Kuncho Shuzo (クンチョウ酒造株式会社)
Kuncho Shuzo is a brewery, founded in 1940. A sake brewery in Mameda-machi, Hita, Oita, producing the Kuncho brand. It still uses buildings dating from the Edo period and brews with Hikosan-system subterranean water and local rice.
- Makes
- Sake
- Japan Sake Awards
- 1 prize
Where to buy
What kind of brewery is it?
In 1932 Tomiyasu Gomei of Kurume bought the land and buildings of Maruya Shuzo, once run by the Chihara family in Mamedamachi, Hita, and began making Kuncho sake there as its Hita brewery. Toyo Tomiyasu, the Hita branch manager, became independent in 1940 and founded Tomiyasu Shuzo, the forerunner of Kuncho Shuzo. Through wartime and postwar rationing the brewery refused to dilute its sake or lower rice polishing. The second president, Seiichiro, pushed nama sake shipments, and today Hiroshi is president, with his two sons working as brewers learning from the toji.
What makes it distinct
- Water
- Water is pumped from a 130 m well on the grounds, drawing on Hikosan-system subterranean flow.
- Ingredients
- Mainly Oita-grown Hinohikari from local contract farmers, plus Yamadanishiki and Gohyakumangoku.
- Master brewer
- The toji comes during the brewing season from Ojika, Nagasaki.
- Also
- All five brewery buildings remain in their original state and are still used for brewing.
Visiting
- Tours
- Shop
The brewery shop is open 9:00 to 16:30 with no closing days and has a tasting space. Tours and bus parking are requested by sending a reservation form by email or fax.
Compiled with AI from public pages, mainly the brewery’s own site (not yet checked by the brewery)Sources: kuncho.net
Japan Sake Awards
A prize-winner in 1 of the 9 contests from brewing year 2017 to 2025.
- Prize (nyusho)薫長PDF
Source: the prize lists of the Japan Sake Awards (National Research Institute of Brewing and Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association).