Our relationship with Ofuku Brewing Company is deeply personal, as they were one of the very first breweries to join our direct import project. At a time when the project was just an idea without a physical form or guarantee of success, President Nobuhiko Kishi and sales representative Masanobu Masumoto worked alongside us to build the entire supply chain from the brewery to the United States. Their unwavering support and cheerful cooperation — often telling us they would do anything to help us share sake in America — make them an incredibly heartening partner.

Long before modern technology, the brewery’s founder, Goro Kishi, approached sake with the mind of a scientist. After studying fermentation and brewing at what is now the Tokyo Institute of Technology, he sought to move away from the era’s reliance on pure intuition. In 1894, he published “Jokai Shugyoku” (Gems of the Brewing World), a landmark text that explained brewing through chemistry. His greatest legacy is the sokujo-moto method, which uses lactic acid to prevent spoilage — a revolutionary technique that once caused a sensation and is now used by breweries across Japan. This method also shortens brewing time and helps produce cleaner flavors. 

For his discovery and its profound effect on sake brewing, he was awarded the Medal With a Yellow Ribbon in 1958, becoming the first in the industry to do so. This honor, bestowed by the Japanese government, recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to Japanese culture.

The brewery’s path has not been easy. In 2004, the Great Chuetsu Earthquake caused the massive collapse of their brewing and rice polishing facilities. While the damage was extensive enough to halt production, the community’s desire for recovery was stronger. By 2007, the brewery was rebuilt, and a partnership with the farmers of Yamakoshi — a region known for its beautiful terraced rice fields located about 3 miles from central Nagaoka — was solidified. This collaboration helped revitalize the local area and birthed the Yamakoshi sake series, a symbol of shared prosperity and survival. This area is a certified Japanese Agricultural Heritage site.