Mr Fujimoto, showing a fermenter
Fushimi, Kyoto Prefecture (Japan)
There are several distinct sake regions in Japan, and Kyoto is one of them. Most of the wineries of the area are located in the Fushimi sector, and actually Fushimi is said to produce some of the best sake of Japan thanks to a long tradition and excellent water quality. On the small surface of 2 square kilometers around here, there are 25 sake breweries (there were 41 breweries 40 years ago), and this southern district of Kyoto has made the whole region shine in the eyes of sake lovers. The Saito Shuzo brewery sits in this small town of Fushimi, on the outskirts of Kyoto, and it is now part of the wider Kyoto area.

Fushimi has been in the past on a strategic road where all

sort of goods would pass through, including rice. The area had also a very fine-quality spring water named Fusui and that was enough, along with an important population living nearby to motivate the setting up of sake breweries.
Like other quality sake breweries,
Saito Shuzo closes down during summer and the larger hot season, so all the work is done mostly in winter and early spring. Thanks to our friend Ayumi from Kyoto, we could visit the Saito Shuzo brewery, and the three of us walked from the Fushimi train station to the brewery (pictured on right).
We were offered to wait in a comfortable guest room, and after a while a discreet man came with three cups of tea and he left us for a couple of minutes. When he returned accompanied by another man to begin the interview, we discovered that this man was no less than the president of the brewery and the family heir of this old brewery. This is Japan, where humility and etiquette go on pair with excellence...
During several minutes, Saito-san explained to us how the brewery was founded, giving key dates and turning points in the long history of Saito Shuzo.
Picture on left : Mr Toru Saito, president, sitting on the right, with Mr Fujimoto (general director) at his side.
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