Kojika

Kojika Brewery is a well-known producer of Shochu, a traditional Japanese distilled spirit, located in Kagoshima Prefecture, which is located in the southern part of Japan's Kyushu Island. The Kojika Brewery has been producing Shochu for more than a century, and it is known for its high-quality products that are made using traditional methods and locally-sourced ingredients. Kagoshima is one of the most famous regions in Japan for Shochu production, and Kojika Brewery is considered one of the best in the area. The brewery produces several varieties of Shochu, mostly those made from sweet potato.

Kojika’s home of Kanoya-shi Aira-cho is next to a laurel forest at the base of the Kunimi range, including Mt. Kunimi, Mt. Kurosondake, and Mt. Hoyoshidake. Mountain rain pours on the forest, then is absorbed into the earth and eventually becomes underground water, polished and refined with time. Fresh streams of underground water are constantly bubbling in Gyokusenji Park near Airasanryou, Gyokusen meaning “fountain of jewels” and ji meaning temple. Kagoshima shochu is specifically blessed with pure spring water drawn from a depth of 100 meters (328 feet), rich in minerals and infused with Kagoshima’s southern air.

Power of the Earth

Kagoshima’s Ōsumi Peninsula is the number one producer of sweet potatoes in Japan, with large potato fields spread throughout. It’s been over 300 years since sweet potatoes first arrived from China and the Kagoshima soil has been tenderly, but boldly, growing sweet potatoes ever since.

With the thought, “We want to produce Kagoshima shochu from fresh, high quality sweet potatoes harvested from the Kagoshima earth”, in 1994 Kojika Agricultural Co-Operative was established to match the production plan for growing sweet potatoes with a direct management farm of approx. 30 ha (3,229,170 sq ft) and a contract farm approx of 100 ha (10,763,900 sq ft).