Tokugawa Ieyasu effectively unified Japan after the decisive Sekigahara battle in 1600; however, further battles and skirmishes against the supporters of the now vanquished Toyotomi Hideyoshi continued right up until 1615 and the battle for Osaka Castle (Osaka Natsu no Jin). Kimura Shigenari was one of Toyotomi’s most trusted senior vassals but, when his forces were defeated and Kimura killed, his family fled some 600 miles north to Yuzawa in Akita Prefecture. Here they found three natural blessings: pure water, fine rice and brutally cold winters. The opening of Kimura sake brewery followed shortly thereafter. In 1911, the first ‘Annual Japan Sake Awards’ (Zenkoku Shinshu Kampyokai) was held in Japan and Kimura Shuzo received Shinpo Ittosho (first prize) at these inaugural awards. Since then, Kimura Shuzo has received more than 100 prizes at Annual Japan Sake Awards, including Gold Prize (highest award) nine times in the last 10 years. In 2012, Kimura Shuzo received highest award of champion sake at International Wine Challenge 2012. This dogged dedication to excellence has meant Kimura Shuzo and its flagship brand - Fukukomachi - have become extremely well respected and sought after both in Japan and abroad.