It was during this period of renewal that the brand name “Daruma Masamune” was created. The Daruma doll is a symbol of perseverance — “fall down seven times, get up eight.”
The roots of Shiraki Tsunesuke Shoten go back to 1835, in the late Edo period. In that year, the Shiraki family began brewing sake in rural Gifu, in a location crossed by branches of the Mugi River, which provided abundant fresh water and a climate with strong temperature variations — ideal conditions for sake production. About a hundred years later, the brewery was struck by the devastating Nōbi Earthquake of 1891, which destroyed much of the facility. Thanks to the family’s indomitable spirit and the support of the local community, the business was rebuilt. It was during this period of renewal that the brand name “Daruma Masamune” was created. The Daruma doll is a symbol of perseverance — “fall down seven times, get up eight.”
A decisive turning point came around 1971, when the owner at the time happened upon some long-forgotten bottles of sake. The brilliant golden liquid turned out to be a revelation in flavor — rich, aromatic, and full of umami. This discovery inspired the idea of deliberately producing aged sake, reviving an almost forgotten tradition that goes back to the Kamakura and Edo periods, eras when “Koshu” (aged sake) was highly prized. This led to an experimental phase in which sake was brewed in small batches and observed over many years, in order to understand and perfect the complex art of maturation.
Today, Shiraki Tsunesuke Shoten enjoys worldwide recognition as a pioneer and expert in aged sake. Particularly remarkable are editions that mature for decades, such as 10-, 20-, or even 50-year-old Koshu bottlings. The oldest bottles, up to 53 years of age, strikingly demonstrate the long-term vision of the brewery. Aging takes place at room temperature, with basic regulation using hot or cold water, without modern climate control — a process that requires great craftsmanship and precise timing.
At present, the company is led by Shigeri Shiraki, the seventh generation of the family. Under her leadership, international markets have opened up for the “Daruma Masamune” brand. Today, the brewery’s sake is exported to the United States, to European countries such as Italy, Germany, and Switzerland, and beyond, regularly earning awards at competitions such as the International Wine Challenge (IWC) in the United Kingdom.
