Company information
Company Profile
Company Name:
Year of Establishment:
Capital:
Representative:
Business Activities:
Number of Employees:
Name of Main Product:
Business Partners:
Main Financial Institutions:
Higa Syuzo Co.,Ltd.
1948
22,400,000 yen
Kensaku Higa, Representative Director
Manufacture and sales of Ryukyu Awamori sake
(single distilled shochu distilled liquor)
46
“ZANPA” Ryukyu Awamori Sake Series
Toyo Shurui Hambai Limited, Ryukyu Shuhan Co., Ltd., etc.
Bank of The Ryukyus, The Bank of Okinawa and The Okinawa Kaiho Bank
Headquarters
Address
1061 Nagahama, Yomitan, Okinawa, 904-0324 Japan
Contact
TEL.098-958-2205
FAX.098-958-3711
Business Hours
Mon - Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Tokyo Sales Office
Address
1-41-9-102 Oi, Shinagawa-ku Tokyo, 140-0014 Japan
Contact
TEL.03-3772-3841
FAX.03-3772-3854
Business Hours
Mon - Fri
9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Message from the CEO
Kensaku Higa, Representative Director
Using new methods of presentation that match the Okinawan specialty of Awamori sake with modern-day lifestyles, we seek to do more to publicize the deliciousness and fun of Awamori both within and outside Japan. With that sentiment in mind, over time, we have conducted preparations to roll out new branding. Over the ages, the nature of sake has also changed. If we make no changes ourselves, the sake industry will be increasingly forced to shrink alongside the shrinking population. With that in mind, under the brand theme of “SMILE BE WAVES,” we at HIGASYUZOU will proceed to roll out a brand using new methods of presentation that match the Okinawan specialty of Awamori sake with modern-day lifestyles. The slogan “SMILE BE WAVES” is a coined term to express our desire for situations filled with smiles in which people gather around Awamori sake together with their precious family and friends to spread out like waves. While keeping that sentiment close to heart, we will keep on regularly engaging in new brewing activities and endeavor to have people around the word savor the wonderfulness of Awamori sake.
The Philosophy of Founder Torakichi Higa
Bring quality Awamori sake to the people of Okinawa
-Torakichi Higa, founder-
Okinawa Prefecture had been literally destroyed by fire. For the residents of the prefecture who managed to survive the brutal conflict, in addition to the basic needs of food, clothing and shelter, there were shortages of things in all aspects. To put it more bluntly, people were starving.
Liquor was a luxury item that was hard to come by. People, despite being aware of the risks, resorted to methyl alcohol, and ended up losing their sight. Some of them even lost their lives.
Lamenting this situation, Torakichi Higa felt, “Okinawa will be in great trouble if this continues. Someone has to create and offer proper liquor as soon as possible.” Quitting his job as a schoolteacher, he toiled day and night to brew Awamori sake, a world then unknown to him, based on the philosophy of “brewing Awamori that is dependable and safe.”
In 1948, three years after World War II came to a close, Higa obtained a brewing license from the American government and commenced sales of his long-awaited first Awamori offering, called “Marutaka” (whose logo consists of a circle (“maru”) containing the first part of the name of Higa’s hometown (“taka”)). Furthermore, in 1980 after some time had passed, he brought forth his primary brand, “ZANPA.”
The ZANPA Series is loved not only by the people of Okinawa where the liquor is from, but also by numerous people across the rest of Japan and around the world. As we move forward, we will press vigorously forward in our endeavors to create better Zanpa Awamori sake with our founder Torakichi Higa’s philosophy in our hearts.
COMPANY HISTORY
History
1948
Founded as “NANBU SHUZO KUMIAI” following transfer to private sector in Yomitan-son, Nakagami-kun, Okinawa.
1953
Renamed to Higa Syuzo Co.,Ltd. Torakichi Higa assumed post of President.
Obtained liquor license from American government. Released HIGASYUZOU’s first Awamori sake, “Marutaka.”
1980
Released the Awamori sake “ZANPA.”
1983
Released habu snake liquor.
1985
Released the Awamori sake “ZANPA 30% (BLACK).”
1988
Released the Awamori sake “ZANPA 25% (WHITE).”
1989
Released “ZANPA CUP.”
1990
Released an original distiller under the second President Takeru Higa.
1994
Torakichi Higa assumed the post of Chairman and Takeru Higa that of Representative Director.
1995
Featured Okinawan folk singer Shuken Maekawa in TV spots for ZANPA Awamori sake.
2001
Built a plant in Nagahama, Yomitan-son.
2006
Released the Awamori sake “KURA NO TAKARA” and “ZANPA SHOKUNIN.”
Opened the Tokyo Sales Office.
2009
Takeru Higa assumed the post of Chairman and Kensaku Higa that of Representative Director.
