Masumi : Kuro Black

Tasting characteristics and advice for Masumi Kuro Black

Tasting

Nose

The nose reveals delicate aromas of green banana and apple, alongside lactic notes and fresh curd cheese.

Palate

The palate shows a very mineral profile with great freshness. Herbal notes emerge alongside blueberries, offering a remarkable balance between savory depth and dryness. The sake’s lovely fluidity leaves the palate clean and refreshed, with a pleasant bitterness on the finish.

Food pairings and tasting occasions

Masumi Kuro Black pairs harmoniously with shellfish, green vegetables, and red meats. It also goes wonderfully with aburi-style oily fish, vegetable broths, and fresh goat cheese.

A sake from Nagano with a mineral and herbal character

Masumi: three centuries of Japanese brewing excellence

Founded in 1662 during Japan’s Edo era, the Miyasaka House produces Masumi sake in the Nagano region, in Suwa City on the island of Honshū. Owned by the Miyasaka family—former warriors in the service of the Suwa clan—the House is now led by Kazuhiro Miyasaka, assisted by toji Chisato Kubota. The name Masumi evokes transparency, inspired by the sacred mirror of the Suwa Taisha shrine. National recognition came in 1946 when Masumi yeast was granted the prestigious status of National Yeast No. 7. This House stands out for its sake of remarkable minerality and smoothness, revealing herbal notes characteristic of its Japanese mountain terroir.

Masumi Kuro Black: an outstanding Junmai Ginjo

Masumi Kuro Black is a sake Junmai Ginjo made from Yamada Nishiki and Sankei Nishiki rice polished to 55%. This prestigious category guarantees remarkable aromatic finesse. Brewing relies on the famed Masumi No. 7 yeast, recognized as a national yeast in 1946 and now one of the most widely used yeasts in sake production in Japan.

The name “KURO,” meaning black in Japanese, refers to the black, glossy finish of traditional Japanese lacquerware. The labels were redesigned in 2021 by Shinichiro Ogata, one of Japan’s most sought-after designers today, giving this sake a contemporary, elegant visual identity that perfectly reflects the Miyasaka House’s union of tradition and modernity.