Sake label from Kuribayashi Shuzo once located in Muroran (Collection of Muroran City Historical Museum)
| FEATURE ARTICLES | Winter is for Japanese sake, Hokkaido sake Sake label from Kuribayashi Shuzo once located in Muroran (Collection of Muroran City Historical Museum)
There are no longer any sake breweries in the port city of Muroran, but breweries were there in the past. Breweries were established based on demand from the many people moving to Hokkaido in the Meiji period, and Muroran was no exception.
According to the Muroran City Historical Museum, there were eight breweries in Muroran around the 1890s and five in the early Showa period (1926 – 1989).
These five breweries were Tsuda Shuzo, Kuribayashi Shuzo, Miya Shuzo, Tanaka Shuzo, and Kobayashi Shuzo. The largest of these was Kobayashi Shuzo, which would later merge with Kitanohomare Shuzo of Otaru and produced the sake brand Koran until the 1970s. Many people still remember this local brand.
Ceramic barrel used for Koran (left)
Around 1910, a number of steel mills opened in Muroran. The addition of steel to the city’s port and harbor industry spurred on greater demand for sake locally.
I visited the Tsuda Frame Store, located in Muroran’s oldest shopping arcade.
Tsuda Kazuaki, the owner of a studio making frames for paintings, is the fifth generation Tsuda from the founder of Tsuda Shuzo, which was one of these five breweries. The building where the studio and storehouse is located was formerly site of the brewery over 100 years ago. The exterior is made from brick while inside the ceilings are high and boards are used as beams to create a second floor. Apparently, the master brewer would sleep on the second floor during the preparations for brewing.
Tsuda Kiheiji, the founder of Tsuda Shuzo, was originally from Sendai and opened the brewery in 1888. The brewery’s main brand was Tokusen. Today, aprons and sake cups with the Tokusen name still remain.
Apron with the name Tokusen
Tsuda Kazuaki standing in front of the former brewery
Sakemoto Hisaya, who runs an old liquor store that first opened in 1911, is trying to restore locally made sake in Muroran. His store is famous for its love of Japanese sake.
The lineup of original sake at Sakemoto Liquor Store
Sakemoto initially didn’t like Japanese sake. However, he says, “The first time I tried junmai sake [without added alcohol or sugar], I was shocked at the truly delicious taste of Japanese sake.”
Sakemoto first learned about the old local sake brand Koran at a sake festival held in Muroran in 1987 to introduce junmai sake from throughout Japan. This led him to research the history of sake in Muroran and the following year he brewed Ran no mai. “This new Muroran sake draws out the flavor of the rice and features a crisp finish and rather dry taste.”
Ran no mai
Sakemoto is a Japanese sake expert
“I brewed Ran no mai around the time when Muroran lost its economic vitality. I felt like creating a brewery would lend a hand to restoring this lost economic vitality.” Sakemoto’s commitment to sake in Muroran represents his commitment to the city. This is because sake plays an important role in people’s lives and represents a shared memory of the community.
Muroran City Historical Museum 
2-4-25 Jinya-machi, Muroran City, Hokkaido, Japan
Tel.: 0143-59-4922
Admission: Free
Hours: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Closed: Sundays, national holidays, year-end and New Year’s holidays *Open daily during spring, summer and winter vacations
Tsuda Frame Store
2-8-11, Chuo-cho, Muroran City, Hokkaido, Japan
Tel.: 0143-22-1488
Hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm
Closed: Sundays and national holidays
Sakemoto Local Sake and Wine Store
2-13-7 Shukuzu-cho, Muroran City, Hokkaido, Japan
Tel.: 0143-27-1111
Hours: 9:00am – 7:30pm
Closed: Sundays
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