By Kyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory
Kyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory
The
beginning
Matsui Shuzō is one of the very few sake breweries that remains in operation in Kyoto today. The history of the brewery began in 1726, during the Edo period, at Kasumi-chō in Hyōgo prefecture facing the Sea of Japan. After relocating to Takeyamachi at Kawaramachi in Kyoto, it was finally relocated to the currently location at Yoshida-Kawaramachi in Sakyō-ku at the end of the Taishō period.
Temporary
closure and revival
Sake production was forced to stop due to underground construction work in the neighbourhood during the latter half of Shōwa 40s (around 1970-1974). The brewery was relocated to Fushimi, where sake production resumed in cooperation with several other brewers. Matsui Shuzō’s Kamogawa Brewery was revived in 2009 and has been in operation since.
The brewery has been producing sake with the same unchanging spirit for 290 years since its establishment.
A corridor connecting to the sake brewery, The oldest sake brewery in Kyoto (2019-01) by Matsui Sake BreweryKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory
The oldest sake brewery in Kyoto
Hand-brewing
At Matsui Shuzō sake is being caringly brewed slowly in small amounts. This is because they believe the care given by the sake maker becomes part of the sake being created.
This is where the moromi (the main fermenting mash) process takes place. The faint sounds created by the fermentation can be hear. The sake maker listens to the sounds and observes the fermentation to determine the condition of the moromi. Such dedicated checks by the sake maker allows the sake to gain a more profound flavor.
Bottling, The oldest sake brewery in Kyoto (2019-01) by Matsui Sake BreweryKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory
Sake is bottled individually by hand using a mechanical valve.
Machine-brewing
The brewery is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities for quality improvement. Thorough temperature control by machine is vital for the enjoyment of freshly distilled sake taste.
Fine sake can only be produced within beautiful nature. To ensure sake brewing can continue in beautiful Kyoto, solar power generation has been adopted by the brewery to cover about 60% of the electricity required for sake brewing.
Sake
dedicated to temples and shrines
The brewery produces special sakes for orders from Rokuon-ji known for its Golden Pavilion and Jishō-ji known for its Silver Pavilion. It is also the purveyor of sake to many historical temples and shrines such as Shōkoku-ji, Yoshida Jinja, Kitano Tenmangū, Matsuo Taisha, and Iwashimizu Hachimangū.
Yoshida
Jinja
The brewery participates the Setsubun Festival with a stall at Yoshida Jina to help celebrate the traditional festival that has been continued since the Muromachi period (1336-1573). During the Karosai event participants enjoy sake around the fire to wish for health and safety.
Matsui Sake Brewery: Oldest sake brewery in Kyoto (2019-03-01) by Matsui Sake BreweryKyoto Women's University, Lifestyle Design Laboratory
Matsui
Shuzō’s sake
Kagura is a non-distilled, non-pasteurized and un-diluted sake produced at the Kamogawa brewery which was revived for production at the very location of the Matsui Shuzō’s establishment.
Kyō Chitose is a sake created with the wish that Kyoto, the ancient capital, would thrive eternally. It is popular among traditional restaurants in Kyoto. Fuji Chitose is a brand that has been continued since the brewery’s establishment. It was named with the wish that sacred Mt. Fuji would remain eternally.
The label design on Hakuginkaku ("the White Silver Pavilion") is the Ōehogyo-zu ("fishing on a great river") painting by Tomioka Tessai (1837-1924) in the Jishō-ji temple, also known as Ginkaku-ji (the temple with the silver pavilion). Kinkaku sanzen ("the Golden Pavilion Shining") is made for Rokuon-ji temple, famous for its golden pavilion. It is a luxurious clear sake containing pure gold leaf flakes.
The
brewery’s wishes
Tradition
and innovation
Matsui Jiemon, fifteenth generation, says that the brewery endeavours to deliver authentic tastes, as well as innovate and protect what has been passed down.
Supported by: Matsui Sake Brewery
Movie by: Kengo Takayama
Photography by: Dr. Shinya Maezaki
Text by: Sonoka Hashigami and Chinatsu Matsumoto
Translation by: Eddy Y.L. Chang
This exhibition was created by: Sonoka Hashigami and Chinatsu Matsumoto
Project Directors:
Dr. Shinya Maezaki, Associate Professor, Kyoto Women's University
