Ban Ryu means “ten thousand ways.†It is an expression used in the sake world to answer the question, in how many ways is one sake different from another. The answer, in 10 Thousand Ways: the yeast, the koji, timing of brewing, etc., It also means, more informally, “versatility.†The brewery tries to catch both meanings in its name, however, they passionately believe it can be enjoyed in 10 Thousand ways–chilled, warmed, hot, with light food, heavy food, sweet food and spicy food.\n \n Distillery Information\n Founded in 1778, the Fuji Brewery is now managed by the 13th generation of the Kato family, Ariyoshi Kato. Located in Tsuruoka City, a sake-brewing hub in Yamagata prefecture, Eiko Fuji embodies the style of Yamagata—light, clean, and delightfully fruity. Eiko Fuji means “Glorious Mount Fuji.†The name is a tribute to Japan’s national symbol and the brewery’s aspiration in making sake. Ariyoshi Kato is the 13th generation President of the Fuji Brewing Company. After graduating from college, he started a career in finance in Tokyo. The brewery was on solid footing under his father’s leadership. However, Kato-san saw the potential for something new—a revival of something already great. He returned home to Yamagata and joined the brewery, becoming President under his father’s leadership as Chairman. As he took the reins, he began to innovate and change. He attracted new talent and embraced new ideas. Under his leadership, Eiko Fuji has grown in size and renovated almost every area of the brewery. Despite their success, Kato-san works in the brewery, side-by-side with his brewing team, making sake. He leads as a team, with his two trusted, key managers, Shigeyuki Yoneyama, his marketing director and Kodai Kato (no family relation), his brewmaster. Eiko Fuji is the story of how a brewery that is two years younger than the United States, thirteen generations old, is still innovating, improving, and embracing new people and ideas.
