The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Bukou Masamune
No.107 · Brewery Profile
Bukou Masamune武甲正宗 · Bukou Shuzo 武甲酒造
Bukou Shuzo has brewed in the Chichibu valley since 1753, in a storefront building — one of the valley’s oldest surviving shop structures — now registered as a national tangible cultural property. Named for nearby Mt. Bukou and its designated ‘Famous Water,’ the brand has picked up gold prizes at Japan’s National New Sake Appraisal across several recent years, brewing everything from an unfiltered genshu to a limited-edition daiginjo.
Who makes Bukou Masamune?
Bukou Shuzo, founded in 1753 in the Chichibu valley, Saitama. Its storefront building is one of the valley’s oldest surviving shop structures, now registered as a national tangible cultural property. The brand takes its name from nearby Mt. Bukou and the mountain’s designated “Famous Water,” used in brewing.
What does Bukou Masamune taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined and Dry & Crisp, the range runs from the aromatic Junmai Daiginjo Ginrei (3/5) to the rounder, unfiltered Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Genshu (rich 3/5, acidity 3/5) down to a light, standard-grade Honjozo. The brewery has picked up gold prizes at the National New Sake Appraisal across several recent years.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Honjozo, explicitly the brewery’s standard-grade everyday sake, before working up to the richer unfiltered Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Genshu and the limited-edition Junmai Daiginjo Ginrei.
How does Bukou Masamune compare to other Saitama breweries?
Bukou Masamune shares its Elegant & Refined, Dry & Crisp profile with prefecture-mate Igarashi, while Shinkame occupies more Rich & Umami territory within Saitama’s range.
Frequently asked questions
What does the brand name Bukou Masamune reference?
It’s named for nearby Mt. Bukou and the mountain’s designated “Famous Water,” used in brewing.
Is Bukou Shuzo’s building historic?
Yes — its storefront is one of the Chichibu valley’s oldest surviving shop structures, registered as a national tangible cultural property.
How many bottles does Bukou Masamune make on this page?
Three: Junmai Daiginjo Ginrei, Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Genshu, and Honjozo.
The bottles
Junmai Daiginjo Ginrei純米大吟醸 吟嶺
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Limited-edition brewing.”
Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Genshu特別純米酒 無濾過原酒
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Unfiltered, undiluted genshu.”
Honjozo本醸造
爽酒 Soshu · Light & Smooth“Standard-grade everyday sake.”
Reading the bars: an editorial flavor reading (0–5) of each bottle — Dry→Rich, Light→Full, Subtle→Aromatic, Low→High acidity — not laboratory values. The colored badge is the SSI four-type classification (薫酒 Kunshu · 爽酒 Soshu · 醇酒 Junshu · 熟酒 Jukushu). SMV and acidity appear only where the brewery publishes them.
Sources: ja.wikipedia.org · bukou.co.jp