The Four Heavenly Kings of the Noto Tōji 能登杜氏四天王
A group of highly regarded Noto Toji master brewers from the Noto Toji Guild They also appear in the documentary 一献の系譜
Saburo Naka 中三郎 From Shata Shuzo 車多酒造 in Ishikawa 石川県. Famous for their Yamahai 山廃 and thier label Tengumai sake. He was known as a pre-eminent brewers of the Yamahai style. Passed away in 2026?
Naohiko Noguchi 農口尚彦 Still active at 93 years old. Toji at Kikuhime 菊姫合資会社, in Ishikawa 石川県. Retired three times and returned to brewing at different breweries. Currently brewing at the Noguchi institute from which he is the founder. and owner-toji.
Koichi Sanbai 三盃幸一 Brewer at Masuda Shuzo 桝田酒造店 in Toyama 富山県. Regarded for further development and implementation of Ginjō brewing methods. Masuizumi became well-known across the country in part for his efforts. Passed away in 2018.
Shōkichi Hase 波瀬正吉 From Doi Shuzo 土井酒造 in Shizuoka 静岡県, famous for the Kaiun label. He helped isolate the Shizuoka Yeast (HD-1, or NEW-5) from a tank of his Dai Ginjō. Passed away in 2009.
References
Kishida, Nobuyuki. ‘The Factors in the Establishment of the Shizuoka Sake Brewing Cluster: Regional Human Resources Enabling Open Innovation’. Diversity, Innovation and Clusters, edited by Iréne Bernhard et al., Edward Elgar Publishing, 2020. DOI.org (Crossref), https://doi.org/10.4337/9781789902587.00014.
はんなり酔吉. “私たちは忘れない… 波瀬正吉翁の記憶〈酔いの余白〉.” 日本酒コンシェルジュ通信, 11 July 2018, sakeconcierge.com/about-hase-shokichi-toji-yoi-no-yohaku/. Accessed 10 Apr 2026.
Sake Industry News. “Sake Industry News. Issue #157.” Substack.com, Sake Industry News, Apr. 2026, sakeindustrynews.substack.com/p/sake-industry-news-issue-157. Accessed 10 Apr 2026.