The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Niwa no Uguisu
No.129 · Brewery Profile
Niwa no Uguisu庭のうぐいす · Yamaguchi Shuzojo 山口酒造場
Yamaguchi Shuzojo has brewed in the Chikugo region of Fukuoka since 1832, when the sixth-generation head secured a brewing license from the Arima domain. The name recalls a nightingale said to have visited the family’s garden well, drinking water pure enough to honor the neighboring Kitano Tenmangu shrine — and today over 90 percent of the kura’s output is junmai-or-above, brewed and sold from a roughly 260-year-old former family house.
Who makes Niwa no Uguisu?
Yamaguchi Shuzojo has brewed in Fukuoka’s Chikugo region since 1832, when the sixth-generation head secured a brewing license from the Arima domain. The brand name recalls a nightingale said to visit the family’s garden well, its water pure enough to honor the neighboring Kitano Tenmangu shrine. Today the kura still operates from a roughly 260-year-old former family house.
What does Niwa no Uguisu taste like?
Tagged Elegant & Refined, and true to that description over 90 percent of the kura’s output is junmai-or-above. The standard Junmai Ginjo rates a moderate 3/5 on aromatics, while the premium nine Junmai Daiginjo 35, made with locally grown Yamada Nishiki, pushes to 4/5 aromatic for a more fragrant gift-tier expression.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Tokubetsu Junmai, described as the brewery’s core tokubetsu junmai and its central everyday release, before moving up to the more aromatic, locally sourced nine Junmai Daiginjo 35.
How does Niwa no Uguisu compare to other Fukuoka breweries?
Fukuoka is also home to Tanaka 65, tagged Rich & Umami and Elegant & Refined, and Mii no Kotobuki, tagged Dry & Crisp for its bone-dry, +14 nihonshu-do releases. Niwa no Uguisu shares the Elegant & Refined thread with Tanaka 65 but stands apart from Mii no Kotobuki’s austere dryness.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Niwa no Uguisu mean?
It recalls a nightingale (uguisu) said to have visited the family’s garden (niwa) well, whose water was pure enough to honor the neighboring Kitano Tenmangu shrine.
How much of Niwa no Uguisu’s output is junmai grade?
Over 90 percent of the kura’s output is junmai or above.
How many bottles does Niwa no Uguisu make?
Three on this page: a standard Junmai Ginjo, a Tokubetsu Junmai, and the premium nine Junmai Daiginjo 35 made with Kyushu-grown Yamada Nishiki.
The bottles
Junmai Ginjo純米吟醸
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Standard-lineup junmai ginjo.”
Tokubetsu Junmai特別純米
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Core tokubetsu junmai.”
nine Junmai Daiginjo 35nine 純米大吟醸 35
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“Top-tier gift bottle using 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: niwanouguisu.com · tanoshiiosake.jp