Masataka Taketsuru
Encyclopedia
founded Japan's whisky
industry. He was born in 1894 in Takehara, Hiroshima
to a family that had owned a sake brewery since 1733.
at the University of Glasgow
in Scotland
. He studied under Thomas Stewart Patterson, the Gardiner Chair of Chemistry.
He also worked at a number of Scottish distilleries. In 1920, he married Jessie Roberta "Rita" Cowan of Middlecroft, Kirkintilloch
, despite opposition from both their families. Initially, they lived in Campbeltown
and Taketsuru worked at Hazelburn distillery before moving to Japan later in 1920 via New York and Seattle.
producer, and eventually became part of Suntory
.
In 1934, he founded his own distilling company, Dai Nippon Kaju K.K., in Yoichi
on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō
. He believed that this part of Japan was the most similar to Scotland. He later renamed the company Nikka
. Nikka whisky was first sold in October 1940. Taketsuru's wife, Rita, died in January 1961, of liver disease. Taketsuru died in 1979. He is buried in Yoichi together with his wife.
Whisky
Whisky or whiskey is a type of distilled alcoholic beverage made from fermented grain mash. Different grains are used for different varieties, including barley, malted barley, rye, malted rye, wheat, and corn...
industry. He was born in 1894 in Takehara, Hiroshima
Takehara, Hiroshima
is a city located in Hiroshima, Japan., the city has an estimated population of 29,093 and a density of 246 persons per km². The total area is 118.30 km².The city was founded on November 3, 1958....
to a family that had owned a sake brewery since 1733.
Experiences in Scotland
In 1919 he took summer classes in organic chemistryOrganic chemistry
Organic chemistry is a subdiscipline within chemistry involving the scientific study of the structure, properties, composition, reactions, and preparation of carbon-based compounds, hydrocarbons, and their derivatives...
at the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. He studied under Thomas Stewart Patterson, the Gardiner Chair of Chemistry.
He also worked at a number of Scottish distilleries. In 1920, he married Jessie Roberta "Rita" Cowan of Middlecroft, Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch is a town and former burgh in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland. It lies on the Forth and Clyde Canal, about eight miles northeast of central Glasgow...
, despite opposition from both their families. Initially, they lived in Campbeltown
Campbeltown
Campbeltown is a town and former royal burgh in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It lies by Campbeltown Loch on the Kintyre peninsula. Originally known as Kinlochkilkerran , it was renamed in the 17th century as Campbell's Town after Archibald Campbell was granted the site in 1667...
and Taketsuru worked at Hazelburn distillery before moving to Japan later in 1920 via New York and Seattle.
Return to Japan
After returning to Japan, Taketsuru worked at Kotobukiya, where he helped to establish a whisky distillery. Kotobukiya was owned by Shinjiro Torii, a wineWine
Wine is an alcoholic beverage, made of fermented fruit juice, usually from grapes. The natural chemical balance of grapes lets them ferment without the addition of sugars, acids, enzymes, or other nutrients. Grape wine is produced by fermenting crushed grapes using various types of yeast. Yeast...
producer, and eventually became part of Suntory
Suntory
is a Japanese brewing and distilling company group. Established in 1899, it is one of the oldest companies in the distribution of alcoholic beverages in Japan. Its business has expanded to other fields, and the company now offers everything from soft drinks to sandwich chains...
.
In 1934, he founded his own distilling company, Dai Nippon Kaju K.K., in Yoichi
Yoichi, Hokkaido
is a town located in the Yoichi District, Shiribeshi, Hokkaidō, Japan.-Demographics:As of 2008, the population of Yoichi is estimated to be 21,908 with a density of 162.21 persons per km². The total area of Yoichi is 140.60 km². The climate is mild , with temperatures ranging from -6°C to...
on the northern Japanese island of Hokkaidō
Hokkaido
, formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, is Japan's second largest island; it is also the largest and northernmost of Japan's 47 prefectural-level subdivisions. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu, although the two islands are connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel...
. He believed that this part of Japan was the most similar to Scotland. He later renamed the company Nikka
Nikka Whisky Distilling
The is a producer of Japanese whisky headquartered in Tokyo. They have two malt whisky distilleries, one in Yoichi, Hokkaidō , and the other in Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Northern Honshū...
. Nikka whisky was first sold in October 1940. Taketsuru's wife, Rita, died in January 1961, of liver disease. Taketsuru died in 1979. He is buried in Yoichi together with his wife.