The Sake Anatomy › Sake Brand Index › Shosetsu
No.143 · Brewery Profile
Shosetsu正雪 · Kanzawagawa Shuzojo 神沢川酒造場
Kanzawagawa Shuzojo has brewed in the former fishing town of Yui, now part of Shizuoka City, since 1912, drawing on soft, low-mineral water from near the Kanzawa River. Its Shosetsu brand takes its name from Yui Shosetsu, an Edo-period strategist tied to the area, and pursues a deliberately easy-drinking style — helped along by Homarefuji, a sake rice variety bred specifically for Shizuoka — built not to tire the palate over the course of a meal.
Who makes Shosetsu?
Kanzawagawa Shuzojo has brewed in the former fishing town of Yui, now part of Shizuoka City, since 1912, drawing on soft, low-mineral water from near the Kanzawa River. Its Shosetsu brand takes its name from Yui Shosetsu, an Edo-period strategist tied to the area.
What does Shosetsu taste like?
Tagged Dry & Crisp and Elegant & Refined, pursuing a deliberately easy-drinking style built not to tire the palate over a meal, helped along by Homarefuji, a rice variety bred specifically for Shizuoka. The Shosetsu Junmai Ginjo Aiyama rates 3/5 aromatic; the Shosetsu Junmai Daiginjo Tenmangetsu, its premium Yamada Nishiki expression, rises to 4/5 aromatic.
Which bottle should you try first?
Start with the Shosetsu Junmai Ginjo Aiyama, described as an easy-drinking junmai ginjo built not to tire the palate, before the more premium Junmai Daiginjo Tenmangetsu.
How does Shosetsu compare to other Shizuoka breweries?
Shizuoka also lists Isojiman and Kaiun, both tagged Elegant & Refined and Aromatic & Fruity, and Wakatake, which shares Shosetsu’s exact Dry & Crisp and Elegant & Refined pairing. Shosetsu and Wakatake represent the crisper end of Shizuoka’s range, distinct from the more aromatic Isojiman and Kaiun.
Frequently asked questions
What does the name Shosetsu reference?
Yui Shosetsu, an Edo-period strategist associated with the brewery’s home town.
What rice variety is used specifically for Shizuoka brewing?
Homarefuji, a sake rice variety bred specifically for Shizuoka, used in the Shosetsu range.
How many bottles does Shosetsu make?
Two on this page: the Junmai Ginjo Aiyama and the Junmai Daiginjo Tenmangetsu.
The bottles
Shosetsu Junmai Ginjo Aiyama正雪 純米吟醸 愛山
爽酒 Soshu · Light & Smooth“An easy-drinking junmai ginjo built not to tire the palate.”
Shosetsu Junmai Daiginjo Tenmangetsu正雪 純米大吟醸 天満月
薫酒 Kunshu · Fragrant“A premium daiginjo expression using 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: imadeya.co.jp · shizuoka-sake.jp