ABOUT US
A land that provides and nurtures us; a land that makes our exceptional shochu possible
In Yatsushiro, Kumamoto Prefecture, where history and culture breathe alongside magnificent, powerful nature, we have been producing shochu,
a traditional Japanese spirit, for nearly 80 years.
This undertaking has been nothing short of a journey toward making the very best of the resources taken from the bountiful nature that we are so grateful for.
YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY has been creating a unique flavor along with this land's nature and culture.
What is Shochu?
Shochu is Japan’s cherished traditional spirit, celebrated for its single distillation process that allows the natural characteristics of its ingredients to shine vibrantly.
The process
behind crafting
authentic shochu
A magnificent natural environment :
"the land of fire" and "the land of water"
Kumamoto Prefecture is called "the land of fire" thanks to Mt. Aso, an active volcano with one of the world's largest calderas.
Abundant agriculture has benefited from the fertile plains stretching across the volcanic plateau.
For generations, it is also a “Land of water”, where rain falling on Mt. Aso and its grasslands are filtered over decades and emerging as cool, fresh water in various places.
Thanks to the abundant water, it is home to a number of rice-producing areas.
This natural abundance has made it a paradise for shochu production.
Courtesy of YATSUSHIRO MYOKEN Festival
Preservation Promotion Association
A living, breathing land, rich
with history and abundant nature
Courtesy of YATSUSHIRO MYOKEN Festival
Preservation Promotion Association
The Yatsushiro Myoken Festival takes place every fall to pray for Yatsushiro's prosperity.
With a long history, this festival is one of the three biggest festivals in Kyushu and is registered by UNESCO as intangible cultural heritage.
One of the highlights is a rain-making ritual that originates in the North Star and the Big Dipper, a constellation shaped like a ladle for drawing water.
With abundant history and culture, we at YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY start with the local character that shows gratitude and reverence to nature.
OUR HISTORY
Since our foundation,
we have been producing a unique flavor
1946, employees celebrating the first shipment of SANRAKU
YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY was established in 1939.
Our history spans almost 80 years since
the development of our shochu “SANRAKU” in 1946.
We gradually introduced highly original products such as “KURO GOHO” (since 2006) is Japan's first shochu made from black sesame, and “KOME HOU JUN” (since 2022), a rice shochu with an alcohol of 39 percent.
In 2023, we have taken on the challenge to make something new, “YATSU BOSHI”, a gin crafted with local precious citruses.
Today, our distillery continues to entice the curiosity of drinkers and our unique spirit of tradition and innovation guides us to discover new flavors and possibilities.
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1939Establishes YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY. Starts to manufacture alcohol for fuel.
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1943Starts to manufacture alcohol for raw materials.
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1946Starts manufacturing Shochu, with SANRAKU shochu released.
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1964Releases ARIAKE, its first authentic Shochu (single-distilled shochu,).
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1990Company name changed to Mercian Corporation.
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1991Releases HAKUSUIi, authentic Shochu distilled from rice and barley.
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1998Releases HAKUSUI Brand-name Rice Series, authentic rice shochu.
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2006Completes construction of unprocessed shochu, brewery building YATSUSHIRO DISTILLERY.
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2006Releases KURO GOHO, black sesame shochu.
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2010Becomes a subsidiary fully owned by Kirin Holdings.
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2014Releases USUKI USAGI, orange sweet potato shochu.
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2022Releases KOME HOU JUN, 39%-ABV rice shochu.
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2023Releases YATSU BOSHI, its first Gin.
AWARDS AND ACCOLADES
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TOKYO WHISKY & SPIRITS
COMPETITION
2020 GOLD SHOCHU WINNER -
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG
INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT
COMPETITION 2019 GOLD -
CATHAY PACIFIC HONG KONG
INTERNATIONAL WINE & SPIRIT
COMPETITION 2019 TROPHY -
NEW YORK WORLD WINE & SPIRITS
COMPETITION 2014
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL WINNERS -SPIRITS -
SAN FRANCISCO
WORLD SPIRITS COMPETITION
2021 DOUBLE GOLD -
INTERNATIONAL
SPIRITS CHALLENGE
2022 GOLD