Hijiri Shuzo, located in Shibukawa City, Gunma Prefecture, founded around 1841 in a cold highland area swept by the drying Akagi-oroshi winds from Mount Akagi — conditions long considered ideal for winter cold-brewing. The brewery's Kantonohana brand takes its name from a legendary phrase spoken by Tokugawa Ieyasu to his retainers, making Gunma a symbol of regional pride. Using 100% Gunma-grown rice and the techniques of the Nanbu toji tradition, Kantonohana has won ten cumulative gold awards at the National New Sake Tasting Competition.
