Kankoubai Sake Brewery

Founded in 1854. The brewery is located along the Ise-Betsu Kaido Road (Tsu City, Mie Prefecture), which used to be frequented by travelers on their way to the Ise pilgrimage. As the name "Kankoubai" suggests, plum wine was the main product of the family. The current brewer, Mr. Masuda himself, said he never used to drink much of his own sake. However, in 2010, under the technical guidance of Keiichiro Katsuki, the former head brewer of "Azumaichi", who is revered as a teacher by many sake breweries, the buds of sake blossomed at once. It has become a top-ranked sake at the national SAKE COMPETITION, and at the Mie Prefecture's sake competition, and in March 2016 was on-list for JAL's international first-class lounges (Narita and Haneda). The brewery also invites Mie University students every year for an internship to experience sake brewing. New products incorporating their young sensibilities have been created, and the sake has now crossed oceans and is appreciated by overseas customers as well.