Why did Shinjiro Torii choose Shimahonmachi, Osaka Prefecture, as the construction site for the Suntory Yamazaki Distillery? There are two reasons related to the surrounding natural environment.
One is the humid climate. At the southern part of the distillery at the foot of Mt. Tenno, the Katsura, Uji and Kizu rivers meet. Humidity is created by the intersection of three rivers with different water temperatures. Takahisa Fujii, 60, the factory manager, says, ``In winter, there are times when fog is so thick that it becomes difficult to see the buildings.''
When whiskey is stored in barrels, it evaporates little by little through the gaps between the barrels. The drier the land, the more likely it is to decrease. The humid foot of Mt. Tenno has a climate suitable for long-term aging.
The other is that the high-quality water that is indispensable for the raw materials of whiskey springs out.
According to Suntory's company history, Torii sent samples of the groundwater used at the distillery to researchers in Scotland and asked them to test the water quality. The water was praised as ``the most suitable water.''
“The complex and powerful flavor of Yamazaki whiskey is dependent on groundwater, which is rich in minerals.”
Mr. Ken Yamada (68), the chief specialist of the "Natural Water Sanctuary" project to conserve the forests that serve as water sources for each factory, explains the groundwater of Mt. Tenno. It is said that it takes 20 years for the rainwater that falls on Mt. Tenno to flow into a spring. As the water travels through complex geological formations, mineral components are added to the groundwater.
On the other hand, at the Suntory Hakushu Distillery (Hokuto City, Yamanashi Prefecture), it is known that the groundwater springs up in a shorter period of time than the groundwater of Mt. Tenno. It does not have as many mineral components as Yamazaki, which is said to contribute to the light taste of Hakushu whisky.
``The idea of building factories near optimal water sources, which started with the Yamazaki Distillery, has become Suntory's ``genes as a company,'''' says Yamada.
The Suntory Kyoto Beer Factory (Nagaokakyo City), a production base in western Japan, located one station away from the Yamazaki Distillery on the JR Tokaido Line, also makes use of the high-quality groundwater nurtured by the forests of Nishiyama.
``Protecting water sources is not a social contribution or volunteer activity, but a core business of our company,'' says Yamada. Currently, there are 22 locations nationwide, covering 12,000 hectares.
First, scientific research and analysis will be conducted in each forest. We collaborate with researchers in a wide range of fields, including forest ecology, soil science, and geology. Accumulated research has revealed that forests rich in biological diversity and resistant to disasters have a high function as water source forests.
However, changes are taking place in the Tennozan forest that could lead to a dangerous situation.
