Tenzan began as a water mill in 1861, producing flour and soba noodles and rice polishing services for neighboring sake breweries. In 1875, a neighboring sake brewery going out of business begged Tenzan to not only buy out their sake equipment but the brewery itself. Not being able to turn their neighbors down, Tenzan bought the entire business and thus Tenzan's own sake business began. In 1959 they closed their water mill to focus solely on their sake brewing business. Today, Tenzan is led by the 6th generation of the Shichida family, and they continue to brew sake in Oji City, known as the land of good water and fireflies, and sell sake, shochu, and liqueur.