Around the beginning of the Meiji period (1868-1911),the regions of Yamagata and Akita Prefecture were known as Dewa Province. After the loss of the Boshin war (1868-1869), Dewa Province was separated into two counties, Uzen Province, known these days as Yamagata Prefecture, and Ugo Province, known now as Akita Prefecture. Although first generation, Seijiro was only 10 years old at the time, he held a deep connection with the land and named the family brand, Dewazakura after the province name and cherry bloossom (sakura), an iconic symbol of the area.