Sumikawa Brewery

Sumikawa Brewery began in Hagi in 1921, when the Sumikawa family moved from rice trading into brewing by taking over a relative’s brewery. Its sole sake label, Toyo Bijin, means “Eastern Beauty” and was named by the first proprietor in memory of his wife.

Fourth-generation brewer Takafumi Sumikawa studied brewing at Tokyo University of Agriculture and trained at Takagi Brewery before returning to the family business. When a flood devastated the brewery in 2013, more than 1,500 supporters helped with the recovery; a new brewery followed in 2014.