Meigetsu -Akashi Shuzo-

Akashi Shuzo's history begins in 1891 (Meiji 24), when founder Jiemon Akashi started shochu making in what is today Ebino City, Miyazaki Prefecture. Surrounded by the Kyushu Mountains and the Kirishima range, the natural environment offers locally grown rice, sweet potatoes, and pure water — and the brewery has continued shochu making leveraging these. Originally a brewery that ran alongside farming, today the team still plants rice together, cherishing craftsmanship that engages with ingredients from the source.

On the official site and online shop, alongside the phrase "Meigetsu that soothes the heart," the brewery speaks of its wish to deliver shochu that makes people feel round and bright in spirit. Built on more than 130 years of unchanged passion since founding, the careful approach of checking each ingredient by human eyes and hands forms the core of Akashi Shuzo's craftsmanship.

The flagship authentic imo shochu "Meigetsu" is made mainly from southern-Kyushu sweet potatoes and rice, aiming for a gentle mouthfeel and clean finish. The Miyazaki Prefecture product promotion center's company information introduces brands with varied expressions: "Meigetsu Long-Term Matured Imo," jar-aged "Ichiganbozu," black-koji "Kuro Meigetsu," purple sweet potato "? Naina Murasaki," and barrel-aged barley shochu "Tsuki no Megami (Moon Goddess)."

The official online shop carries standard imo and barley shochu products alongside gift sets, summer gifts, a 20% abv shochu corner, and an original goods corner — offering logo glasses, original aprons, T-shirts, stickers, and can badges. Beyond just drinking scenes, the shop is structured so the "Meigetsu" worldview can be enjoyed in everyday life.

In addition, according to the brewery introduction, weekday tours and tastings are offered with prior application by phone or website — letting you see storage tanks and brewing scenes and taste representative products. Through such initiatives, Akashi Shuzo communicates the appeal of Ebino City and the culture of authentic shochu, aiming to continue delivering "delicious shochu that pleasantly intoxicates even the heart."

An authentic shochu brewery rooted in the rice country of Ebino, Miyazaki

Akashi Shuzo is located in Ebino City, an area known as a major rice-producing region in southern Kyushu surrounded by rural landscapes. The brewery introduces on its website that it engages in rice cultivation with reduced pesticide use, with staff taking part in rice planting. By focusing on locally grown rice and clean water, the distillery produces shochu enjoyed both in everyday life and on special occasions.

More than 130 years of "soothe the heart" shochu making since 1891

According to the brewery introduction by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, Akashi Shuzo started shochu production in 1891 (Meiji 24) and has been making shochu for over 130 years — continuing careful brewing with high-quality ingredients, good water, and traditional techniques. Its portfolio includes the flagship imo shochu "Meigetsu," the limited-release "? Naina," and the barrel-aged barley shochu "Tsuki no Megami (Moon Goddess)" — pursuing tastes passed down across generations.

Experience the brewery worldview through the online shop and brewery tours

The official online shop offers Meigetsu-series imo shochu and barley shochu, the 20% abv shochu popular in Miyazaki, gift sets, and original goods such as logo glasses, aprons, and T-shirts. In addition, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, the brewery accepts visitors for tours and tastings on weekdays by reservation — letting you experience the brewing atmosphere on-site and taste fresh shochu.