A Visit to the Oldest Sake Brewery in Japan Run by the Same Family for 55 Generations

Sudo Honke in the Ibaraki Prefecture is the oldest sake brewer in Japan. The family has been making the traditional rice brew for over 850 years, spanning over 55 generations. Great Big Story recently visited with the current proprietors, who are relieved to know that the 2011 earthquake and subsequent radiation concerns from the nuclear power station crisis did not affect their water in any way.

For more than 850 years, the Sudo family has been making sake in Obara, Japan. Their sake distillery is the oldest in the country. ?After the 2011 earthquake and nuclear meltdown, they feared the water in their ancient wells had been poisoned and they would have to close. Luckily, the water was deemed safe and today they carry on their time-honored tradition?.