Taking on the Era of Change: Kizakura's Vision for the Next 100 Years
Kizakura, a sake manufacturer celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2025, reflects on its history of innovation and outlines its vision for the future. By leveraging its expertise in sake, craft beer, and whisky, the company aims to continue creating new cultural experiences and value for the next century.
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- 📰 Published: April 1, 2026 at 09:00
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We support 'April Dream,' an initiative that encourages companies to share their dreams on April 1st. This press release represents the dream of Kizakura Co., Ltd.
[Image: Kizakura Co., Ltd. 'Challenge to the Future']
Kizakura Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto) is a liquor manufacturer founded in 1925 that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Although a latecomer in the sake industry, where many companies have long histories, we have taken on various challenges, such as being the first in the industry to air television commercials and developing products that break free from conventional wisdom.
■ The Background to Realizing Our Dream
The environment surrounding alcohol is becoming more challenging than ever due to rising health consciousness and changes in drinking habits. However, it is precisely because of these times that we at Kizakura will continue to take on challenges without standing still. We believe it is our mission to remain close to people's lives by re-examining the value and enjoyment of alcohol and proposing new value. As a comprehensive liquor manufacturer, we have delivered the values of 'relaxation, moisture, and radiance' to many people. Now that we have reached the 100-year milestone, we take pride in our journey thus far, but we are not satisfied with the status quo. As a company that continues to evolve toward the next 100 years, our vision for the future is to be an entity that transforms the changes of the era into strength and continues to create new culture and experiences.
[Image: 'Kizakura,' the origin of our company name]
■ The History of Kizakura
Kizakura Co., Ltd. originated from the sake brewing business started in Fushimi in 1925 by Jirokuro Matsumoto, who had been in the liquor retail business since 1904. Since then, we have grown as a sake manufacturer while always capturing the trends of the times. While building our foundation on quality-oriented sake brewing, the second president, Shiro Matsumoto, actively developed television commercials, using the 'Kappa' as a friendly character and employing impressive production techniques to widely permeate the brand and dramatically increase our nationwide recognition. Furthermore, the third president, Shinji Matsumoto, promoted business expansion with flexible ideas and high product development capabilities, entering not only the sake business but also the beer and whisky businesses. Through these steps, we have grown into a comprehensive liquor manufacturer that handles almost all types of alcohol except wine.
[Image: Main Store Brewery]
■ The Sake Business as Our Foundation
We believe that sake is not merely a luxury item, but a part of 'Japanese culture' rooted in Japan's climate, the changing seasons, and the spirituality and lives of the Japanese people. The fermentation process, created by the unity of rice, water, koji mold, yeast, and human skill and heart, strongly reflects Japanese values such as coexistence with nature, prayer, and the spirit of hospitality. Based on our philosophy of 'quality first,' our sake brewing business combines traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology to create sake that meets the needs of the times and diverse tastes. Yeast and koji mold, which greatly influence the taste of sake, are extremely delicate 'living things' that are affected by even the slightest changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, our skilled master brewers and technicians strictly manage every process from preparation to pressing, facing the craft of sake brewing with sincerity.
[Image: Facing the 'living' koji]
■ Our Passion for Craft Beer, Which We Pioneered
In 1995, we started our craft beer business as the first in Kyoto and the seventh in the country. Since then, we have been working on creating unique beers that pursue 'deliciousness' while utilizing the technology and experience cultivated in sake brewing. The greatest feature of Kizakura's beer is the manufacturing method that intentionally leaves the 'yeast' that creates the beer's flavor. We perform a gentle filtration to leave behind the 'nigori' (cloudiness) that deepens the aroma and taste. This craft beer, which makes the most of the high-quality water of Fushimi, Kyoto, is supported by many fans as a drink packed with the skill and passion of artisans, and it has won many awards both domestically and internationally.
[Image: Nigori is flavor]
■ The Third Pillar: The Newly Launched 'Tanba Distillery'
In 2018, Kizakura entered the whisky business as a new pillar of business following sake and beer. We began distillation at the Tanba Distillery in Tanbasasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, and launched whisky aged for more than three years in 2022. By leveraging Kizakura's strengths, such as the 'knowledge' and 'techniques' of yeast cultivated over 100 years of sake brewing, and the technology for 'creating clear wort' gained from craft beer brewing, we aim for a gorgeous, core-driven taste that everyone finds delicious.
[Image: Sleeping whisky barrels]
Based on the technology and spirit of challenge cultivated over the past 100 years, Kizakura will continue to flexibly face the changes of the era and work on creating new value. While keeping sake as our origin, it is our mission to continue to be close to people's lives through diverse alcoholic beverages such as beer and whisky, and to continue providing moments of 'relaxation, moisture, and radiance.' Toward the next 100 years, we will continue to be a company that creates new culture and experiences by expanding the possibilities of alcohol while fusing tradition and innovation.
* 'April Dream' is a project by PR TIMES where companies share the dreams they hope to achieve. We are seriously aiming to realize this dream.
[About Kizakura Co., Ltd.]
