The 50-Year-Old Yamazaki was a special gift from the Suntory family to Ms. Fumie Kase, owner of the renowned Natsume Night Club in Nagoya, Japan, in celebration of the club’s 50th anniversary.
Ms. Fumie Kase is known as a graceful and exemplary woman in Japan. She is also remembered for her remarkable love story with Ken Utsui, one of Japan’s most celebrated film stars.
In her youth, while working as a hostess serving drinks, she happened to meet Ken Utsui, and the two quickly fell in love. They shared a beautiful romance, but before long, they decided to part ways and pursue different paths in life. Ken Utsui went on to become a highly successful and famous movie star, while Fumie Kase chose to establish her own night club in the 1950s.
Many years later, after the passing of Ken Utsui’s wife in 2006, he unexpectedly reunited with Fumie Kase. The two rekindled the romance that had remained unfinished for decades. Ken Utsui became a frequent visitor to her club, which by then had earned a prestigious reputation in Nagoya and was often referred to as “Japan’s Chamber of Commerce of Nightlife.” Over the years, the club welcomed numerous distinguished guests, including Japanese prime ministers, leading celebrities, prominent politicians, and successful business leaders. The Suntory family was among its regular patrons, which is why this unique bottle of Yamazaki 50-Year-Old whisky was presented to Ms. Fumie Kase to commemorate the club’s 50th anniversary.
The bottle was later personally signed by Suntory’s Chief Blender, Shinji Fukuyo. It is considered especially unique because it is the only known bottle bearing a label made from traditional Japanese washi paper, a handcrafted paper renowned for its cultural significance and craftsmanship.
The Yamazaki 50-Year-Old bottle was kept out of the public eye for many years, as it was originally intended as a private gift from the Suntory family to Ms. Fumie Kase.
