Toyo Bijin Sake Junmai Ginjo 300ml

Toyo Bijin Junmai Ginjo — Yamaguchi Prefecture, Chugoku, Japan

Toyo Bijin — “Asian Beauty” — is one of Japan’s most evocatively named sakes, and the story behind it is as memorable as the sake itself. Sumikawa Brewing Company, based in Yamaguchi Prefecture in the Chugoku region of western Japan, was founded by a brewer who named his label in honor of his late wife — a tribute that has since become one of the most recognized and beloved sake brands in the country.

This Junmai Ginjo is brewed from Yamada Nishiki rice — the gold standard of sake rice — and fermented in the Ginjo style at low temperatures. But where many Ginjo sakes lean toward delicate and floral, Toyo Bijin takes a bolder path: this is a very dry sake, famously described as “strong enough to kill a devil.” Assertive, umami-rich, and deeply satisfying.

Clear and luminous in the glass. The nose opens with red apple and a fading whisper of nutmeg spice. On the palate it is full-flavored and bone dry, with a firm structure, pronounced umami, and a long, clean finish. Serve chilled.

• Brewery: Sumikawa Brewing Company, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Chugoku, Japan
• Style: Junmai Ginjo
• Rice: Yamada Nishiki
• Size: 300ml
• Tasting Notes: Red apple, nutmeg spice, pronounced umami, bone-dry finish
• Best Paired With: Yakitori, sashimi, aged cheeses, miso soup, oysters

Named for a beloved wife. Brewed with conviction. A sake bold enough to kill a devil — and elegant enough to honor her memory.