In October, Naohiko Noguchi became the first master sake brewer to be designated a Living National Treasure.

In November, we present a pairing of his signature Yamahai Daiginjo style and a collection of sablés crafted for sake, inspired by the distinctive ingredients of Ishikawa. Discover the character of Ishikawa, where tradition meets innovation.

Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute
Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo, Yamada Nishiki 2020

Full-bodied richness from the Yamahai method, and the clarity of Daiginjo. Two qualities that rarely share a glass, and the signature of Master Brewer Noguchi’s finest sake.

At 28, Noguchi was appointed a master brewer. Yet when he returned to his native Ishikawa to make the light, delicate sake he had studied elsewhere, he met with criticism and rejection.

From that setback came a question that has guided him ever since:

“What flavour are our customers looking for today?”

Noguchi has said that answering it matters more than chasing a brewer’s own ideals.

The result is a sake of deep umami and striking clarity, with depth that never turns heavy. A sake made for the palate of today.

Sablés for Sake Pairing by Pâtisserie L’aube Kakyo-an

These sablés take Ishikawa’s time-honoured ingredients and give them a thoroughly contemporary form, each one shaped to show its character at its best.

Made by Pâtisserie L’aube Kakyo-an in Kanazawa, they come from a series designed expressly for sake by Shoko Hirase, winner of the Gault & Millau 2020 Best Pastry Chef award.

In November, four flavours: ishiru (the Noto Peninsula’s traditional fish sauce), sake lees, bōcha (roasted stem tea) and yuzu. From the deep umami of ishiru to the lingering roasted notes of Kaga bōcha, each is a small portrait of Ishikawa’s culinary heritage.

Taken alongside this sake, they bring tradition and innovation into the same moment.

The Flavours of Ishikawa:
Sake by a Living National Treasure, paired with local delicacies

Price: ¥2,500 (tax included)
Serving: 30ml + four sablés
Sake: Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute, Yamahai Junmai Daiginjo, Yamada Nishiki 2020
Period: 6 – 30 November 2026

Reservations

To reserve a tasting at our Ginza flagship boutique, please complete the booking form below.

• Walk-in tastings are also available; however, priority will be given to guests with reservations.
• Reservations are not available at our Osaka Shinsaibashi boutique. Walk-ins only.

Ginza Flagship Boutique
Tastings available: 11:00–20:00 (Last order: 18:30)

Osaka Shinsaibashi Boutique
Tastings available: 10:00–20:00 (Last order: 19:00)

Related reading

For more on Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute, see Noguchi Naohiko Yamahai Aiyama 2019 | Rare Aiyama Rice, Yamahai Brewing and Matured Nama Sake and NOGUCHI NAOHIKO 01 Special Edition Vol.2 | A 900-Bottle Limited Sake.