Black Rumiko

Moriki Sake Brewery in Mie Prefecture “Rumiko no Sake” manga label was introduced in 1992. The name and label was given by a famous manga artist Akira Oze. This is because Toji Moriki Rumiko read “Natsuko no Sake” and sent a touching letter to the manga artist. An illustration by Oze Akira is printed on the label.

Rumiko Moriki who is the fourth generation of her family to own the brewery and be Toji (Master Brewer) there,along with her husband Hideki Moriki. The first generations of the Moriki family had always employed a Tōji to create their sake, but during Rumiko's parents’ generation, times were financially difficult and so out of necessity her parents started working alongside the Tōji to make their sake. When Rumiko's father was unable to continue working at the Kura about 25 years ago, Rumiko and Hideki, who had recently married, stepped in and started working alongside the Tōji instead. Nine years later Rumiko and Hideki became the Tōji themselves. It was at this time that they committed to making only Junmai [Pure Rice] sake, at the highest level they could achieve.