Nikka Whisky Yoichi Distillery was founded by Masataka Taketsuru in 1934.

He was the first Japanese person to study the techniques of whisky making in Scotland and bring them back to Japan.

Masataka Taketsuru was born in 1894, the third son of a sake brewer in Hiroshima prefecture. He studied zymurgy (the study or practice of fermentation in brewing, distilling) in Osaka university to prepare for taking over his family business.

But he took much interest in western style liquors there.

He wished to learn the art of producing western style liquor after graduation before the draft. Fortunately, he had a chance to work for Settsu brewery.

The President of that company had a high opinion of Masataka’s ability and sent him to Scotland to have him study the art of whisky production. Masataka was delighted with his offer as he was excited to study whisky making in its place of birth. He started on an adventuresome journey in 1918.

It was a time when the techniques of Scotch whisky making were closely guarded and unknown to all except a few select insiders.

Locals were bewildered by the appearance of this eager young man from the Orient and his outlandish ambitions. But through his passion and dedication to whisky, Masataka won the hearts of Scottish distillers and persuaded them to teach him their techniques.

He returned to Japan in 1920 with his wife Rita, who he got married in Scotland.

But at that time Settsu Brewery had been fit by the post-war depression and shelved its whisky-making, Frustrated this, Masataka left the company in the end.

In 1923 he was invited to Kotobukiya (Suntory) to help establish a whisky distillery in Yamazaki, near Kyoto.

After 10 years, Masataka left Kotobukiya. He still dreamed of making his own, ideal whisky. That is to make an authentic whisky in Japan.

He chose Yoichi town, Hokkaido as the place to build his distillery. Yoichi had all the necessary conditions and climate ideal for whisky making, with mist, a brisk and clean air, and cool, clean water, and also peat.

 

This is worth a visit if you have the time, click here to check our video report.

click here for the Nikka Whisky website