Nippon Seishu was the first sake brewery established in Hokkaido, founded shortly after the northern island was annexed in 1869, and today remains the only sake brewery operating in Sapporo. Under the Chitosezuru brand, the brewery has won gold at the National New Sake Competition for 14 consecutive years and has achieved gold every year at the Hokkaido New Sake Competition. Since 2016, the brewery has been led by Tomoko Ichizawa, one of the rare female toji in Japan, and actively prioritizes Ginpu sake rice grown locally in Hokkaido.
