ABOUT
Chiyonosono was founded in 1896.
Rice dealers in this fertile grain belt used the Kikuchi river and the Buzen Kaido road, a bustling highway in the Edo period.
The name Chiyonosono, Garden of Eternity, is based on an ancient term for the imperial family, Takenosono, Garden of Bamboo. With this name, we offer a prayer that the Imperial Family, and Japan with them, will prosper for all eternity.
About the Brewery
Business Name: Chiyonosono Sake Brewery INC.
Founded: 1896
Location: 1782 Yamaga, Yamaga City, Kumamoto Prefecture
Operating Capital: 56.5 million yen
Representative Director: Honda Masaharu
Businesses: Production and sales of sake, shochu, akazake, and other alcoholic beverages.
From the President
Thank you for your interest in Chiyonosono.
Our sake brewery was founded in 1896. That was when prosperous rice merchant Honda Kikuhachi began making sake. As a rice merchant, he took a particular interest in rice, which led him to breed a new variety for brewing, Kyushu Shinriki.
After World War 2, all the sake made in Japan was futsūshu, but here at Chiyonosono we pioneered a revival of junmai in 1968. After the first pressing, brewery workers celebrated the revival by passing around sake in a red sakazuki cup, also called a Shuhai, thus inspiring the name of our junmai series.
We have since continued to try new ventures, such as putting our daiginjō in 1,844 ml bottles corked like wine for a new style of matured premium sake.
Customer tastes change, but at Chiyonosono, we continue to offer sake brewed our way: with flavor that excites and enriches..
Personally, I feel it important to contribute to greater creativity in drinking and food culture, and so plan to spend day and night in research and development. I hope that you will continue to join us on this journey!
Honda Masaharu
President
Chiyonosono's Journey
1896 Rice merchant Honda Kikuhachi begins making sake under the label Seiryu.
1934 After the founder's passing, Honda Katsutarō the first assumes role as owner/president.
1944 Business curtailment leads to merger with Yoshida Shuzōjō and Nishimuta Shuzōjō, forming Honda Shuzōjō, Y.K.
1945 Honda Katsutarō the first is succeeded as owner/president by Honda Katsutarō the second (former chairman).
1956 General liquor wholesaler Yamada Shōten, Y.K. is founded.
1960 Company is reorganized as Chiyonosono Shuzō, K.K.
1961 Installation of automatic kōji rice maker (Nagata model) and boiler (Nishikura model).
1962 Installation of automatic bottle washer.
1964 Installation of 36,000 liter mixing tanks.
1965 Construction of new product and materials storehouse (steel reinforced two story w/ slate roof).
1968 First shipment of Shuhai, first post-WW2 Junmai in Japan, and installation of automatic mash press.
1970 Installation of new boiler (east warehouse).
1973 Founding of Japan Junmaishu Association, with Honda Katsutarō as first executive secretary.
Construction of empty bottle storage, and parking lot (2,000 square meters). Installation of Sake (Chiyo-cup) Vending Machines.
1975 Installation of automatic bottle washer (Toyama model).
1982 Update of automatic mash press to new model.
1993 Merger of Chiyoda Kigyō K.K. with Yamakome K.K. into Chiyonosono Sake Brewery INC.
2000 Third generation owner/president Honda Katsutarō becomes chairman. Fourth generation owner Honda Masaharu succeeds as president.
Awards since 1989
1989 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
1990 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
1993 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2004 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2005 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2006 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2008 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2011 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2012 Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2012 Kuromatsu: Gold Award, Nurukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
Shuhai: Gold Award, Atsukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
2012 Excel: Gold, London Sake Challenge
2013 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2013 Ginjō Kumamoto Shinriki: Gold Award, Atsukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
2014 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2015 Gold Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2015 Excel: Grand Gold, The Fine Sake Awards Japan
2015 Shuhai: Gold Award, Atsukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
2016 Award Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2016 Excel: Gold, The Fine Sake Awards Japan
2016 Tokubetsu Honjōzō Sora: Gold Award, Nurukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
Junmai Daiginjō Tsukikasa: Gold Award, Premium Kanzake Division, Kan Sake Awards
Junmai Ginjō Kumamoto Shinriki: Gold Award, Premium Kanzake Division, Kan Sake A wards
2017 Prize, Annual Japan Sake Awards
2017 Excel: Gold, The Fine Sake Awards Japan
2017 Tokubetsu Honjōzō Chiyonosono Red Label: Grand Gold, Value Nurukan Division, Kan Sake Awards
Junmai Ginjō Shuhai Getsusen: Gold, Premium Kanzake Division, Kan Sake Awards
2017 Junmai Shuhai: Platinum, Junmai Division, Kura Master 2018
Junmai Ginjō Shuhai: Gold, Junmai Ginjō/Junmai Daiginjō Division
Junmai Ginjō Taito: Gold