The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Kunizakari
No.96 · Brewery Profile
Kunizakari國盛 · Nakano Sake Brewery 中埜酒造
Nakano Sake Brewery has made Kunizakari in the port town of Handa, on Aichi’s Chita Peninsula, since 1844 — a name chosen to express a wish for the nation’s prosperity. Handa’s long history of sake and vinegar brewing (it’s also home to the Mizkan group) is kept alive at the brewery’s own Kunizakari Sake Culture Museum, housed in a preserved historic storehouse alongside the modern kura.
Who makes Kunizakari?
Nakano Sake Brewery has made Kunizakari in the port town of Handa, on Aichi’s Chita Peninsula, since 1844, a name chosen to express a wish for the nation’s prosperity. Handa’s long history of sake and vinegar brewing is kept alive at the brewery’s own Kunizakari Sake Culture Museum, housed in a preserved historic storehouse alongside the modern kura.
What does Kunizakari taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined and Dry & Crisp, the range is entirely kunshu (fragrant) and junshu (rich) in SSI terms. The flagship Chotokusen Junmai Daiginjo Nakano won gold at the 2017 National New Sake Appraisal; the Chotokusen Daiginjo is described by the brewery as fragrant and mellow; the Tokusen Junmai Ginjo Handago, named for the Handa locality, is built for food pairing.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Chotokusen Junmai Daiginjo Nakano, the flagship premium bottling that won gold at the 2017 National New Sake Appraisal.
How does Kunizakari compare to other Aichi breweries?
Kunizakari’s Elegant & Refined tag matches both Aichi prefecture-mates, Kamoshibito Kuheiji and Houraisen, but its Dry & Crisp side sets it apart — Kamoshibito Kuheiji instead pairs its elegance with an Acidity-driven edge, while Houraisen carries Elegant & Refined alone.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Kunizakari express?
A wish for the nation’s prosperity, the meaning behind the name chosen in 1844.
What else is Handa known for besides sake?
A long history of vinegar brewing — it’s also home to the Mizkan group.
Where can you learn about Kunizakari’s history?
At the brewery’s own Kunizakari Sake Culture Museum, housed in a preserved historic storehouse next to the modern kura.
The bottles
Chotokusen Junmai Daiginjo Nakano超特撰 純米大吟醸 中埜
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Flagship premium bottling; won gold at the 2017 National New Sake Appraisal.”
Chotokusen Daiginjo超特撰 大吟醸
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Top-tier daiginjo described by the brewery as fragrant and mellow.”
Tokusen Junmai Ginjo Handago特撰 純米吟醸 半田郷
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Named for the Handa locality; food-friendly junmai ginjo.”
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: nakanoshuzou.jp · ja.wikipedia.org