Shinji Fukuyo joined Suntory in 1984, at the age of 23. He transferred to the whisky blending department in 1992 and quickly rose through the ranks. After four years studying at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh he moved to work in the Morrison Bowmore team in 1999, creating whiskies for Bowmore, Glen Garioch and Auchentoshan.

He returned to Japan in 2006 as the director of the whisky blending department and in 2009 became chief blender for the whole of Suntory, only the fourth person to have held the prestigious position.