Kintora Sake Brewery was founded in 1845 in Nagoya, Aichi Prefecture, with the name combining the golden dolphins of Nagoya Castle and the tiger year of the third-generation proprietor. The brewery built its craft through successive Echigo toji master brewers, developing a tradition of light, dry sake with a clean finish, and in 2012 launched the Kohen prestige label as a tribute to Nagoya, blending heritage techniques with the ambitions of younger brewers.