Nakano Shuzo in Kitsuki City, Oita Prefecture, has been operating since 1874, and the Chiebijin name comes from the given name of the founding proprietress. The sixth-generation owner converted the brand to hiragana spelling and premium limited distribution, drawing on water pumped from 200 meters underground and mostly locally grown Oita rice; Chiebijin Junmai won the top prize among 650 entries at the Paris Kura Master competition.
