Nanbu Bijin Brewery , located in Ninohe city, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, has produced internationally recognized sake since 1902 and bears the English name, "Southern Beauty" 

Nanbu Bijin Brewery, located in Ninohe city, Iwate Prefecture, northern Japan, has produced internationally recognized sake since 1902 and bears the English name, "Southern Beauty" 

The brewery's morning starts strictly at 5 am. Sometimes workers must stay overnight in the brewery to tend to the delicate "Koji" fermented rice. Nanbu Bijin is located in a small, northern town in Japan that sees snow-white winters, during which

The brewery's morning starts strictly at 5 am. Sometimes workers must stay overnight in the brewery to tend to the delicate "Koji" fermented rice.

Nanbu Bijin is located in a small, northern town in Japan that sees snow-white winters, during which sake brewing season is at its peak.

The whisper of Shubo 酒母, the mother nature of sake, guides brewery masters, who are tuned to feeling out the best course of making sake. Nanbu Bijin selects the best quality of sake rice, water, yeast, and the brewers' pure heart to create int

The whisper of Shubo 酒母, the mother nature of sake, guides brewery masters, who are tuned to feeling out the best course of making sake.

Nanbu Bijin selects the best quality of sake rice, water, yeast, and the brewers' pure heart to create internationally recognized sake.

The chimney at the brewery is a symbol of recovery from the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake for the Ninohe people.  The  brewery did not have any damage by the disaster, except for a small crack, now a scar, in the chimney.   T he chimney i

The chimney at the brewery is a symbol of recovery from the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake for the Ninohe people.  The brewery did not have any damage by the disaster, except for a small crack, now a scar, in the chimney.  

The chimney is a constant reminder for us to focus on the important things in life, support our community, and optimize our craft.

Our sake has been awarded for many of regional, national, and international competitions. However, we never stop thinking, gathering feedback, and experimenting to brew our sake even better next season. Perfecting sake is never ending, but rewa

Our sake has been awarded for many of regional, national, and international competitions. However, we never stop thinking, gathering feedback, and experimenting to brew our sake even better next season.

Perfecting sake is never ending, but rewarding endeavor...

Water is very important for brewing sake. Our water is medium hard water gathered from an old well in the brewery. Textured, but clean local water makes beautiful sake from Nanbu Bijin.

Water is very important for brewing sake. Our water is medium hard water gathered from an old well in the brewery.

Textured, but clean local water makes beautiful sake from Nanbu Bijin.

This advertising campaign for our Nanbu Bijin Muto Umeshu (No Sugar Added Plum Sake)  was selected as the winner of the PDN PHOTO ANNUAL AWARDS 2014, which featured the year's most compelling imagery from around the world. Many talented New Y

This advertising campaign for our Nanbu Bijin Muto Umeshu (No Sugar Added Plum Sake) was selected as the winner of the PDN PHOTO ANNUAL AWARDS 2014, which featured the year's most compelling imagery from around the world. Many talented New York based Japanese designers made this happen to support the recovery of the sake industry from the 2011 Tohoku Earthquake.

Photographed by Munetaka Tokuyama