Choya Hokkan Ougyoku Junmai Ginjo Sake Japan 72 cl 14,5%

In the northern reaches of the Kanto plain, where snowmelt from the Nikko mountains carves its way down through Tochigi, rice sake has been part of daily life since the age of the samurai. Ougyoku The Cherry Gem is brewed right here — quietly, patiently, with respect for the water, the rice and the craft.

Expert's Description

Ougyoku The Cherry Gem is a Japanese Junmai Ginjo Sake from Hokkan Sake Brewing, made from rice, water and koji in Tochigi Prefecture, bottled at 14.5%.

Hokkan Sake Brewing was founded in 1973, when three breweries with roots stretching back to the Edo period merged into a single modern brewery in Tochigi City. The name Hokkan means "Northern Gate", a nod to the city's historical position as the gateway to northern Kanto — a name still carried on the label in the brewery's traditional kanji logo.

Junmai means the sake is brewed purely from rice, water and koji mould, with no added alcohol or sugar. The Ginjo designation adds a further standard: the rice is polished down to 58%, and fermentation proceeds slowly at low temperature, producing a cleaner, more aromatic sake than a standard Junmai. The name "The Cherry Gem" is a poetic reference to the cherry blossoms on the label and the spirit of Japanese spring — the sake itself contains no added cherry or fruit, only rice, water and koji.

Taste

The nose is floral and gently fruity, with hints of pear and melon typical of a well-balanced Junmai Ginjo. On the palate it is soft and round, with a discreet sweetness from the rice kept in check by a clean, faintly tart edge. The finish is short and elegant, without the sharpness found in heavier styles of sake.

Name: Ougyoku The Cherry Gem Junmai Ginjo Sake
Producer/Distillery: Hokkan Sake Brewing
Region/Country: Tochigi, Japan
Type: Japanese Junmai Ginjo Sake
Main Ingredients/Flavourings: Rice, Water, Koji
ABV: 14.5%
Size: 72 CL
Production Method: Traditional sake brewing — fermentation of rice polished to 58% with koji mould and a yeast culture
Allergens: No allergens declared on the label (contains rice, water and koji)
Serving Suggestion: Serve chilled at 5-10°C in a small sake glass or a traditional ochoko cup; pairs well with sushi, sashimi and light Asian dishes

Flavour Profile

Floral · Fruity · Light Sweetness · Silky

Did You Know?

The name Hokkan literally means "Northern Gate" — chosen to symbolise Tochigi's historical role as the entrance to northern Kanto, a detail still carried today in the brewery's traditional kanji logo from 1973.

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Frequently Asked Questions about Ougyoku The Cherry Gem Junmai Ginjo Sake

What does Ougyoku The Cherry Gem taste like?

It has a floral, gently fruity character with notes of pear and melon, a soft, round body and a clean, faintly tart finish — a classic profile for a well-balanced Junmai Ginjo.

Is this sake sweet or dry?

Ougyoku The Cherry Gem sits toward the soft, lightly sweet end of the scale, without becoming cloying — the rice-derived sweetness is balanced by a clean acidity that keeps it fresh.

Should sake be served cold or warm?

This sake should be served chilled, ideally between 5 and 10°C. The Junmai Ginjo style is built to showcase floral and fruity aromas, which fade if the sake is warmed.

What's the difference between Junmai and Junmai Ginjo?

Junmai means the sake is brewed only from rice, water and koji, with no added alcohol. Ginjo adds a further requirement: the rice must be polished to at least 60%, and fermentation runs slower at a lower temperature, giving a more aromatic, delicate sake.

What does a 58% polishing rate mean?

It means 42% of the outer layer of each rice grain has been milled away before brewing begins. Those outer layers hold protein and fat, which can produce a heavier, earthier taste — the more that's removed, the cleaner and more floral the result.

What food pairs well with Ougyoku The Cherry Gem?

It's a natural match for sushi and sashimi, but also works well with light Asian dishes such as dumplings, grilled fish or edamame, where its clean profile won't overpower the subtler flavours.

Who makes Ougyoku sake?

It's brewed by Hokkan Sake Brewing in Tochigi City, a brewery founded in 1973 through the merger of three older breweries. They use water from the Nikko mountains and are known as one of Tochigi's leading producers of jizake, locally brewed sake.

How long does sake keep after opening?

The label recommends refrigeration and consuming the sake shortly after opening, though it doesn't specify an exact number of days — as with most unfiltered or lightly pasteurised sake, its aromatic freshness fades quickly once opened.