A former robotics scientist who gave up his career at Hitachi Ltd. to work for his family-run sake brewery in Kurashiki, Okayama Prefecture, has used his acquired business skills to turn it into a rising star among makers of the traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage.
Daisuke Kikuchi, 33, became interested in making robots after he saw a "Star Wars" movie when he was an elementary school student. He studied robotics at the graduate school of Waseda University, a leading institute in the field, and joined Hitachi upon graduation to develop robots useful in people's daily lives.
But in the fall of 2009, he was suddenly asked by his father, To, to join Kikuchi Sake Producing Co. founded by the Kikuchi family more than 100 years ago. To, 67, an award-winning master brewer, was eager to continue production of the company's mainline Sanzen sake brand.