Chiran Township, located in the southernmost tip of the Satsuma Peninsula of Kagoshima Prefecture,is rich with agriculture and known for their Shochu distilling heritage. The high quality of locally grown “Kogane Sengan” sweet potatoes are essential to making delicious Imo-shochu (sweet potato shochu). Minami Kyushu City, where Chiran Jozo is located, boasts the highest production of sweet potatoes in Japan.

As shochu production becomes increasingly mechanized, Chiran Distillery cherishes the teachings of their predecessors, “Don't make it with a machine, make it with your five senses.” Chiran Distillery continues to adhere to traditional methods that yield rich character, such as handmade thai rice koji propagated on triangular tented malting shelfs. The water used for fermentation and to adjust the alcohol content is sourced from a mineral-rich underground aqufer.