There is always a special moment when you encounter a great sake.
My first experience with Gunma Izumi was exactly one of those moments.
I first tasted Gunma Izumi at an izakaya in Osaka. It was before I became an independent liquor store owner, but I had already decided to open my own shop and make a living in the sake industry. At that time, my knowledge of sake had deepened considerably, and I was comparing various brands.
When I took my first sip of Gunma Izumi, I still remember how shocked I was. It was a crisp and dry sake, but not just dry—it had a rich umami flavor from the rice that spread beautifully. It was a sake that never got boring, one that you could enjoy slowly and endlessly.
Back then, only about two liquor stores in Osaka carried Gunma Izumi, making it quite rare and hard to find. That rarity made discovering it even more exciting, and I found myself going back again and again just to taste it. I felt that coming across such a special sake was truly a matter of "fate."
This sake has even been featured in a famous Japanese gourmet manga!
Even now, Gunma Izumi remains my go-to sake for pairing with food. I highly recommend enjoying it as atsukan (hot sake). Its well-balanced flavor does not overpower meals, making it a perfect companion for any dish.
As a liquor store owner, I don’t choose sake just because it’s popular. I only want to offer sake that I truly believe in. My encounter with Gunma Izumi became a benchmark for this philosophy.
Even after becoming independent, I have never forgotten that moment of excitement. I continue to carefully select and recommend sake with confidence. Gunma Izumi is a special bottle that marked the starting point of my journey as a sake shop owner.