Kintora Shuzo (金虎酒造株式会社)
Kintora Shuzo is a brewery in Aichi Prefecture, founded in 1845. A sake brewery in Yamada, Kita Ward, Nagoya, producing sake and liqueurs under the Kintora and Kohen brands, one of the few breweries remaining in Nagoya.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 5 golds
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
In 1845, the first Osakaya Zenbei began brewing in Yamada village at the entrance to the Zenkoji road. The brewery has since relied on Echigo toji skills and hand-crafted methods. The name Kintora comes from the golden shachi of Nagoya Castle and the third Zenbei being born in a tiger year. The brewery was destroyed together with the castle in the air raid of May 1945. It began making a daiginjo named for Nagoya Castle in 1991 and a junmai daiginjo in 2020.
What makes it distinct
- Master brewer
- The brewery has long used Echigo toji techniques and a hand-crafted approach.
Visiting
- Tours
Brewery tours run on Wednesdays only from mid-May to September, starting at 10:30 for about 90 minutes, with a guided visit and tasting of four sakes. The fee is 1,000 yen (free for under 20), by reservation.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: kintora.jp
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 9 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025, with a gold prize in 5.
- Gold prize虎変PDF
- Prize (nyusho)虎変PDF
- Prize (nyusho)虎変PDF
- Gold prize虎変PDF
- Prize (nyusho)虎変PDF
- Gold prize虎変PDF
- Prize (nyusho)虎変PDF
- Gold prize虎変PDF
- Gold prize虎変PDF
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association). Brewing year 2019 had no final judging, so no gold prizes.