Master brewer, Mr. Tou Kikuchi, has been thinking that he wanted to brew the ideal sake so that someone could never forget the taste when he drinks it by himself. Mr. kikuchi became ‘Toji’ (Brew Master) of the Sake brewing in 1996. Mr. Kikuchi’s motto is bringing up the tradition of Sake, skills and his knowledge of brewing Sake on to the next generation of ‘Toji’. He brews Sanzen Sake very carefully through overseeing every step of Brewing processes by himself. His excellent skills in brewing Sake are assured by many awards. He is still looking for the perfect Sake.

Our brewmaster also is known in Kurashiki as a famous amateur musician. At 5 years old he started to play the violin. Then, he became the conductor of the Chamber Orchestra when he was at Hiroshima University while he was a university student, and he played violin in the Hiroshima City Orchestra. In 1974, he founded the Kurashiki Chamber Orchestra (currently known as the Kurashiki Orchestra), where he has served as conductor, violinist, and violist to the current time. In July 2006, he conducted the Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra at the Bulgaria Concert Hall, where he received a roar of applause by playing Symphony No.9 composed by Antonin Dvorak. Taking advantage of this unique career, Kikuchi plays Mozart’s music in the sake brewery during the sake brewing season, and holds a concert at the brewery every spring where he performs as a violinist or violist.

Okayama Prefecture is called “Sunshine Country” because there many clear days, there are many hours of sunlight, the benefit from the waters of three main rivers in Okayama is great, and there are few natural disasters compared with other areas. For these reasons, stable agricultural production of rice as a main crop is possible in this area. The Seto Inland Sea has been used as a main artery of marine traffic since ancient times. Okayama Prefecture is encircled by the gentle inland sea and fertile mountains; the area has developed as an important transportation hub, and as a result, it has also developed as a place where various culture mixes. In recent years, a triennale of modern art known as the “Setouchi Art Festival” is held mainly in the Seto Inland Sea region, and the area is currently grabbing the world’s attention.