Our wooden sake storehouse Ishiyakura collapsed in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995. When the ruined site was excavated, a number of brewery relics were found.
Displayed here are the articles excavated at that time.
The large pot used to collect pressed sake dates to between 1592 and 1596.
Tools on Display
Ishiya Kogura
Due to severe damage caused by the 1934 Muroto typhoon, a seawall was installed in order to prevent further damage from storm surges. For that reason, it was established as a brewery with its own wave-breaker, and came to be commonly called "Namigaeshi-kura", or "Wave-Breaker Brewery". It was completely destroyed in the Great Hanshin earthquake in 1995, so it can no longer be seen.
Taretsubo (Dripping Pot) Excavated from Ishiya Otsugura
During an excavational survey, a large Bizen ware pot was found at Ishiya Otsugura. The pot was excavated in perfect condition, with plaster hardened around its mouth. It is thought to have been used as a taretsubo (dripping pot) in the pressing room, and its capacity is two koku (1 koku = 180 L). When a pressing room is remodeled, the taretsubo is usually removed and reused, so it does not remain in the ground, but it is thought that this pot did not need to be used in the new pressing room. The large excavated pot measures 60.0 cm in diameter at the mouth, 102.6 cm in height, 81.0 in diameter at the body, and 43.6 cm in diameter at the base. An inscription on the shoulder of the pot reads: "kneaded clay, to order, excellent". This is an assurance of quality, that it was a custom-made product using special clay and made at the highest quality. It is believed to have been produced during the Bunroku period (1592-1595).