Hombo Shuzo was founded in 1872 in Minamisatsuma City, Kagoshima Prefecture. Since its establishment, the company has upheld the same founding spirit: a steadfast commitment to craftsmanship rooted in the local community. For over 150 years, it has continued to produce authentic shōchū across four distilleries within Kagoshima. In 1960, Hombo Shuzo expanded into wine production by establishing a new winery in Yamanashi Prefecture, one of Japan’s leading grape-growing regions. Today, the company operates two wineries in Yamanashi, where it strives to create wines of world-class quality that express the character of Japan’s land and climate.
As a custodian of Japan’s food and drink culture, Hombo Shuzo operates production bases in Kagoshima, Yamanashi and Nagano Prefectures, crafting shōchū, wine and whisky that are deeply rooted in local resources and traditions. The company’s products have earned numerous trophies and medals at prestigious international competitions, underscoring both their quality and their authenticity.
There is great joy in crafting a diverse range of beverages that reflect the essence of their ingredients, from sweet potatoes and barley to grapes, through both traditional distillation and brewing techniques and innovative production methods. Each drink tells a story of its place, its climate and its culture. By drawing on the local environment and the unique qualities of each raw material, Hombo Shuzo creates expressions that vividly convey the varieties, regions and historical traditions from which they come.
Guided by a philosophy of sincerity and originality, Hombo Shuzo continues to pursue innovation in sake-making and distillation, with the goal of achieving excellence that meets global standards whilst remaining true to its Japanese heritage.
