Name: Urakasumi_Tokubetsu Junmai (浦霞 特別純米)
BY: 26(Jan)
Prefecture: Miyagi (宮城)
Price: ¥548
Polishing Ratio: 60%
ABV: 15.0%
Rice: Sasanishiki (ササニシキ)
Fermentation Starter: Undisclosed
Yeast: Undisclosed
Amino Acidity: 1.5
Acidity: 1.5
SMV: +1.5
Value: 8.9 / 10
It’s genuinely exciting to find Urakasumi — one of Miyagi Prefecture’s most celebrated sake — sitting on a convenience store shelf.
Miyagi is well known for its tradition of brewing with table rice rather than sake-specific rice, and this bottle is no exception, made entirely from 100% Sasanishiki — a rice variety grown primarily for eating. Yet the brewery manages to produce a sake of remarkable clarity and refinement. That’s Miyagi for you. That’s Urakasumi.
What makes this bottle especially interesting is that despite being polished down to 60%, the brewery chose to label it as Tokubetsu Junmai rather than Ginjo — a deliberate, confident decision. As a result, the aroma leans heavily toward lactic notes with virtually no fruity character. And yet there’s something transparent and crisp about it that catches your attention.
On the palate, the lactic quality follows through, accompanied by a rich fullness that balances both sweetness and bitterness. The finish is where things get really interesting — just as you think the sweetness is about to drop away cleanly, a long, gently bitter aftertaste lingers and holds.
Honestly? This is not convenience store level sake.
If I were to draw a wine comparison, it has qualities reminiscent of a fairly full-bodied Chardonnay — versatile enough to enjoy on its own, or paired with fish or meat alike.
That said, its very strength may also be its blind spot: it’s so well-rounded that it doesn’t quite grab you by the collar. It lacks the kind of sharp personality that makes a sake unforgettable at first sip.
Still, you have to tip your hat to a brewery that can coax this level of all-purpose, polished sake from table rice.
This isn’t the sake I’d point someone toward if they’re hunting for their personal “type” — but if you’ve already explored a range of sake styles, coming back to this one will reveal just how quietly impressive it really is.