Satsuma
薩摩
Satsuma is a GI for sweet potato shochu from Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami area. It uses sweet potatoes grown in the prefecture, with koji made from rice or local sweet potatoes. The mash is made with local water and pot-distilled, and all steps from fermentation to bottling take place in the prefecture.
- Production area
- Kagoshima Prefecture (excluding Amami City and Oshima District)
- Type
- Shochu
- Designated
- December 22, 2005
- Managing body
- 薩摩焼酎管理委員会（鹿児島県酒造組合内） (opens in a new tab)
- Producers
- About 109
Production standard in brief
Our summary of the standard set by the National Tax Agency. See the agency's page for the official text.
Sweet potatoes must be grown in Kagoshima Prefecture (excluding the Amami area), and koji must be made from rice or sweet potatoes grown in the prefecture. The mash is made with water from the prefecture and pot-distilled, and every step from fermentation to bottling takes place within the prefecture.
National Tax Agency production standard (opens in a new tab)
Brewery visits & events
In autumn the "Shochu Street" event is held, and the "Kagoshima Honkaku Shochu Festival" takes place once a year in Tokyo and Osaka. Distilleries such as Meijigura and Denbeegura welcome visitors, most by reservation.
Where to buy
In Japan, drinking alcohol under the age of 20 is prohibited by law.
FAQ
Satsuma is a GI for sweet potato shochu from Kagoshima Prefecture, excluding the Amami area. It uses sweet potatoes grown in the prefecture, with koji made from rice or local sweet potatoes. The mash is made with local water and pot-distilled, and all steps from fermentation to bottling take place in the prefecture.
Shochu made in Kagoshima Prefecture (excluding Amami City and Oshima District) to the production standard.
The National Tax Agency designated it as a liquor Geographical Indication on December 22, 2005.
More Shochu GIs
More from Kagoshima
Discover the protected animals, festivals, paintings and sights of the same region.
Meiga no Furusato
Paintings linked to Kagoshima
- Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Osumi Province: Sakurajima
- Famous Places in the Sixty-odd Provinces: Satsuma Province: The Twin-Sword Rocks at Bonoura
Sake Tabi
Breweries and distilleries in Kagoshima
- Satsuma Shuzo Meijigura (Kedogawa Distillery)
- Amami Beer Hall (Amami Beer)
- Catch the Beer (Kosegawa Brewery)
- Hamada Shuzo Denbeegura