Fukui Syuzo, the award-winning sake brewery founded in 1912, is famous for high-quality sake, such as Shikaio-Kiwami. The brewery developed Nihonbashi-bijin Ume-shu (ume liquor) as a project for commemorating the opening of the first branch in Tokyo.

A proverb says that ume is a medicine for three kinds of poison, and ume has been used as a household medicine for people in Japan from ancient times. Ume contains the ingredient amygdalin, which promotes intestinal contractions and purification of the blood and is effective for relieving sensitivity to cold temperatures or constipation. Furthermore, ume can bring out women’s inner beauty. The ume used for Nihonbashi-bijin Ume-shu is chemical-free Gyokuei and Shirakaga cultivated at the base of Houraijisan Mountain, a mountain of scenic beauty known as the home of the Japanese scops owls. For the ume harvested there, the stems are removed by hand, and the surfaces are carefully wiped. Gyokuei and Shirakaga have harder pits than the nankou-ume generally used for ume-shu, so the essence of ume is extracted slowly for a more pleasant taste.

Nihonbashi-bijin Ume-shu is made by blending unprocessed ume liquor that has been aged for twenty years with the clear water of the Toyokawa River (from the system of Akaishiyama Mountain of the South Japanese Alps), which was selected as the highest-quality water in a river water survey by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. In addition, this product has been developed through tasting by the members of Nihonbashi OL Club for a mild and rather moderately sweet taste suitable for women. Furthermore, the wine-like bottle, produced from the image of graceful Nihonbashi-bijin, is modern and fashionable. Nihonbashi-bijin Ume-shu is not only for both Japanese and Western style cocktails as a Japanese liqueur that may change the image of traditional ume liquor, but is also suitable as a gift. You can buy it on the 1F of Senbikiya Sohonten or enjoy it at Genjikoh, the restaurant in the Royal Park Hotel. At this hotel, the Nihonbashi-bijin Cocktail uses ume-shu, and so further collaboration may be expected in the future.

Fukui Syuzo
Nakahama-cho 214, Toyohashi City, Aichi
http://www.fukui-syuzo.co.jp/
Nihonbashi-bijin Ume-shu 360 ml bottle ¥1,050