In 1975 (Showa 50), as the period of rapid economic growth came to an end and the liberalization of wine and whiskey trade led to a significant decline in domestic sake consumption. In a market that prioritized quantity over quality, Sawada Brewery wanted to create sake that prioritized quality, focusing on junmai sake, the origin of Japanese sake. It was with this desire that "Kankiko," the current flagship brand of Sawada Brewery, was born. In the ginjo class, all of the koji rice and mash rice are made from Yamada Nishiki rice grown in Hyogo Prefecture, and even in the junmai sake, the koji rice is made from Yamada Nishiki rice grown in Hyogo Prefecture. It is characterized by a rich flavor and crisp acidity that inherits the tradition of Nara sake.