Label Photo Ginrin NABA SHOTEN CORPORATION 1-16-41 Tsuchizakiminatochuo,Akita-city,Akita,011-0946,Japan TEL.018-845-1260 FAX.018-846-7800 Email masuya78@cna.ne.jp URL http://jizakemonogatari.net/ Brewery History and Background: In 1815, our company was involved in selling products to the ruling feudal clan in Akita. A man named Naba Saburoemon Yusuke was ordered by the leader of the clan, Satake Yoshikazu, to make a experimental sake brewery. In 1928, under the direction of the first director of the Akita Prefecture Brewing Research Center, Mr. Masatsune Hanaoka, we built the first reinforced concrete sake warehouse in the Tohoku region, which is still in use today. Origins of the name: The name Ginrin is taken from an old folk song called Soran-bushi that was sung after particularly successful fishing expeditions. Chosen in 1935 in honor of the sake-loving fishermen as a prayer for happiness and good fishing, the words are akin to "The scales from the fish gleam as the seagulls swirl; the sun shines well on us today as we celebrate."

Label Photo Aramasa ARAMASA SYUZO CORPORATION 6-2-35,Omachi,Akita-city,Akita,010-0921,Japan TEL.018-823-6407 FAX.018-864-4407 Email info@aramasa.jp URL http://www.aramasa.jp/ Brewery History and Background: Founded in 1852, we have been brewing for over 150 years. Aramasa began brewing in the castle town of Kubota, in tomachi, where we still are today. Aramasa has won many awards in tasting competitions over the decades, and is leader among sake breweries in the region. Each of our presidents in succession takes the name Uhee. The current president is the seventh generation. Origins of the name: The name Aramasa comes from a phrase meaning "a new moral administration" used by the Meiji government. At first it was called Shinsei, which is the most common reading of the characters, but in the 1910's the name of the sake was changed to the alternative reading of the characters. We did well as a progressive company from the castle town of the Satake Clan, and it was the fifth generation president, Uhee Sato, that drew national attention with the name Aramasa.

Label Photo Yukinobiji AKITA JOZO CORPORATION 5-2 Narayamanoborimachi,Akita-city,Akita,010-0021,Japan TEL.018-832-2818 FAX.018-831-1345 Email t-koba@synap.ne.jp Brewery History and Background: When we were founded, we were one of the first breweries to be incorporated in the prefecture. At the request of the first chief of the Akita Prefecture Sake Brewing Research Center, Mr. Koichi Kobayashi came to work for us in 1947. Just after the war, there were great food shortages and things were hard for sake brewers. One year later, the present brewery was completed, and we finally could come to make fine sake. The traditional brewing methods practiced back then are still used by us today. Origins of the name: Kanto is the name of a festival, one of the three biggest festivals in the Tohoku region that people come from all over the country to see.

Label Photo Takashimizu AKITA SYURUI SEIZO CORPORATION 4-12 Kawamotomutsumimachi,Akita-city,Akita,010-0934,Japan TEL.018-864-7331 FAX.018-863-9379 URL http://www.takashimizu.co.jp Email info@takashimizu.co.jp Brewery History and Background: The company was formed in 1944 when 12 sake breweries in Akita City and the surrounding area formed one company together. In 1949 we moved to our current location, with its famous water source, a well that was used by the reigning feudal clan long ago. Although we brew with modern equipment, the belief of our brewers in the methods using proper hand-brewing techniques and in quality has been handed down over the years, and our motto is "Quality First." Origins of the name: The sake is named after a place on a hill that was established by the Yamato Court as a local seat of government. It is still a place of relaxation for the people of Akita City; it is also known for its excellent spring water.

Label Photo Akitabare AKITA SYUZO CORPORATION 23-28 Arayamotomachi,Akita-city,Akita,010-1631,Japan TEL.018-828-1311 FAX.018-828-1318 Brewery History and Background: Since founded in 1908 with a main brand "Kuni Banzai",except during world war ||,we continue to make sake,combining with the best of traditional hand-made techniques and sharp-sensitive modern technology and we now have a history of almost 90 years. Origins of the name: "Kuni Banzai" means a hurrah to our nation,named for celebrating a great victory over Russia. "Akitabare" means fine Akita,it was selected from 27,000 nominated names by publlo.The Label's design is a phoenix in connection with the year of the cock in the Japanese calender.