Tochigi Prefecture is also known for producing high-quality grapes.
The prefecture is home to wineries beloved by Japanese-wine fans, and momentum now appears to be building toward the establishment of the first winery in Tochigi City itself.
At the center of the project is Genki Iwasaki, who has honed his winemaking skills in France.
At the final presentation of the “Kura-no-Machi Tochigi Business Plan Contest 2024,” held on February 18, 2025, his proposal to “establish a winery in Ohira, Tochigi City” won both the Grand Prize and the Tochigi Oishii-Toko Food Valley Award.
Expectations are high for the steps he will take next toward making that dream a reality.
Who is Genki Iwasaki, a figure likely to become increasingly important in the Japanese wine industry? Here we introduce his background along with the plan to establish Tochigi City’s first winery.
About Genki Iwasaki
Genki Iwasaki is a winemaker from Ohira, Tochigi City, Tochigi Prefecture. He is often known simply as “Genki” in his professional activities.
Born to a family of table-grape growers, Iwasaki worked at wine shops in Tokyo and Karuizawa before deciding to pursue wine professionally and moving to France in 2017.
After working at a winery in Burgundy, one of the world’s leading wine regions, he studied viticulture and oenology at French winemaking schools. In 2024, he completed the DNO program at the University of Burgundy, a French state-recognized oenology master’s qualification.
He is one of the very few Japanese people to hold the title of French state-certified oenologist.
While living in France in 2021, he produced 1,200 bottles of his own wine, “Genki Wine,” through contract winemaking and sold out the entire release within a month by taking reservations himself.
Since 2024, he has been bringing grapes grown in Ohira, Tochigi City, to a winery in Ashikaga, where his wines are produced under contract.
Iwasaki’s appeal lies not only in winemaking expertise recognized in France, but also in his strong passion for Japanese wine.
In 2023, he attracted attention by organizing “Salon des Vins Japonais,” a Japanese-wine promotional event in Burgundy, France.
The second Salon des Vins Japonais, held on February 9, 2025, expanded to include 50 Japanese wineries and drew about 600 visitors. It also attracted major media attention, with coverage by NHK and French national television.
We look forward to continuing to follow Iwasaki’s activities as he brings new energy to the Japanese wine industry.
Why Establish a Winery in Ohira, Tochigi City?
At the final presentation of the “Kura-no-Machi Tochigi Business Plan Contest 2024,” organized by Tochigi City, Iwasaki won both the Grand Prize and the Tochigi Oishii-Toko Food Valley Award.
His business plan was titled “Establishing a Winery in Ohira — Protecting Beautiful Vineyards and Making Wine We Can Be Proud of Worldwide,” and proposed the creation of the first winery in Tochigi City.
Ohira, where Iwasaki was born, has a long history of grape cultivation dating back to the Meiji era. In the 1970s, increasing numbers of farmers converted rice fields and other land to grapes, eventually creating the “Ohira Grape Growing District.”
In 2005, cooperation from a sake producer led to the production of wine from Ohira-grown grapes. That development inspired younger local grape growers to begin trial cultivation of wine-grape varieties.
Although the idea of creating Tochigi City’s first winery had already been discussed, the city lacked people with winemaking know-how and established sales channels for the finished wine. As a result, no winery has yet been established within the city.
Knowing this situation, Iwasaki says he developed two strong motivations:
- To use the experience and knowledge he gained in France to energize the region where he was born and raised
- To help Ohira’s grape growers realize their 20-year dream of establishing a winery
In his presentation, Iwasaki argued that a winery could generate ripple effects capable of addressing challenges facing the Ohira grape district, including abandoned farmland, low recognition as a production region, and limited tourism infrastructure beyond grape picking.
He explored the broader advantages a winery could bring to Ohira: attracting people from central Tokyo to relocate through the appeal of wine; creating a new tourism hub and raising international awareness through exports; and advancing SDGs initiatives by making liqueurs from unharvested grapes and products from red-wine pomace.
Iwasaki obtained a liquor sales license in 2024 and plans to begin wine sales in 2025.
He then intends to expand newly acquired vineyard land and plant wine grapes. Production will continue through contract winemaking until 2026, with the winery targeted to begin operations in 2027 and produce 8,000 bottles.
A Commitment to Muscat Bailey A
The grape variety Iwasaki is especially committed to using for wine in Ohira is Muscat Bailey A.
He gives the following reasons:
- It is well suited to Ohira’s climate
- It appeals to French palates
- Bailey A vividly reflects both terroir and the winemaker’s style
Around five tonnes of Muscat Bailey A are produced in Ohira each year, and because of their quality the grapes are shipped to wineries elsewhere in the prefecture.
Iwasaki also says that when he organized Japanese-wine events in France, many French tasters responded positively to the variety’s rich, fruity aromas and soft mouthfeel.
Another reason for his commitment is Muscat Bailey A’s ability to produce wines in many different styles while expressing terroir.
By using Muscat Bailey A to deliver high-quality wines with a distinct Tochigi identity to the world, the new winery could attract visitors to Tochigi City from across Japan and overseas.
We can hardly wait to see what kind of Muscat Bailey A emerges when Iwasaki’s French-trained winemaking expertise meets the terroir of Ohira.
Making Tochigi City a Wine Region Proudly Known Around the World
Judges at the “Kura-no-Machi Tochigi Business Plan Contest 2024” reportedly praised Iwasaki’s proposal for having “a dream.”
The day may not be far off when the wines he creates begin to transform Tochigi City in a meaningful way.
Incidentally, Iwasaki’s wife, whom he met in France, is a chef who trained in French cuisine there.
Once the winery is established, there is also a concept for opening a casual French restaurant nearby using excellent ingredients from Tochigi.
Iwasaki’s vision gives us a glimpse of a future in which Tochigi City grows into a wine region recognized around the world. His next moves will be well worth watching.