In 1918, Masataka Taketsuru, a young Japanese with a dream to create genuine whisky, traveled to Scotland to learn the secrets of whisky making. After mastering the craft, he returned to Japan with his Scottish wife Rita in 1920. Unfortunately, his initial plans to produce whisky in Japan were abandoned due to economic challenges.

In 1923, Masataka was hired by Kotobukiya to direct the building of the Yamazaki Distillery, Japan’s first genuine whisky distillery. After his contract ended, he founded his own distillery in Yoichi, Hokkaido, in 1934, realizing his dream of producing his ideal whisky.

In 1940, the first whisky from Nikka, named “NIKKA WHISKY,” was launched, and the journey and dedication of Masataka Taketsuru laid the foundation for Nikka whisky’s success and the growth of Japanese whisky in the global market.