Matsuya Onoe visits Suntory Yamazaki Distillery, the holy land of Japanese whisky. The essence of the skills of Japan’s leading chief blender… Yamazaki 18 Year Old, the top prize-winning whisky at a global competition. Tracing Japan’s journey to th

Matsuya Onoe visits Suntory Yamazaki Distillery, the holy land of Japanese whiskey. The quintessence of Japan’s leading chief blender’s skills… Yamazaki 18 Year Old wins top prize at global competition. Tracing Japan’s journey to the pinnacle of global excellence ​
BS Asahi Corporation Press Release: October 22, 2025 Matsuya Onoe visits Suntory Yamazaki Distillery, the holy land of Japanese whiskey. The quintessence of Japan’s leading chief blender… Yamazaki 18 Year Old wins top prize at global competition. Tracing Japan’s journey to the pinnacle of global excellence. Matsuya Onoe Visits Japanese Whisky That Captivates the World [Broadcast on BS Asahi, Sunday, October 26th, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM]
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Matsuya Onoe visits Yamazaki Distillery ■Why is Japanese whiskey so loved around the world? A journey to Yamazaki, the birthplace of whiskey nurtured by fog and renowned water. Why is Japanese whiskey so loved around the world today? Kabuki actor Matsuya Onoe, a regular Yamazaki drinker, visits Yamazaki, the birthplace of Japanese whiskey, in search of the answer. This misty village, where the Katsura, Uji, and Kizu Rivers converge, is blessed with a humid climate and the famous “Rikyu no Mizu” water, making it a place beloved by tea masters and intellectuals since ancient times. It was here that Suntory founder Shinjiro Torii built Japan’s first full-scale malt whiskey distillery, ushering in a century-long history that continues to this day. Our predecessors, who learned authentic methods from imitation, created a whiskey culture unique to Japan, eventually evolving it into a world-class flavor. At Yamazaki Distillery, where Matsuya first set foot, a diverse range of unblended spirits are still being produced by skilled hands. From preparation to fermentation, distillation, and aging—using wooden barrels, stainless steel fermentation tanks, over a dozen differently shaped stills, and numerous types of barrels—these distilleries cultivate unique spirits. It’s as if a diverse group of actors have come together to create a stage performance.
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/112870/195/112870-195-c41dc6f23e8b3ed0f2065abaf4952ac3-1920×1080.png Matsuya Onoe tasting with Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo in the blending room at Yamazaki Distillery. The “blender” combines the diverse raw spirits created in this way and refines them into the ideal flavor. At the center of this process is Shinji Fukuyo, Japan’s leading chief blender. In pursuit of delicious quality, they draw up a “flavor blueprint” through daily tastings, not missing even the slightest difference. Sensitivity, built up over many years, is a skill that only humans can master and cannot be replaced by machines or AI. This skill of preserving delicate flavors has been passed down to the younger generation of blenders, and is honed through daily training and dialogue. Matsuya gives us a tour of the blending room, which is normally off-limits to the public, and explains the process of blending raw spirits that have been aged in over 100 different barrels. In addition, you’ll be guided through the Pilot Distillery, a small distillery facility for quality research and technological development that opened to the public in 2023, marking the 100th anniversary of Shinjiro Torii’s whiskey-making career. You’ll witness firsthand the passion and spirit behind Yamazaki Distillery’s whiskey-making efforts, which are constantly dedicated to the creation and development of whiskey culture. ■Yamazaki 18 Year Old Wins Top Award at International Spirits Competition (ISC) The story moves to London. The UK, home to the world’s finest spirits, is the undisputed center of whiskey culture. In London’s shops and bars, Japanese whiskey is sold alongside Scotch, and the voices of connoisseurs captivated by its aroma and flavor echo throughout the city. It has become a part of culinary culture and has a strong presence on the international stage. And at the awards ceremony of the 30th
International Spirits Challenge (ISC) 2025, a global spirits competition held in London on Thursday, September 25th (local time), the Japanese whiskey “Yamazaki 18 Year Old” won the Supreme Champion Spirit award, the highest award in all categories. This award follows Yamazaki 25 Year Old in 2023 and Yamazaki 12 Year Old in 2024, making it the first time in ISC history that a single brand has won the Supreme Champion Spirit award three years in a row. The accumulated efforts of Yamazaki Distillery and its Japanese blenders have blossomed into a magnificent achievement, reaching the pinnacle of global excellence. “As a Japanese person, I am very proud that Japanese whisky has traveled overseas, been recognized in the UK, and is spreading its wings around the world.” A story of land, history, and people told through the eyes of Matsuya Onoe. Each glass of amber embodies the blessings of Japan’s natural environment, the inheritance of artisanal skills, and a spirit of continuing to challenge itself beyond tradition. We uncover the secrets of Japanese whisky, which has spread across the oceans and captivated people’s hearts all over the world. Matsuya Onoe’s Comment Q: As someone who regularly drinks Yamazaki, what were your impressions after visiting the Yamazaki Distillery? “As a Japanese person, I’m very proud that Japanese whiskey has traveled the oceans, been recognized in its home country of England, and is now spreading its wings around the world. Behind its profound flavor lies the rich natural environment in which it is produced, but more than anything, the brewers’ attention to detail, spirit, and attitude of constantly challenging themselves while respecting the legacy of their predecessors… As someone involved in traditional performing arts and craftsmanship, I strongly feel that this is something I must emulate.” As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to appreciate the flavor and quality of alcohol, and I’ve naturally come to drink Yamazaki, finding it to be the tastiest and most suitable for me. But seeing the craftsmanship process and learning the passion of the brewers made me realize that, while I usually drink it diluted with water or soda, it actually tastes best straight. If I could get my hands on the award-winning Yamazaki 18 Year Old, I’d love to enjoy it at home, by myself.” Program overview [Program Title] Matsuya Onoe Visits: Japanese Whisky Captivating the World [Broadcast Date and Time] Sunday, October 26th, 9:00 PM – 10:00 PM [Broadcast Station] BS Asahi [CAST] Matsuya Onoe [Narration] Takashi Naito [Production] BS Asahi, East [Producers] Yukiko Oki (BS Asahi), Koichi Tezuka (East) [Copyright] When using program photos, please include the following notation: “(C) BS Asahi.” [Official website]
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