Nanbu Brewery (Nanbu Shuzo-jo, Ono City, Fukui Prefecture) is set to release a new sake on March 17, 2026, developed through a "Circular Sake Rice Project" conducted in collaboration with local farm Asahi Noen. The sake, a junmai daiginjo called "Meguri" (廻), embodies the concept of returning the by-products of sake brewing back to the land and into the next bottle.
The project began in spring 2025, passing through the stages of sake kasu spreading, rice cultivation, harvest, and brewing — and has now resulted in the first bottle.
Sake Kasu Returns to the Paddies
A "Circular Sake Rice Project" Connecting Local Resources
Nanbu Brewery had long used sake kasu (sake lees) as an ingredient for pickles and food products, but a desire to circulate it more locally sparked this new initiative.
The project's partner is Asahi Noen, a farm in the Warabi area of Ono City that specializes in specially cultivated rice.
The cycle works as follows:
- Sake kasu from the brewing process is spread as fertilizer on rice paddies
- The sake rice variety "Gohyakumangoku" is cultivated in those paddies
- The harvested rice is brewed at Nanbu Brewery
- The resulting sake is returned to the local community
This approach not only considers environmental impact but also aims to forge a new model connecting regional agriculture with sake production.
Farmer and Brewer Working Side by Side
As part of the project, the farmer and the brewery shared each other's workspaces. In autumn 2025, the sake rice grown with sake kasu fertilizer was harvested. That winter, Asahi Noen's Masakazu Asahi visited the brewery to take part in the brewing process using the rice he had grown himself.
By having the rice producer and sake brewer work together in the same space, the project aimed to narrow the distance between rice farming and sake making.
About Junmai Daiginjo "Meguri"
The first sake to emerge from this project is the junmai daiginjo "Meguri" (廻). The name carries the meaning of "people, rice, and sake circling back to one another."
The bottle and label also reflect a commitment to sustainability, incorporating an eco bottle, recycled paper label, and waterless printing.
Product Details
Name: Junmai Daiginjo Meguri (廻)
Rice: 100% Gohyakumangoku (grown with sake kasu fertilizer)
Polishing Ratio (Seimaibuai): 50%
Alcohol: 16%
Volume: 720ml
Price: ¥2,200 (tax included)
Release Date: March 17, 2026 (Tuesday)
Available At: Hanagaki authorized retailers, Hanagaki directly-managed stores, and the official online shop
Packaging: Eco bottle, recycled paper label, waterless printing
Limited quantity. Next release planned for March of next year.
A Vision for the Future
This project goes beyond product development — it aims to build a circular model connecting agriculture, sake brewing, and local resources. Nanbu Brewery intends to continue its pursuit of sustainable sake production in partnership with the local community.
