing period. The efforts of the young brewers, who neither take a day off during the winter season nor make any compromises, have produced many varieties of MANOTSURU's high-quality sake.
"MANOTSURU Maho," won the gold medal in the Japanese sake division of "International Wine Challenge 2007," the world's greatest wine fair held in London. What is more, it has won the gold medal at National New Sake Competition for six consecutive years, which is the longest record in Niigata Prefecture. These are examples of the fact that MANOTSURU Maho is highly acclaimed.

The bounties of nature and sake-brewing

"Rice"
The farming family with whom MANOTSURU is under contract to cultivate "Koshitanrei" is the Aidas, who live in Niibo, the village of toki. The rice grown with organic fertilizer in the farming method in which oyster shells are used has been certified by Sado City as the rice of "Toki-to-kurasu Satozukuri (Building the countryside where people live with toki)," and its stable quality is highly acclaimed.

"Water"
The Mano district where MANOTSURU is located is known for the abundance and high quality of water compared with other parts of Sado Island. It has an old history of being prosperous as a provincial capital. MANOTSURU uses for brewing underground water that springs out of the ground.

"Nature"
Sado is surrounded on all sides by the beautiful sea whose water boasts of a high degree of transparency. In the north and south of Sado rise high mountains which provide abundant bounties of the mountains. In winter, the season for sake-brewing, the cloudy weather characteristic of the areas along the Sea of Japan makes the difference in temperature between day and night small with the temperature kept stable and rather low, which makes the environment ideal for sake-making.

This bountiful natural environment helps MANOTSURU produce sake of the noted MANOTSURU brand.

name of facility	MANOTSURU　/　Obata Shuzo Co., Ltd.
address	449 Mano-shinmachi, Sado City, Niigata Prefecture
TEL / FAX	0259-55-3171　/　0259-55-4215
website	http://www.obata-shuzo.com/en/
business hours	8:00 - 17:00
a regular holiday	no holidays throughout the year
a parking place, a parking lot	Parking place: available / Free of charge / 20 cars Large-size buses can be parked, too.
commodities that are dealt in (sold)	MANOTSURU, Japanese sake, refined sake, liqueur, confectionery and pickles
brewing visit	8:00 - 17:00 (the winter season / 9:00 - 16:00) No holidays throughout the year You can visit the brewery for information free of charge. ※Large groups are requested to make reservations in advance.
payment method	cash or credit card