Founded in 1849 and still family-owned, Azuma Rikishi is a brewery with deep roots in Tochigi Prefecture. While the region isn't one of Japan's most famous sake-producing areas, it has a strong local consumption culture, thanks in part to tourist attractions like the Nikko Shrine.

The style of sake produced here is generally accessible, slightly sweet, and elegant—qualities that perfectly match the region's taste preferences. It is precisely this soft, fruity base that forms the foundation for one of the brewery's most striking creations: a refined Yuzushu, in which the sake is enriched with fresh yuzu, creating a subtle balance of citrus and umami.

Azuma Rikishi combines classic techniques with a sense of regional flavour, proving that characterful and surprising drinks can be made even outside the major sake prefectures.