Kizakura Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto) is a liquor manufacturer founded in 1925 that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Please look forward to our next 100 years of continued challenges.
https://www.kizakura.jp
[Image: Kizakura Co., Ltd. 'Challenge to the Future']
Kizakura Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto) is a liquor manufacturer founded in 1925 that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Although a latecomer in the sake industry, where many companies have long histories, we have taken on various challenges, such as being the first in the industry to air television commercials and developing products that break free from conventional wisdom.
■ The Background to Realizing Our Dream
The environment surrounding alcohol is becoming more challenging than ever due to rising health consciousness and changes in drinking habits. However, it is precisely because of these times that we at Kizakura will continue to take on challenges without standing still. We believe it is our mission to remain close to people's lives by re-examining the value and enjoyment of alcohol and proposing new value. As a comprehensive liquor manufacturer, we have delivered the values of 'relaxation, moisture, and radiance' to many people. Now that we have reached the 100-year milestone, we take pride in our journey thus far, but we are not satisfied with the status quo. As a company that continues to evolve toward the next 100 years, our vision for the future is to be an entity that transforms the changes of the era into strength and continues to create new culture and experiences.
[Image: 'Kizakura,' the origin of our company name]
■ The History of Kizakura
Kizakura Co., Ltd. originated from the sake brewing business started in Fushimi in 1925 by Jirokuro Matsumoto, who had been in the liquor retail business since 1904. Since then, we have grown as a sake manufacturer while always capturing the trends of the times. While building our foundation on quality-oriented sake brewing, the second president, Shiro Matsumoto, actively developed television commercials, using the 'Kappa' as a friendly character and employing impressive production techniques to widely permeate the brand and dramatically increase our nationwide recognition. Furthermore, the third president, Shinji Matsumoto, promoted business expansion with flexible ideas and high product development capabilities, entering not only the sake business but also the beer and whisky businesses. Through these steps, we have grown into a comprehensive liquor manufacturer that handles almost all types of alcohol except wine.
[Image: Main Store Brewery]
■ The Sake Business as Our Foundation
We believe that sake is not merely a luxury item, but a part of 'Japanese culture' rooted in Japan's climate, the changing seasons, and the spirituality and lives of the Japanese people. The fermentation process, created by the unity of rice, water, koji mold, yeast, and human skill and heart, strongly reflects Japanese values such as coexistence with nature, prayer, and the spirit of hospitality. Based on our philosophy of 'quality first,' our sake brewing business combines traditional techniques with cutting-edge technology to create sake that meets the needs of the times and diverse tastes. Yeast and koji mold, which greatly influence the taste of sake, are extremely delicate 'living things' that are affected by even the slightest changes in temperature and humidity. Therefore, our skilled master brewers and technicians strictly manage every process from preparation to pressing, facing the craft of sake brewing with sincerity.
[Image: Facing the 'living' koji]
■ Our Passion for Craft Beer, Which We Pioneered
In 1995, we started our craft beer business as the first in Kyoto and the seventh in the country. Since then, we have been working on creating unique beers that pursue 'deliciousness' while utilizing the technology and experience cultivated in sake brewing. The greatest feature of Kizakura's beer is the manufacturing method that intentionally leaves the 'yeast' that creates the beer's flavor. We perform a gentle filtration to leave behind the 'nigori' (cloudiness) that deepens the aroma and taste. This craft beer, which makes the most of the high-quality water of Fushimi, Kyoto, is supported by many fans as a drink packed with the skill and passion of artisans, and it has won many awards both domestically and internationally.
[Image: Nigori is flavor]
■ The Third Pillar: The Newly Launched 'Tanba Distillery'
In 2018, Kizakura entered the whisky business as a new pillar of business following sake and beer. We began distillation at the Tanba Distillery in Tanbasasayama City, Hyogo Prefecture, and launched whisky aged for more than three years in 2022. By leveraging Kizakura's strengths, such as the 'knowledge' and 'techniques' of yeast cultivated over 100 years of sake brewing, and the technology for 'creating clear wort' gained from craft beer brewing, we aim for a gorgeous, core-driven taste that everyone finds delicious.
[Image: Sleeping whisky barrels]
Based on the technology and spirit of challenge cultivated over the past 100 years, Kizakura will continue to flexibly face the changes of the era and work on creating new value. While keeping sake as our origin, it is our mission to continue to be close to people's lives through diverse alcoholic beverages such as beer and whisky, and to continue providing moments of 'relaxation, moisture, and radiance.' Toward the next 100 years, we will continue to be a company that creates new culture and experiences by expanding the possibilities of alcohol while fusing tradition and innovation.
* 'April Dream' is a project by PR TIMES where companies share the dreams they hope to achieve. We are seriously aiming to realize this dream.
[About Kizakura Co., Ltd.]
Kizakura Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Fushimi-ku, Kyoto) is a liquor manufacturer founded in 1925 that celebrates its 100th anniversary in 2025. Please look forward to our next 100 years of continued challenges.
https://www.kizakura.jp