Founded in 1540 in the Kawanakajima district of Nagano City, Shusen Kurano is the oldest sake brewery in Nagano Prefecture and one of the seven oldest in Japan. Legend has it that the great warlord Takeda Shingen drank sake from this house during the famous Battles of Kawanakajima. The brewery's well has been fed by underground streams from the Chikuma and Sai rivers for over 460 years, providing the soft water essential to its brewing. Today, the brewery is led by Mariko Chino, a pioneering female toji and one of the most recognized women in the Japanese sake industry. The brewery produces three brands: Katsura Masamune, a traditional house staple; Kawanakajima, known for its rich, creamy nigori; and Genbu ("Phantom Dance"), a modern, fruit-forward line developed by Mariko that has earned a strong following among sake enthusiasts nationwide. Nearly five centuries of history, guided by a bold and talented toji — Shusen Kurano is tradition and innovation in one glass.