Urakasumi Sake: The Miyagi Brewery Behind Kyokai Yeast No. 12

The brewery describes Urakasumi Zen as gently fruity, fresh, and moderately savory. Zen is restrained rather than strongly perfumed, which makes it, in our view, an easy partner for sushi and grilled fish. Yet behind the bottle lies a remarkable piece of sake history. A technician at a Miyagi brewing laboratory isolated the strain later known as Kyokai Yeast No. 12 from Urakasumi’s ginjo mash. Urakasumi (浦霞) is made by Saura Co., Ltd., a Miyagi brewery founded in 1724. This guide covers which bottle to try first and how the main releases taste. It also explains why the yeast mattered and what to know before you visit the brewery’s sake gallery. TOCWhat Is Urakasumi Sake? Urakasumi is a sake brand made by Saura Co., Ltd. (株式会社佐浦) in Shiogama, Miyagi Prefecture. Founded in 1724, the brewery is especially important because Kyokai Yeast No. 12 was isolated from its ginjo mash around 1965. Today, its range includes the long-running flagship Urakasumi Zen and the modern No.12 series. Quick FactsBrandUrakasumi (浦霞)ProducerSaura Co., Ltd. (株式会社佐浦)LocationShiogama, Miyagi Prefecture, a Pacific port near Sendai in northeastern JapanFounded1724, during the Edo periodYeast linkKyokai Yeast No....