Kobayashi Shuzo

Houou Biden was established in 1872 in Nikko, Tochigi, where spectacular nature and historical monuments, including world heritage shrines, traditional cuisine, crafts, and lush natural settings, have been preserved since the Edo period. The brewery underwent a renaissance in 1995 when the 5th-generation owner, Mr. Masaki Kobayashi, returned to lead the family business alongside his wife, Mayumi, who serves as Houou Biden's Toji, one of Japan's rare female master brewers. It is no exaggeration to say that all the yeast used by Houou Biden is entirely original to the company. Thanks to the extensive connections of Mayumi Kobayashi, who leads the brewing process, high-quality yeast and information are gathered not only from sake yeasts within Japan but also from wine yeasts abroad. Each year, these various yeasts are selected during the autumn season, when new rice is harvested and sake brewing begins. Through a process of trial and error, the brewery seeks to pair the year’s rice harvest and climate with the best yeast, taking on the challenge of crafting that year's sake. The specific yeast used remains undisclosed.