The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Narutotai
No.126 · Brewery Profile
Narutotai鳴門鯛 · Honke Matsuura Shuzojo 本家松浦酒造場
Honke Matsuura Shuzojo, Tokushima’s oldest sake brewery, has worked since 1804 beside the Naruto Strait, whose ferocious tidal whirlpools give the surrounding waters some of Japan’s finest tai (sea bream) — and the brewery its name. A registered cultural-property storehouse still stands alongside a modern lineup that has picked up honors at the International Wine Challenge and Kura Master, including a 300-bottle daiginjo marking the kura’s 220th anniversary in 2024.
Who makes Narutotai?
Honke Matsuura Shuzojo, Tokushima’s oldest sake brewery, founded in 1804 beside the Naruto Strait. The strait’s ferocious tidal whirlpools give the surrounding waters some of Japan’s finest tai (sea bream) — and the brewery its name. A registered cultural-property storehouse still stands on site.
What does Narutotai taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined and Aromatic & Fruity, with honors at the International Wine Challenge and Kura Master. The limited Ten HEAVEN, a 300-bottle release marking the kura’s 220th anniversary in 2024, is the most aromatic bottle (4/5); the everyday-tier LED Junmai Ginjo uses 100% locally grown Awa-ichiba Yamada Nishiki.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the LED Junmai Ginjo, the everyday-tier bottling made with 100% locally grown Yamada Nishiki, before moving up to the Junmai Daiginjo Ju and the limited-edition Ten HEAVEN.
How does Narutotai compare to other Tokushima breweries?
Miyoshikiku is the only other Tokushima brewery in this index, tagged Aromatic & Fruity. Narutotai shares that aromatic character but pairs it with an Elegant & Refined side of its own.
Frequently asked questions
Why is Narutotai named for sea bream (tai)?
The Naruto Strait’s ferocious tidal whirlpools give the surrounding waters some of Japan’s finest tai, and the brewery takes its name from the fish.
What is the Ten HEAVEN bottling?
A limited release of just 300 bottles, made to mark the brewery’s 220th anniversary in 2024.
Is Honke Matsuura Shuzojo’s storehouse historic?
Yes — a registered cultural-property storehouse still stands at the brewery.
The bottles
Ten HEAVEN天 HEAVEN
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Limited 300-bottle release for the brewery’s 220th anniversary.”
Junmai Daiginjo Ju純米大吟醸 寿
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Sold in 720ml and 1800ml bottles.”
LED Junmai GinjoLED（レッド）純米吟醸
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Everyday-tier junmai ginjo using 100% locally grown Yamada Nishiki.”
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: narutotai.jp · kuraport.com