Nishino Kinryo

Nishino Kinryo Co., Ltd. (西野金陵株式会社) is a Japanese company headquartered in Kotohira, Nakatado District, Kagawa Prefecture, with its sake division in Takamatsu and its chemical division in Osaka. The company traces its origins to 1658, when the first Nishino Kaemon began dealing in Awa indigo, and its sake brewing lineage to 1779. The 'Kinryo' sake brand was launched in 1789 in Kotohira and became the sacred sake of the Kotohira-gu shrine. The modern corporation was established in 1918 as Kinryo Nishino Shoten, renamed Nishino Shoten in 1948, and adopted its current name in 1982. Today, Nishino Kinryo operates three main businesses: sake brewing and sales of alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, food wholesale, and tourism centered on the 'Kinryo no Sato' sake museum. Its flagship sake brand, Kinryo, includes junmai daiginjo, ginjo, honjozo, and seasonal limited editions such as hiyaoroshi. The company also produces liqueurs, plum wine, gin, and shochu. With a capital of 27 million yen and annual sales of 58.1 billion yen, Nishino Kinryo remains a privately held, family-rooted enterprise deeply connected to the local culture of Kagawa.

The history of Nishino Kinryo spans over three centuries. In 1658 (Manji 1), the first Nishino Kaemon began dealing in Awa indigo in the Tokushima region, establishing a family business that would be passed down through generations. By 1768 (Meiwa 5), the family had expanded to Edo (modern Tokyo). In 1779 (An'ei 8), the seventh generation head, Nishino Kaemon, started sake brewing in Shibao, Awa (present-day Tokushima Prefecture). A decade later, in 1789 (Kansei 1), the eighth generation moved sake production to Kotohira in Sanuki (present-day Kagawa Prefecture), where the 'Kinryo' brand was born and soon became the sacred sake (omiki) of the Kotohira-gu shrine. The name 'Kinryo' is said to derive from the Chinese scholar Rai San'yo, who visited Kotohira and likened the area to the ancient Chinese capital Jinling (Nanjing), calling it 'Kinryo'. In 1918 (Taisho 7), the fifteenth generation reorganized the sake business into a stock company named Kinryo Nishino Shoten. In 1948 (Showa 23), this company merged with Nishino Shoten (a chemical-related limited company) to form Nishino Shoten Co., Ltd. In 1982 (Showa 57), the company changed its name to Nishino Kinryo Co., Ltd. In 1988, the year the Seto Ohashi Bridge opened, the company opened 'Kinryo no Sato', a sake museum and cultural facility at the entrance to the Kotohira-gu shrine approach, restoring the original white-walled brewery from the Kansei era. The facility includes a history museum and a culture museum, and serves as a hub for tourism and regional revitalization. Today, Nishino Kinryo continues to operate its sake brewing, food wholesale, and tourism businesses, with its sake division in Takamatsu and chemical division in Osaka. The company remains privately held and deeply rooted in the local community of Kotohira.

• 1988

  'Kinryo no Sato' opens in Kotohira

• 1982

  Renamed Nishino Kinryo Co., Ltd.

• 1948

  Merged with Nishino Shoten to form Nishino Shoten Co., Ltd.

• 1918

  Reorganized as Kinryo Nishino Shoten Co., Ltd.

• 1789

  Eighth generation launches 'Kinryo' sake in Kotohira; becomes sacred sake of Kotohira-gu

• 1779

  Seventh generation starts sake brewing in Awa Shibao

• 1768

  Expansion to Edo

• 1658

  First Nishino Kaemon begins Awa indigo business

Traditional Japanese sake brewery with a heritage dating back to the Edo period, combining sake production, food wholesale, and cultural tourism.

• Kinryo Hiyaoroshi

  Autumn-release limited sake, alcohol 18%, rice polishing 70%, slightly sweet, rich type.

• Kinryo Junmai Daiginjo Shizuku-zake

  Premium junmai daiginjo sake.

• Kinryo JELLY Shirokoji Junmai Ginjo Genshu Ichibin

  Junmai ginjo genshu with white koji.

• Kinryo Setouchi Olive Junmai Ginjo

  Junmai ginjo sake using Setouchi olives, IWC Silver winner.

1. 1Official websitenishino-kinryo.co.jp
2. 2Company overviewnishino-kinryo.co.jp
3. 3Wikipedia (Japanese)ja.wikipedia.org
4. 4Wikidatawikidata.org
5. 5お酒の種類から選ぶ | 香川の地酒 日本酒の蔵元「金陵」オンラインストアnishino-kinryo.co.jp
6. 6金陵 ひやおろし | 香川の地酒 日本酒の蔵元「金陵」オンラインストアnishino-kinryo.co.jp