In 1832, when the head of the Uesugi clan first visited the Shonai area he was so amazed by the quality of the water that he recommended sake production to first generation Heishiro.
And so, in 1854, Heishiro began making sake. In the following year 1855, the visiting Daimyo of the Sounai Clan, Sakai Tadakatsu was presented with the sake and in return christened the brand "TATENOKAWA" (English Name: CASTLE BROOK). At the end of the Second World War, it is thought that were almost 7000 sake breweries.
This figure peaked in 1975 but has been on a steady decline ever since. Presently, as of 2014, there are only 1300 breweries that actually make sake.
They plan to make sake popular again by spreading sake culture and tradition throughout Japan and beyond.
As Japanese Cuisine becomes more and more popular throughout the world, so too does sake. Their goal is to make sake that appeals to and is recognized by people globally.
