Oita is Japan's mugi (barley) shochu capital. While Kagoshima dominates imo shochu, Oita's brewers — led by Sanwa Shurui with their Iichiko brand — created the modern category of refined, approachable barley shochu that brought the spirit to urban Japanese consumers in the 1980s. Iichiko's clean, slightly sweet character made barley shochu the spirit of choice in izakayas from Tokyo to Fukuoka. Premium expressions from smaller distilleries like Nikaido Shuzo pursue deeper complexity.
| Year | Rating | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 82 | Good barley production; solid classic mugi shochu style. |
| 2022 | 88 | Exceptional barley year across Oita; finest mugi shochu in a decade. |
| 2021 | 83 | Excellent barley quality; outstanding clean, delicate mugi character. |
| 2020 | 76 | Good barley harvest in Oita; characteristic clean, mild mugi shochu. |