The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Shichihonyari
No.34 · Brewery Profile
Shichihonyari七本鎗 · Tomita Shuzo 冨田酒造
One of Shiga’s oldest breweries in Nagahama, its ‘Seven Spears’ name honors seven young warriors of the Battle of Shizugatake; the label characters were carved by the artist Rosanjin Kitaoji. Since 2010 it has used 100% pesticide-free rice.
Who makes Shichihonyari?
Tomita Shuzo, one of Shiga’s oldest breweries, based in Nagahama since 1534. The name “Seven Spears” honors seven young warriors of the Battle of Shizugatake, and the label characters were carved by the artist Rosanjin Kitaoji. Since 2010 the brewery has used 100% pesticide-free rice.
What does Shichihonyari taste like?
Tagged Rich & Umami, Shichihonyari’s two bottles both lean toward richness: the Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki is balanced at 3/5 across dryness-richness, body, and acidity, while the barely-milled Tamasakae Yamahai Junmai is more robust and savory, rating 4/5 on richness, body, and acidity.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki, listed first and described as “the top-grade junmai daiginjo,” before moving to the more robust, barely-milled Tamasakae Yamahai Junmai.
How does Shichihonyari compare to other Shiga breweries?
Shiga’s other listed brewery, Matsunotsukasa, is tagged Elegant & Refined and Aromatic & Fruity — a lighter, more fragrant style than Shichihonyari’s single Rich & Umami tag, which points toward a heavier, more savory profile.
Frequently asked questions
What does the Shichihonyari name commemorate?
The “Seven Spears,” seven young warriors of the Battle of Shizugatake.
Who carved the label characters?
The artist Rosanjin Kitaoji.
What rice practice has Shichihonyari followed since 2010?
It has used 100% pesticide-free rice.
The bottles
Junmai Daiginjo Yamada Nishiki純米大吟醸 山田錦
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“The top-grade junmai daiginjo.”
Tamasakae Yamahai Junmai純米 玉栄
醇酒 Junshu · Rich“Barely-milled yamahai; robust and savory.”
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: 7yari.co.jp · imadeya.co.jp