Welcome to Kawashima Sake Brewery

Our main bland is " Matsu no Hana "
It means "blossom of Pine tree"

since 1865


83 Asahi Shinasai-cho Takashima-shi, Siga , 520-1501 Japan
e-mail:info@ matsu87.jp
English site http://www.matsu87.jp/en/
Japanese site http://www.matsu87.jp/




Environments
Kawashima Sake Brewery, the home of the renowned Matsu no Hana brand of sakes, is located in the middle of the fertile "rice basket" area along the Adogawa river, west of Biwako, the largest freshwater lake in Japan that stretches to the north of the ancient capital of Kyoto. The area has been known for its quality of rice since as far back as we can trace the history, due in part to the limpid water flown from the massive Hira Mountains that form the backdrop to our beloved land. The long and harsh winter berried in deep snow, the joyous spring flying with multitudes of colorful flowers, and the gorgeous summer bustling with bright green leaves all culminate in the golden fall when the heavily drooping ears of rice are harvested. The Matsu no Hana brand of sakes are borne by the underflow water from the Hira mountains, and are cradled by the bounteous power of the nature that provide us with the miracle of the four seasons.

The area has also been known as Land of Living Water since ancient times, a name coined because of its rich association with rivers and canals, the lifestyle nourished from which is aptly called the Riverside Culture. This unique lifestyle has come to be well known through exposures in various mass media programs, attracting many people from every corner of the country who want to experience the charm of the life in the water land.



History of Matsu no Hana
The Kawashima Sake Brewery was founded by our first master, Mr. Yanosuke Kawashima in 1865, just a few years before the Shogunate Government of Edo, the last age of the samurais, returned power to the Emperor of Meiji, marking the first milestone in the history of the modern Japan. When Yanosuke decided to build the first brewery, he had to sacrifice an aged pine tree to level the ground, for which he felt deep sorrow even though he had no other choice at the time. To commemorate the tree, he named his sake Matsu no Hana, literally the pine blossoms.

Since then, we have pursued the quintessence of sakes for 150 uncompromising years. The rich fullness, the smooth passage, the incomparably mellow yet deep aroma, and the gentle but in every way gratifying taste make every sip of the Matsu no Hana sakes an unforgettable experience.

We continue to build on the belief of our succession of brew masters that the sake of supreme quality must have both pristinity and finesse in its character, with which we will guide our art for many more generations to come.

Sake in the world
Once a best kept secret shared only among the residents of and the old hands at Japan, sake is gaining popularity outside the archipelago along with the growing appreciation for the Japanese cuisine. While sake is a natural and indispensable companion to the Japanese food, it has been, since prehistoric Japan, playing the role of Nectar with not just the physical but also the sociopsychological healing properties that melt ill feelings and help people share the joy of cheerful gatherings. Sake is indeed the Head of Hundred Medicines, a name given to sake for the universal goodness it has provides us.

Today, sake is no longer limited to be a companion to the Japanese cuisine but many people choose sake to enhance the enjoyment of other cuisines coming from various parts of the world. This is because sake has, despite the fact it is created with the seemingly simple ingredients of rice and water, a bewildering variety of tastes and aromas, in addition to the fact it drastically changes its expression of characteristics depending on at what temperature it is served, i.e., hot, warm, lukewarm, room temperature, or chilled.

We at Kawashima Sake Brewery, Ltd. are confident that the Matsu no Hana sakes, being among the finest sakes in Japan, will bring you unforgettable experiences with the first sips, and you will find yourself adding Matsu no Hana to your list of lifetime companions.






Awards
In additions to a myriad of domestic awards including the coveted Gold Medal from the Sake Contest sponsored by the Japanese National Tax Administration Agency, the DAIGINJO among the Matsu no Hana sakes was awarded the Gold in the 2002 Monde Selection, the most widely recognized international institute for selecting the food and beverage of the highest quality from among the world.
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