Choya

Founded in 1914 by Sumitar Kondo, CHOYA was originally dedicated to grape growing and wine production. In 1959, after a visit to Europe, where he was impressed by the quality of the wines and brandies there, Kondo decided to focus on a traditional Japanese drink - umeshu (plum wine) - and launched CHOYA's first authentic umeshu.

The company's name 'CHOYA' is a combination of the words 'cho' (butterfly) and 'ya' (arrowhead), referring to the local fauna and archaeological findings in the Komagatani area, where the company's headquarters are located.

In the following decades, the company expanded, opening branches in Tokyo (1971) and Germany (1990) and changing its name to CHOYA UMESHU CO., LTD. in 2000.

Today, CHOYA is a leader in umeshu production, with firm roots in Japanese tradition and a strong presence in the global marketplace, constantly seeking new ways to bring the taste of ume to people around the world.