Yasuya Sakamise has brewed sake since obtaining official approval from the Hirose Domain in 1743. Yoshida Seibē, who was our leader at the end of the Edo Period (in the mid 1800s), took over the business and the Yoshida family became the owners. Now I am the 5th generation family owner.
We have been brewing sake in this area for nearly 300 years, and I think it was only possible for us to keep brewing sake for so long because we had the love and support of so many people in our community.
People in each era prefer different flavors, and the belief of our ancestors who responded flexibly to the evolution of sake brewing has always been "Tradition is the accumulation of innovation."
Yet, we did not accumulate our history until now by simply protecting it. Gassan as we brew it today is the result of accumulating innovations and gaining acceptance in each era, as we have made our mark and led to the next generation.
This trend has continued to my generation, and I am leading Gassan to undertake new challenges. I believe these new challenges will become a part of Gassan's history, and continue long into the future.
Yoshida Tomonori
Toji (the head brewer) and all the other brewers at Yoshida Sake Brewing regard sake as an important part of Japanese culture that has brought people together since ancient times, and brew sake with the face of each individual customer who drinks their sake in mind.
I am very happy that sake, which is so close to the hearts of Japanese people, has crossed the sea and is spreading around the world, but at the same time there were some concerns.
I had some anxiety about whether Gassan would please customers abroad, but I am now confident that this sake, which we make with our whole heart and soul in every bottle, will please customers abroad as well.
"This is a sake that you can enjoy paired with various dishes, just like wine. Toji and the other brewers all hope that customers abroad will enjoy the gentle and mellow flavor of Gassan."
The Hirose district of Yasugi City is located in the eastern part of Shimane Prefecture, a mountainous area blessed with a lush natural environment. It is a castle town surrounding the remains of Gassantoda Castle, which was widely known as an impregnable castle when it was the residence of the Amago clan who ruled the San'in region during the Sengoku period (also known as the "Warring States Period", 1467 - 1590). Yoshida Sake Brewing was founded as a sake brewery in 1743, patented by the Hirose Domain.
The old family started brewing sake as "Yasuya Sakamise" in 1730. Even now, "安" (the Japanese character for "Yasu") remains on the chimney of our sake brewery, and the hopes and intent of the old family remain with us. Including the history of the old family, we have been brewing sake deeply rooted in this Yasugi area for nearly 300 years.
In the Edo period, we gave our best sake ichiban taru the name of "Gassan," a symbol of the region, and presented it to the lord of the Hirose Domain. Now as then, we brew sake with the brand name "Gassan," so that all customers can taste the best sake in Yasugi.
