The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Katsukoma
No.136 · Brewery Profile
Katsukoma勝駒 · Seito Shuzojo 清都酒造場
Katsukoma is often called the smallest sake brewery in Toyama Prefecture, run by a team of roughly five people who deliberately keep the lineup to just five products rather than chase volume. Founder Kiyoto Keisuke named the brand ‘victory horse’ after returning home from the Russo-Japanese War in 1906, and the calligraphy on its label was hand-brushed by printmaker and novelist Ikeda Masuo, a personal fan of the sake. Scarcity and quiet discipline have since made Katsukoma one of Japan’s most sought-after regional labels.
Who makes Katsukoma?
Seito Shuzojo, founded in 1906, is often called the smallest sake brewery in Toyama Prefecture, run by a team of roughly five people who deliberately keep the lineup to just five products. Founder Kiyoto Keisuke named the brand “victory horse” after returning home from the Russo-Japanese War, and the label’s calligraphy was hand-brushed by printmaker and novelist Ikeda Masuo, a personal fan of the sake.
What does Katsukoma taste like?
Tagged Rich & Umami and Dry & Crisp. The Junmai Ginjo, brewed with Kanazawa yeast, rates a moderate 3/5 on both body and aromatics; the Junmai, made from Toyama-grown Gohyakumangoku rice and kept to a deliberately small annual output, is fuller and drier at 4/5 body with SMV +3.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Junmai Ginjo, brewed with Kanazawa yeast and described as representative of one of Toyama’s smallest kura, before trying the more limited-output standard Junmai.
How does Katsukoma compare to other Toyama breweries?
Toyama also lists Masuizumi, tagged Aromatic & Fruity and Elegant & Refined, and Tateyama, tagged Elegant & Refined and Rich & Umami. Katsukoma shares the Rich & Umami thread with Tateyama but adds a Dry & Crisp edge that sets it apart from both prefecture-mates.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Katsukoma mean?
“Victory horse,” chosen by founder Kiyoto Keisuke after returning home from the Russo-Japanese War in 1906.
Who did the calligraphy for the Katsukoma label?
Printmaker and novelist Ikeda Masuo, a personal fan of the sake.
How large is Katsukoma’s lineup?
The brewery deliberately keeps its lineup to just five products, run by a team of roughly five people.
The bottles
Junmai Ginjo純米吟醸
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Brewed with Kanazawa yeast, from one of Toyama’s smallest kura.”
Junmai純米酒
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Toyama-grown Gohyakumangoku rice, kept to a deliberately small annual output.”
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: sakeno.com · toyama-sake.or.jp