Recognized as the "father of Japanese whiskey", Nikka Whiskey founder Masataka Taketsuru shaped the history of Japanese whiskey, with the loving support of his Scottish wife Rita. Masataka Taketsuru The son of a sake brewing family, he joins the Settsu Shuzo Company, which has a plan to produce the first authentic Japanese whiskey. With a background in chemistry, the young man leaves for Scotland with the aim of discovering the secrets of whiskey making. Taketsuru meets Jessie Roberta Cowan, better known as Rita. They immediately fall in love and, against the wishes of their families, marry in Glasgow in less than a year. Two years later, the couple returns to Japan, but their employer Settsu Shuzo abandons the project. whiskey for economic reasons. In 1923, Masaka is recruited by the Kotobukiya group, later renamed Suntory, and directs the construction of Japan's first whiskey distillery in 1924. With Masataka's contract coming to an end, Rita inspires him to realize his dream: to build his own distillery on the island of Hokkaido. The northern island of Hokkaido is where Masataka finds the ideal site for the construction of Yoichi, a distillery built in the purest Scottish tradition. To this day, the distillation process has remained true to traditional methods. At Yoichi, the stills are heated by direct charcoal fire, a practice the Scots have since abandoned as it is difficult to control. This gives the whiskey an additional subtle smokiness and rich, oily texture that are at the heart of Yoichi's bold style.

Recognized as the "father of Japanese whiskey", Nikka Whiskey founder Masataka Taketsuru shaped the history of Japanese whiskey, with the loving support of his Scottish wife Rita.

Masataka Taketsuru The son of a sake brewing family, he joins the Settsu Shuzo Company, which has a plan to produce the first authentic Japanese whiskey. With a background in chemistry, the young man leaves for Scotland with the aim of discovering the secrets of whiskey making.

Taketsuru meets Jessie Roberta Cowan, better known as Rita. They immediately fall in love and, against the wishes of their families, marry in Glasgow in less than a year.

Two years later, the couple returns to Japan, but their employer Settsu Shuzo abandons the project. whiskey for economic reasons. In 1923, Masaka is recruited by the Kotobukiya group, later renamed Suntory, and directs the construction of Japan's first whiskey distillery in 1924.

With Masataka's contract coming to an end, Rita inspires him to realize his dream: to build his own distillery on the island of Hokkaido. The northern island of Hokkaido is where Masataka finds the ideal site for the construction of Yoichi, a distillery built in the purest Scottish tradition.

To this day, the distillation process has remained true to traditional methods. At Yoichi, the stills are heated by direct charcoal fire, a practice the Scots have since abandoned as it is difficult to control. This gives the whiskey an additional subtle smokiness and rich, oily texture that are at the heart of Yoichi's bold style.