Traditional Japanese Food

Miso, as an ingredient of miso soup, has a long history in Japan. It was introduced to Japan as far back as the Asuka period (710-794), but at that time miso was not soluble in water, so people ate miso by licking it off. People began to eat miso soup in the Kamakura period.(1185-1333). In the Kamakura period, a meal style called "Ichiju-ichisai" (One soup and One Vegetable) began to take root in samurai society, and the custom of eating miso soup with every meal was established. From then, miso soup became popular as a food for warfare. In the Edo period (1603-1867), miso became popular for Japanese people in their daily lives. Nowadays, miso soup appears on every family's dining table. Since then, miso soup has been a staple of the Japanese diet.

Natural Brewing

During fermentation and maturation of miso, the fermentation tanks are placed in a warm room. Several kinds of microorganisms and enzymes from the koji greatly contribute to this process, creating various flavors unique to miso.The Yatsugatake Natural Brewery is located at an altitude of approximately 850m above sea level. We use subterranean water of Yatsugatake pumped up from nearly 90 m underground and matured slowly over a long period of time. This brings out a mellow and deep flavor to this naturally brewed Shinshu Miso.

How Rice Miso is Made

First, soybeans are in the boiling, steaming and pressure cooking process. Rice will go into the steaming process then it will become rice malt(koji). After that, the soybeans and the rice malt will be mixed with water and salt. Then, the mixture of soybeans, rice malt, water and salt will go into the fermentation and aging process for a long period of time in a brewing warehouse. The brewery is located in a mountainous area at an elevation of 849 meters, making it an ideal place for fermentation and maturation of miso due to the cooler temperatures. This long-term aging process gives miso a mellow, full-bodied flavor.

Commitment to Ingredients

We produce with a commitment to raw materials and use only Japanese ingredients.

As for the ingredients used to make miso, we carefully selected Koshihikari rice from Akita prefecture which is famous among Japanese people and even people overseas.

Various New Ways to Use Miso Paste - Twice-cooked Pork with Miso

Miso is generally used as an ingredient in miso soup. However, miso is also suitable for a wide variety of dishes as seasoning. Twice-cooked Pork with Miso is a nutritious recipe that combines vegetables and meat with miso. You can use this miso to create your own recipes!