2018
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” was awarded Three Stars five years in a row and the Diamond Taste Award seven years in a row by the iTQi.
2019
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 41%” won the Okinawa Prefectural Governor’s Prize and Okinawa Regional Taxation Office Director’s Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2020
Began using a new logo design due to rebranding with a view to the next generation.
2021
Commenced “SMILES BECOME WAVES” fan events.
AWARD HISTORY
Awards
1976
-
“ZANPA” won the Bronze Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2003
-
“UMI NO AYA 30%” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2004
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2006
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%” won the Grand Prix in the Tasting Category at the Fall National Liquors Contest.
-
“UMI NO AYA” won Runner-Up in the Awamori Category at the Fall National Liquors Contest.
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2007
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%” won the Grand Prix in the Awamori Category at the Fall National Liquors Contest.
“ZANPA WHITE” won the Monde Selection Gold Award, “ZANPA BLACK” the Silver Award and “ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%” the Bronze Award.
2008
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
“ZANPA WHITE” and “KURA NO TAKARA” were awarded Three Stars.
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 43%,” “UMI NO AYA” and “ZANPA SHOKUNIN” were awarded Two Stars.
2009
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE 35%” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
2011
-
Monde Selection
-
“OKUSEN NO HOSHI” won the Grand Gold Award two years in a row.
-
“ZANPA WHITE” won the Gold Award five years in a row.
-
“ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA SHOKUNIN” won the Gold Award three years in a row.
-
“KURA NO TAKARA” won the Gold Award two years in a row.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award.
2012
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” and “OKUSEN NO HOSHI” were awarded Three Stars.
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA SHOKUNIN” were awarded Two Stars three years in a row.
-
“UMI NO AYA 30%” was awarded Two Stars four years in a row.
2013
-
“ZANPA 1999 OLD SAKE” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA WHITE” won the Gold Award seven years in a row.
-
“ZANPA BLACK” won the Gold Award five years in a row.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award three years in a row.
2014
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM UNPROCESSED SAKE” won the Honor Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” was awarded Three Stars.
-
“ZANPA WHITE” was awarded Two Stars.
2016
-
“ZANPA 2006 OLD SAKE” won the Okinawa Prefectural Governor’s Prize and Okinawa Regional Taxation Office Director’s Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
-
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA WHITE” won the Gold Award ten years in a row.
-
“ZANPA BLACK” won the Gold Award eight years in a row.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award six years in a row.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” won the Gold Award two years in a row.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM” was awarded Three Stars three years in a row. (Crystal Taste Award)
-
“ZANPA WHITE” was awarded Two Stars three years in a row.
-
“ZANPA BLACK” was awarded Two Stars two years in a row.
2017
-
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 30%”won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” and “ZANPA YUZU SPARKLING” won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PLUM WINE” and “ZANPA AOGIRI SHEQUWASER” won the Gold Award.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM” was awarded Three Stars four years in a row.
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” were awarded Two Stars.
2018
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE” won the Okinawa Regional Taxation Office Director’s Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA BLACK,” “ZANPA WHITE” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 35%” and “ZANPA AOGIRI SHEQUWASER” won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PLUM WINE” and “ZANPA YUZU SPARKLING” won the Gold Award.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM” was awarded Three Stars.
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” were awarded Two Stars.
2019
-
“ZANPA OLD SAKE” won the Okinawa Prefectural Governor’s Prize and Okinawa Regional Taxation Office Director’s Prize by the Awamori Kampyokai recognizing excellence in Awamori sake.
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA BLACK,” “ZANPA WHITE” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 35%” and “ZANPA AOGIRI SHEQUWASER” won the Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PLUM WINE” and “ZANPA YUZU SPARKLING” won the Gold Award.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
“ZANPA PREMIUM” was awarded Three Stars eight times. (Diamond Taste Award)“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” were awarded Two Stars.
2020
-
Monde Selection
-
“ZANPA BLACK” won the Gold Award twelve years in a row.
-
“ZANPA WHITE” won the Gold Award fourteen years in a row.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 30%” won the Grand Gold Award.
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM 35%” won the Grand Gold Award and the International High-Quality Trophy.
-
“ZANPA AOGIRI SHEQUWASER” won the Gold Award.“ZANPA PLUM WINE” and “ZANPA YUZU SPARKLING” won the Gold Award five years in a row.
-
iTQi (International Taste & Quality Institute)
-
“ZANPA PREMIUM” was awarded Three Stars.
-
“ZANPA WHITE,” “ZANPA BLACK” and “ZANPA PREMIUM 5-YEAR OLD SAKE” were awarded Two Stars.
Environmental initiatives
ZANPA proactively conducts SDG efforts for sustainable environmental production and CSR efforts geared towards the community, among other activities.
