Company attributes
Other attributes
History of Masataka Taketsuru and Nikka Whisky
1894
Born into a sake brewing family in Hiroshima on June 20.
1916
Graduated from Osaka Technical (High School) where he majored in brewing. Entered Settsu Shuzo Company in Osaka.
1918
Embarked for Scotland via U.S.A.
1918
Arrived in Scotland and enrolled at the University of Glasgow in December.
1919
Apprenticed at Longmorn Distillery in Speyside to learn malt whisky production.
1919
Apprenticed at James Calder in Bo’ness to learn Coffey grain whisky.
1920
Married Rita on January 8.
1920
Apprenticed at Hazelburn Distillery in Cambeltown to learn malt whisky production and blending.
1920
Returned to Japan with Rita in November.
1922
Left Settsu Shuzo Company since the plan to produce whisky was abandoned.
1923
Entered Kotobukiya Limited (Suntory) with a 10-year contract.
1923
Directed to build Yamazaki Distillery, the first whisky distillery in Japan, and engaged in whisky production.
1934
Left Kotobukiya in March.
1934
Established Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. on July 2.
1936
Yoichi Distillery started distillation.
1940
The first whisky “NIKKA WHISKY” launched.
1949
Takeshi Taketsuru, Masataka’s nephew and adopted son, entered Nikka Whisky.
1952
The corporate name Dai Nippon Kaju Co., Ltd. was altered to The Nikka Whisky Distilling Co., Ltd.
1961
Rita died on January 17 at the age of 64.
1963
The first Coffey Still was imported from Scotland and installed at Asahi Breweries’ Nishinomiya plant to produce grain whisky. (The Coffey Stills were transferred to Miyagikyo Distillery in 1999.)
1966
The second Coffey Still was installed.
1967
Kashiwa bottling plant completed.
1969
Miyagikyo Distillery completed in April and started distillation.
1977
Tochigi plant completed.1979Masataka died on August 29 at the age of 85.
