Choya Umeshu Begins Pickling of Wakayama Prefecture's 'Nanko Ume'
Key facts
- Choya Umeshu Begins Pickling of Wakayama Prefecture's 'Nanko Ume'
- Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd. began pickling Nanko Ume plums from Kishu, Wakayama Prefecture, at its Osaka Kawamukai Plant on June 1, 2026. Although this year's harvest is expected to be poor, the pickling process started around the usual time. The company uses only domestically grown plums, with Nanko Ume accounting for about 80% of its total usage.
- Source: PR Times
- Date: June 2, 2026
Direct answer
Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd. began pickling Nanko Ume plums from Kishu, Wakayama Prefecture, at its Osaka Kawamukai Plant on June 1, 2026. Although this year's harvest is expected to be poor, the pickling process started around the usual time. The company uses only domestically grown plums, with Nanko Ume accounting for about 80% of its total usage.
- Citation
- Choya Umeshu Begins Pickling of Wakayama Prefecture's 'Nanko Ume' (June 2, 2026), PR Times
- Source
- PR Times
- Date
- June 2, 2026
Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd. began pickling Nanko Ume plums from Kishu, Wakayama Prefecture, at its Osaka Kawamukai Plant on June 1, 2026. Although this year's harvest is expected to be poor, the pickling process started around the usual time. The company uses only domestically grown plums, with Nanko Ume accounting for about 80% of its total usage.
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- 📰 Published: June 2, 2026 at 19:10
- 🔍 Collected: June 2, 2026 at 10:20
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Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Habikino City, Osaka; President: Shigehiro Kondo; hereinafter 'Choya') began pickling Nanko Ume plums from Kishu, Wakayama Prefecture, at its Osaka Kawamukai Plant on June 1, 2026.
This year, in the main plum-growing regions of Wakayama Prefecture, the number of fruit sets was low due to a warm winter and low rainfall up to the flowering period. Additionally, hailstorms occurred in some areas in late March and early May, leading to a trend of poor harvest again this year. From mid-May onward, growth accelerated due to high temperatures, leading to predictions of earlier-than-planned arrivals. However, subsequent rainfall meant that Choya's pickling process began almost as usual. Expecting future rainfall and plum growth, the company will carry out pickling for about one month, peaking around one week after the start of the rainy season (June 11 this year), which is also 'Umeshu Day (*).'
While there are many varieties of domestic plums, Choya uses only domestically grown plums, primarily Kishu Nanko Ume, which is suitable for 'umeshu' (plum wine), along with a few other varieties such as Kojo Ume and Shirakaga Ume. In particular, Kishu Nanko Ume from Wakayama Prefecture is characterized by its thick flesh and high acidity. This Kishu Nanko Ume accounts for about 80% of the plums used by Choya.
The plums harvested by producers arrive through agricultural cooperatives (JA). After washing, they are pickled in aging tanks with a maximum capacity of 100,000 liters. There are a total of 446 specially ordered aging tanks, designed to minimize external influences such as 'light,' 'heat,' and 'air,' located at the Iga Ueno Plant, Kishu Plant, and Osaka Kawamukai Plant. The plums are managed according to their origin, variety, and ripeness, and are carefully aged for approximately one year or more.
*'Umeshu Day'
Choya Umeshu established the first day of the rainy season (June 10 or 11) each year as 'Umeshu Day' (certified by the Japan Anniversary Association). This is because the harvest of green plums, the raw material for umeshu, peaks during the rainy season in June, and the company hopes people will drink umeshu to get through the summer energetically.
Umeshu Day: https://www.choya.co.jp/philosophy/honkaku/#umesyu_day
With the slogan 'Deliver the Power of the Plum,' Choya pursues new possibilities of the plum and delivers the wonderful qualities of the plum to people around the world, aiming to help them lead healthy and enjoyable daily lives.
■Company Overview
Name: Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd.
Established: June 1962
Capital: 28 million yen
Representative: President Shigehiro Kondo
Business: Manufacturing and sales of umeshu and plum-related products
Location: 160-1 Komagatani, Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture 583-0841
Main Sales Channels: Nationwide liquor wholesalers, countries in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and other foreign countries
Website: https://www.choya.jp
■Contact Information
Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd.
TEL: 072-956-0515 (Main)
This year, in the main plum-growing regions of Wakayama Prefecture, the number of fruit sets was low due to a warm winter and low rainfall up to the flowering period. Additionally, hailstorms occurred in some areas in late March and early May, leading to a trend of poor harvest again this year. From mid-May onward, growth accelerated due to high temperatures, leading to predictions of earlier-than-planned arrivals. However, subsequent rainfall meant that Choya's pickling process began almost as usual. Expecting future rainfall and plum growth, the company will carry out pickling for about one month, peaking around one week after the start of the rainy season (June 11 this year), which is also 'Umeshu Day (*).'
While there are many varieties of domestic plums, Choya uses only domestically grown plums, primarily Kishu Nanko Ume, which is suitable for 'umeshu' (plum wine), along with a few other varieties such as Kojo Ume and Shirakaga Ume. In particular, Kishu Nanko Ume from Wakayama Prefecture is characterized by its thick flesh and high acidity. This Kishu Nanko Ume accounts for about 80% of the plums used by Choya.
The plums harvested by producers arrive through agricultural cooperatives (JA). After washing, they are pickled in aging tanks with a maximum capacity of 100,000 liters. There are a total of 446 specially ordered aging tanks, designed to minimize external influences such as 'light,' 'heat,' and 'air,' located at the Iga Ueno Plant, Kishu Plant, and Osaka Kawamukai Plant. The plums are managed according to their origin, variety, and ripeness, and are carefully aged for approximately one year or more.
*'Umeshu Day'
Choya Umeshu established the first day of the rainy season (June 10 or 11) each year as 'Umeshu Day' (certified by the Japan Anniversary Association). This is because the harvest of green plums, the raw material for umeshu, peaks during the rainy season in June, and the company hopes people will drink umeshu to get through the summer energetically.
Umeshu Day: https://www.choya.co.jp/philosophy/honkaku/#umesyu_day
With the slogan 'Deliver the Power of the Plum,' Choya pursues new possibilities of the plum and delivers the wonderful qualities of the plum to people around the world, aiming to help them lead healthy and enjoyable daily lives.
■Company Overview
Name: Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd.
Established: June 1962
Capital: 28 million yen
Representative: President Shigehiro Kondo
Business: Manufacturing and sales of umeshu and plum-related products
Location: 160-1 Komagatani, Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture 583-0841
Main Sales Channels: Nationwide liquor wholesalers, countries in Europe, America, Southeast Asia, and other foreign countries
Website: https://www.choya.jp
■Contact Information
Choya Umeshu Co., Ltd.
TEL: 072-956-0515 (Main)
FAQ
Where is the headquarters of Choya Umeshu?
160-1 Komagatani, Habikino City, Osaka Prefecture.
Who is the president of Choya Umeshu?
Shigehiro Kondo.
When was Choya Umeshu established?
June 1962.