Torii gate on the coast of Iki Island, Nagasaki, home of Omoya Shuzo Brewery

Omoya Shuzo Brewery

重家酒造 横山蔵

Ishida-cho, Iki, Nagasaki

The brewer of “YOKOYAMA” — sake made to resonate with the world from the island of Iki.

Founded 1924
Brands YOKOYAMA
Toji Taizo Yokoyama
Website Omoya Shuzo Brewery

People

The people behind YOKOYAMA
Biography
At Yokoyama-gura the tanks are adjusted in 0.5°C increments and the sake is cooled to -5°C as soon as it is pressed. That control is what keeps YOKOYAMA fresh and juicy in the glass.
Taizo Yokoyama, President and Brewmaster

Taizo Yokoyama is both president and brewmaster of Omoya Shuzo. To bring sake brewing back to the brewery after 23 years, he trained under Sumikawa Brewery, the producer of TOYO BIJIN, working from early morning until late at night. He revived brewing with chairman Yuzo Yokoyama in 2013, and in 2018 opened Yokoyama-gura on a water source found after surveying more than 20 locations across Iki Island.

History

Brewer at work in the Yokoyama-gura brewery of Omoya Shuzo

Iki City in Nagasaki Prefecture is known for “Iki Shochu,” the first Japanese product to be granted Geographical Indication (GI) status by the World Trade Organization—alongside names like Bordeaux and Champagne. On this small island, there is a brewery aiming to create sake that will "resonate with the world from Iki." While originally producing both shochu and sake, the brewery ceased sake production in 1990 due to changing times. However, in 2013, after 23 years, sake brewing was revived thanks to the efforts of current chairman Mr. Yuzo Yokoyama and current president Mr. Taizo Yokoyama. To prepare for this revival, Taizo Yokoyama apprenticed under Sumikawa Brewery, the producer of "TOYO BIJIN," where he devoted long hours to training from early morning until late at night.

Mossy rocks and forest on Iki Island near the Yokoyama-gura water source

In 2018, after surveying over 20 locations across the island, they finally discovered an ideal water source. There, they built a new brewery, Yokoyama-gura. Though compact in size, the facility is equipped with cutting-edge technology, all focused on brewing high-quality sake. To ensure optimal hygiene, Plasmacluster air purifiers are installed throughout the brewery, along with thorough humidity control and regular cleaning to prevent mold. The brewing tanks allow temperature adjustments in 0.5°C increments, and the sake is quickly cooled to -5°C using advanced thermal tanks right after pressing—showing their strong commitment to quality control. Carrying the DNA of TOYO BIJIN but taking it even further, the resulting sake is fresh, juicy, and bursting with flavor.

Water flowing from a bronze dragon-shaped spout

The brand takes its name from the Yokoyama family, and the sake is brewed with underground water from Iki Island.