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Onda Shuzo

Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture

Brewery Story

Founded in 1875 in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, Onda Shuzo has spent 150 years producing sake that celebrates the power and character of rice.

While preserving the traditions passed down through generations, the brewery has embraced complete control over its ingredients by cultivating its own Ipponjime sake rice and milling it in-house. From rice cultivation to the finished bottle, Onda Shuzo oversees every stage of production.

As a small, family-run brewery, it combines meticulous craftsmanship with a pioneering spirit, producing distinctive sake under the Maizurutsuzumi label that expresses both the richness of the rice and the identity of its local region.

Brewing Philosophy and Production

Onda Shuzo is guided by the belief: "Trust the rice. Brew the sake."

Everything begins in the brewery's own rice fields, where Ipponjime sake rice is cultivated specifically for brewing. By controlling every stage, from growing and milling the rice through to fermentation and maturation, the brewery is able to preserve the integrity of its ingredients.

Alongside traditional brewing techniques, Onda Shuzo explores lower polishing ratios to reveal more of the rice's natural flavour and individuality. Every decision is made to showcase the inherent strength and complexity of the grain rather than masking it.

Style and Signature Expressions

Onda Shuzo produces sake with remarkable depth, structure and authenticity.

Built around the character of its estate-grown rice, the Maizurutsuzumi range delivers expressive rice flavour, layered umami and a richness that remains elegant and balanced. The brewery's small scale allows every batch to be crafted with exceptional precision, creating sake that combines traditional character with a contemporary sense of refinement.

This commitment to growing, brewing and refining everything in-house gives Onda Shuzo a distinctive identity within Niigata's renowned sake region.

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