| Brand | Fuku Chitose |
| Region | Fukui, Hokuriku, Japan |
| Spirits Type | Sake |
| Spirits Style | Junmai Ginjo |
| ABV | 15.5% / Rice Polishing: 55% |
Product details
Founded in 1849 in Fukui City’s Momozono area—just 15 miles from the Sea of Japan—Tajima Brewery has spent over 170 years perfecting the art of yamahai brewing. While most breweries abandoned this slow, labor-intensive method in the early 1900s, Tajima never stopped, continuously refining it to create sake of remarkable depth and elegance. The yamahai technique takes around 30 days to complete—triple the time of the modern sokujo method—allowing natural lactic acid to develop, which imparts layered complexity and a rich, nuanced style. Under their beloved brand “Fuku Chitose” (“happiness forever”), symbolized by a lucky owl mascot, the brewery produces sake that harmonizes tradition with a timeless drinkability.
This Junmai Ginjo is often the first yamahai sake recommended to new drinkers—and also the one seasoned fans return to again and again. Subtle rather than flamboyant, it offers a comforting, food-friendly character that pairs effortlessly with a wide range of dishes without overpowering them. The nose reveals delicate notes of banana and toffee, leading to a smooth, fruity palate with hints of pear and lychee. Enjoy it chilled for a clean, refreshing profile, or gently warmed in winter for a fuller, rounder aroma and flavor. Balanced, approachable, and endlessly companionable—this is yamahai at its most welcoming.
