Norman

9.0

Bijofu Mai Usunigori (美丈夫 舞 うすにごり) Sparkling Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Hamakawa Shoten, Tano, Kochi
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo, Sparkling, Usunigori, Nama
Rice: Japanese-grown rice
Polishing: 50%
ABV: 14%
Method: Secondary fermentation in bottle
Prefecture: Kochi

Naturally sparkling, lightly cloudy nama sake. Living yeast produces a secondary fermentation in the bottle, creating fine bubbles. The brewery describes it as Champagne-like, with fresh aromatics, refreshing acidity and a clean finish.

Your bottle confirms 14% ABV, 500 mL and September 2026 production.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. — 22 days ago

Noren Kawakami

10

Katoukichibee Shouten Born Yuzu Sake — a year ago

Norman

9.2

Nice but I think there are better Born bottles to be had. Better as the chill comes off the bottle. — a year ago

Kyle Katterjohn

9.2

Must have next time. BSH — 3 years ago

Martin ho

9.2

Lovely finish, sweet finish. Not too dry. Some floral notes. — 4 years ago

Vivek

9.8

Hachi at National Gallery — 6 years ago

Hiroyuki Hikichi

9.0

A famous brand in Fukuoka — 7 years ago

Norman

9.0

Bijofu Hina (美丈夫 鄙) Junmai Daiginjo

Brewery: Hamakawa Shoten, Tano, Kochi
Classification: Junmai Daiginjo
Rice: Yamada Nishiki, Hyogo
Polishing: 45%
ABV: 15%
SMV: +3
Acidity: 1.5
Yeast: AA-41
Prefecture: Kochi

Hina (鄙) is an old Japanese word for “countryside.” Hamakawa describes the sake as combining the natural character of rural Tano with refined brewing craftsmanship. The style is restrained and elegant rather than overtly aromatic, with fresh citrus aromatics, a clean defined structure, subtle sweetness and a crisp citrus-driven finish.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. — 22 days ago

romo

9.1

White flower blossoms, medium + body. Yum — a year ago

Norman

9.1

Born “Dreams Come True” is a Junmai Daiginjo from Kato Kichibee Shoten in Fukui Prefecture. It’s aged for five years at –5 °C (some sources mention –8 °C). This is supposed to be one of the top Born sakes and it would be interesting to try with a couple others side by side. It’s a liter bottle and when it got opened it was on the cold side. As it warmed and opened up you can see why people call it flamboyant. It becomes a big, powerful sake with big flavors and a long finish. Heavy weight on the palate but very smooth and as they say velvety. It was nice but I wouldn’t go out of my way for it - not sure why other than maybe how it started out which was a bit sharp, angular and lean. Need to pull these earlier. — a year ago

Norman

9.3

Nice but right out of the bottle I would say the flavors were light and the viscosity a bit thin. As it warmed the flavors really came out and they filled the mouth. — 3 years ago

TH

9.2

@はせがわ酒店 2,530 incl tax — 6 years ago

Michelle Berryman

8.9

Sparkling sake. Delightful. — 7 years ago

Norman

9.0

Bijofu Schwa!! (美丈夫 しゅわっ!!) Sparkling Ginjo

Brewery: Hamakawa Shoten, Tano, Kochi
Classification: Sparkling Ginjo
Rice: Matsuyama Mii
Polishing: 55%
ABV: 13%
SMV: +5
Acidity: 1.3
Yeast: Kochi AA-41
Water: Nahari underground well water
Prefecture: Kochi
This is not bottle-fermented. Hamakawa makes Schwa!! by dissolving carbonation into ginjo sake. The brewery describes it as refreshingly tart and crisp, with lower alcohol and a clean, easy-drinking profile. The importer adds soft rice sweetness, fine bubbles and a light body.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. — 22 days ago

Norman

9.0

Bijofu Junrei Tama Label (美丈夫 純麗たまラベル) Junmai Ginjo

Brewery: Hamakawa Shoten, Tano, Kochi
Classification: Junmai Ginjo
Rice: Matsuyama Mii
Polishing: 55%
ABV: 15%
SMV: +4
Acidity: 1.6
Yeast: AA-41
Prefecture: Kochi

Hamakawa describes this as a delicate, refreshing Junmai Ginjo produced through slow, low-temperature fermentation with the brewery’s soft water. The aroma is restrained and citrus-driven, followed by fresh acidity, gentle rice softness and a distinctly dry, sharp finish.

Tasted at Sake Day SF — 9/26/2026. Rating is limited since the same glass was reused throughout the tasting, making it difficult to get a truly clean tasting and accurate read on the aromas. — 22 days ago

S.S. Mandani

9.5

Money.

Actually born gold. Name lives up!

Soft, silken, balanced, clarified, pear and lychee.

Beautiful. — 2 years ago

David Dranit

9.5

Body. Texture. Crispness. Yum. Sake. Noe Valley wine shop. — 3 years ago

Hector Escaton

9.4

Back at it. — 5 years ago

Yutaka Hisaeda

9.5

20191026 with Yoshizumi. — 7 years ago

Aaron Tan

9.0

Fruity, light bodied, sappy. Kinda like it. — 8 years ago