Rita Taketsuru

She was born into a doctor's family[3] in Kirkintilloch,[4] East Dunbartonshire, a town near Glasgow. Of four siblings, Rita was the oldest, followed by her sister Isabella Lillian "Ella" Cowan, the third daughter Lucy, who was 3 years younger than Ella, and finally their younger brother Campbell.[5][6]

Masataka Taketsuru entered Scotland's Glasgow University in 1918[5] to study organic chemistry and applied chemistry.[3] At that time Rita's younger sister Ella, enrolled at the University's medical faculty, requested Masataka to instruct her younger brother Campbell in Judo (Jiujitsu).[7] Masataka and Rita then met at the Cowan house.[8] Having expressed his love to Rita, Masataka then revealed to her his wish to help in "making real whisky in Japan". They married in a simple ceremony at the register office in January 1920.[3] After marrying, they moved to Japan that same year, and lived for a while in Osaka.[9]

After Masataka opened the distillery in Yoichi in 1934 in Hokkaido, Rita continued to support him devotedly.[10]

Rita spent many of her last years in Zushi, Kanagawa, as it was both close to Tokyo where Masataka often stayed and convenient for medical care – she suffered from liver disease and tuberculosis. However, in the autumn of 1960 she returned to Yoichi, and died there in January 1961.[3] She is buried in Yoichi together with her husband who later died in 1979.

Using the inheritance she received from relatives as funds, Rita established the "Rita Nursery".[11]

In Yoichi, there is a "Rita Road".[12]

• Massan an NHK morning TV drama series, in which American actress Charlotte Kate Fox portrays a character based on Rita.
• Tezukayama Gakuin University, the school where Rita worked as an English teacher[13]
• Takeshi Taketsuru

• http://www.scotchmaltwhisky.co.uk/nikkawhisky.htm