Origin of “Zenroku”

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Kitazen & Co., Ltd. is a long-established sake brewer which has continued for ten generations and uses the name of the first generation "Zenroku Kitamura" as the brand name.

History of Kitazen & Co., Ltd

In 1716, a sake brewery was established at

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Imajoshuku, currently located at Minami Echizen Town in Fukui Prefecture. Imajoshuku was an important point for traffic, and played an important role for travelers and merchants as a large posting station on the Hokkokukaido Road (principal road to northern areas). People carried their own bottle to place sake they bought and drank　it while passing Imajoshuku.

1730 The Zenroku-Kitamuras acted as a money exchanger of the Fukui Domain

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In November 1661, during the era of Mitsumichi, 4th Lord of Fukui, the Fukui Domain became the first domain "han" that was approved by the government to issue "hansatsu" (domain paper money) which could be exchange for silver.

Since people were forced to use "hansatsu" in the Fukui Domain, an exchange house was established in Imajo, which was located in the southern end of the Fukui Domain, so that the travelers and merchants could exchange gold/silver for "hansatsu" and vice versa.

At Imajoshuku, the Tahei-Kitamuras served as a money exchanger, succeeded to the Shinpei-Kitamuras and the Mozaemon-Nishios, and then to the Zenroku-Kitamuras in 1730. (Explanation by the Imajo Town Board of Education)

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