Since Kichibe KUDO in Kyoda-mura, Nishi tagawa-gun, developed the so-called triptych of Ushu hana--namely Sake no hana, Kyo no hana and Kuni no hana--through artificial crossing at the beginning of the Showa period, the development of sakamai in the private sector was a popular activity in Yamagata Prefecture.
同県は昭和時代初期にすでに西田川郡京田村の工藤吉郎兵衛が人工交配によって酒の華・京の華・国の華の、いわゆる羽州華三部作を開発して以来、民間での酒米開発はたいへん盛んであった。