Chichibu

When Ichiro Akuto began distilling in 2008 in his hometown of Chichibu, roughly 80 kilometres northwest of Tokyo, it marked the first new whisky distilling licence granted in Japan in 35 years. In doing so, he continued a family tradition that began in 1946 with his grandfather Isoji Akuto's Hanyu distillery, and which nearly ended in 2000 when the family business was sold.

Because Hanyu's new owners had no interest in whisky production, Ichiro Akuto personally bought up all 400 remaining casks, rescuing a piece of Japanese whisky history in the process. From the Chichibu 10 Year Old to Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries, you will find the right bottle for every occasion in our selection.

How did one man save 400 casks of Japanese whisky?

The story begins in 1625 with the Akuto family's sake brewery, Toa Shuzo, which was expanded to include a whisky distillery in Hanyu under Isoji Akuto in 1946. When the company ran into difficulties around the turn of the millennium, the family decided to sell – but the new owners had no interest in continuing whisky production and had the stills dismantled. Ichiro Akuto, the founder's grandson, borrowed money from relatives to buy up all 400 remaining Hanyu casks, and founded his own company, Venture Whisky, in 2004. Under the name "Ichiro's Malt", he began bottling these rescued stocks – in 2006, the "King of Diamonds" release already won a gold medal from Whisky Magazine.

How did Chichibu's own distillery come about?

Buoyed by the success of Ichiro's Malt, Akuto imported Scottish stills and equipment and built an entirely new distillery in his hometown of Chichibu. Distillation began there in March 2008 – the first new whisky licence granted in Japan in 35 years. Chichibu's success is now widely credited with helping revive the entire Japanese whisky industry and inspiring the founding of numerous new craft distilleries across the country.

Overview of the most popular bottlings

1. Chichibu Ichiro's Malt Double Distilleries (Japan)
A blend of Chichibu and other Japanese distillate.
Taste: Fruity and spicy with a typically Japanese oak note.
Serving suggestion: An accessible introduction to the Ichiro's Malt world.

2. Chichibu 10 Year Old Release 2025
A rare, annually released age-statement bottling from the cult distillery.
Taste: Complex, with ripe fruit and fine spice.
Serving suggestion: For collectors and connoisseurs seeking a piece of modern Japanese whisky history.

Facts and figures

Location: Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture, Japan. Founder: Ichiro Akuto. First distillation: March 2008. Company: Venture Whisky (founded 2004).