Kawashima, Matsu No Hana Junmai-shu

Kawashima Brewery was established in 1865 at Takashima in Shiga Prefecture where Biwa Lake, the largest lake in Japan is located. Akasaka Mountain located behind the brewery provides crystal clear water called "Harie no Shouzu", and it is used to brew fine sake. 

The brown rice used in the brewery is grown using the same water and their sake is fairly simple as they can exploit the potential of water, sake, and molds.

It is one of the few breweries in Shiga that did not brew Sake for large breweries. Kawashima has been brewing Sake only for their customers and putting efforts to create their original brand “Matsu no Hana”.

The name of Matsu no Hana is coming from the pine tree planted on the land before the brewery built. Matsu means pine tree. In order to build the brewery, they had to cut off the pine tree on the land, but Kuramoto felt sorry about it. So, he decided to cut off the tree, but took the name from the tree and named the flower of pine “Matsu no Hana” for Sake. From this story, we can feel the gratefulness towards nature.