Tentaka

Tentaka is a sake brewery (sakagura) founded in 1914 and located in a nature-rich city in Ohtawara, Tochigi Prefecture. After being severely damaged by the earthquakes of 2011, in March of the same year, Tentaka rebuilt its sake brewery with two distinct parts: one reserved for the production of sake using organic rice and another for sake made with "conventional" rice. Positioned on the delta between the Naka and Houki rivers and blessed with a mild climate throughout the year, the city has a long tradition of rice cultivation. Additionally, abundant clear groundwater from Mount Nasu in the northern part of the prefecture, along with the tradition and philosophy passed down by the founders, make Ohtawara the perfect place for the production of Nihonshu (the Japanese term for sake).

At Tentaka, work in the fields and in the brewery is guided by a production philosophy rooted in tradition but open to change. Respecting the founder's saying, "if it's not dry, it's not sake," the brewery exclusively produces dry sake. However, unafraid of evolving times, this sakagura challenges itself daily to create Nihonshu that suits the modern era. Rice selection, water management, and soil care reflect the brewery's commitment to producing pleasant and high-quality sake. The brewery also commits to cultivating organic rice, working in collaboration with local farmers who share the same vision of environmental sustainability.

Tentaka continuously invests in cutting-edge technologies and the mechanization of the production process while maintaining its firm traditional philosophy. This balance between tradition and innovation has led to numerous awards, both nationally and internationally, including the prestigious gold award for organic sake at the 2017 Japan Sake Awards. The brewery is dedicated to producing sake that reflects the beauty and purity of the surrounding nature, hoping to pass on this heritage to future generations.