Sparkle Invests in haccoba, Craft Sake Brewery Aiming to Create Regional Culture with Toho Bank Group
Sparkle has invested in haccoba, a craft sake brewery, via the TOHO Next Stage Fund, co-established with the Toho Bank Group. Haccoba will use the funds to open a new brewery in the Otemachi Gate Building, scheduled to open in 2026, aiming to expand its business to the Tokyo metropolitan area.
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Sparkle Co., Ltd. (HQ: Sendai, Miyagi; Representative Director: Hideki Fukudome) announced that it has invested in haccoba Co., Ltd. (HQ: Minamisoma, Fukushima; Representative Director: Daisuke Sato), a craft sake brewery that pushes the boundaries of traditional brewing, through the TOHO Next Stage Fund, co-established with The Toho Bank, Ltd. (HQ: Fukushima, Fukushima; President: Minoru Sato) and Toho Lease Co., Ltd. (HQ: Fukushima, Fukushima; President: Satoshi Aoki).
This marks the fourth project for the TOHO Next Stage Fund.
Investment Background and Purpose
Since establishing its brewery in Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture in 2021, haccoba has been producing and selling craft sake that modernizes traditional 'doburoku' (unrefined sake) recipes with the slogan 'Making sake more freely.' With bases in Odaka and Namie, Fukushima, the company is engaged in activities to restore autonomous regional culture through projects such as revitalizing unmanned train stations and hosting regional festivals.
Now, haccoba will establish a new production base, 'haccoba Uchikanda Brewery,' within the 'Otemachi Gate Building,' which is scheduled to be opened by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. in 2026, to launch a project promoting Japanese food culture and sake brewing from Kanda, Tokyo.
The fund strongly identified with haccoba's commitment to creating new value as a hub connecting regions and cities, expanding its challenge from Fukushima to the metropolitan area.
In addition to financial support through this investment and coordinated loans from The Toho Bank and Abukuma Shinkin Bank, the fund will provide ongoing hands-on support to help haccoba realize its vision and contribute to the regional economy.
About haccoba
In February 2021, the company established its brewery in Odaka, Fukushima, a town where the population temporarily dropped to zero following the nuclear disaster. It has also operated a brewery in the neighboring town of Namie since July 2023. Embracing the philosophy of 'making sake more freely,' it expresses traditional recipes in a modern style, crossing genre boundaries.
Since 2024, the company has organized a new regional festival, 'YoiYoi,' with Gotch (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION). Since the same year, it has also worked with JR East to transform the local unmanned train station (Odaka Station) into a combination brewery and public market, dedicated to regional cultural creation.
Comments from Involved Parties
haccoba CEO Daisuke Sato stated, 'I am delighted to receive such strong support from Sparkle and the Toho Bank Group as we establish a new brewery in Otemachi (Kanda), Tokyo, thanks to our connection with Mitsubishi Estate.' The Toho Bank expressed high expectations, stating, 'Creating regional culture holds great potential as a new model for regional revitalization.' Sparkle CEO Hideki Fukudome praised haccoba's unique narrative and achievements in community formation deeply rooted in the region.
This marks the fourth project for the TOHO Next Stage Fund.
Investment Background and Purpose
Since establishing its brewery in Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, Fukushima Prefecture in 2021, haccoba has been producing and selling craft sake that modernizes traditional 'doburoku' (unrefined sake) recipes with the slogan 'Making sake more freely.' With bases in Odaka and Namie, Fukushima, the company is engaged in activities to restore autonomous regional culture through projects such as revitalizing unmanned train stations and hosting regional festivals.
Now, haccoba will establish a new production base, 'haccoba Uchikanda Brewery,' within the 'Otemachi Gate Building,' which is scheduled to be opened by Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd. in 2026, to launch a project promoting Japanese food culture and sake brewing from Kanda, Tokyo.
The fund strongly identified with haccoba's commitment to creating new value as a hub connecting regions and cities, expanding its challenge from Fukushima to the metropolitan area.
In addition to financial support through this investment and coordinated loans from The Toho Bank and Abukuma Shinkin Bank, the fund will provide ongoing hands-on support to help haccoba realize its vision and contribute to the regional economy.
About haccoba
In February 2021, the company established its brewery in Odaka, Fukushima, a town where the population temporarily dropped to zero following the nuclear disaster. It has also operated a brewery in the neighboring town of Namie since July 2023. Embracing the philosophy of 'making sake more freely,' it expresses traditional recipes in a modern style, crossing genre boundaries.
Since 2024, the company has organized a new regional festival, 'YoiYoi,' with Gotch (ASIAN KUNG-FU GENERATION). Since the same year, it has also worked with JR East to transform the local unmanned train station (Odaka Station) into a combination brewery and public market, dedicated to regional cultural creation.
Comments from Involved Parties
haccoba CEO Daisuke Sato stated, 'I am delighted to receive such strong support from Sparkle and the Toho Bank Group as we establish a new brewery in Otemachi (Kanda), Tokyo, thanks to our connection with Mitsubishi Estate.' The Toho Bank expressed high expectations, stating, 'Creating regional culture holds great potential as a new model for regional revitalization.' Sparkle CEO Hideki Fukudome praised haccoba's unique narrative and achievements in community formation deeply rooted in the region.
FAQ
Where will haccoba's new brewery be located?
It will be established within the 'Otemachi Gate Building' in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, scheduled to open in 2026.
Who is funding haccoba?
The company received investment from the 'TOHO Next Stage Fund,' jointly established by Sparkle Co., Ltd., The Toho Bank, Ltd., and Toho Lease Co., Ltd.
Where are haccoba's bases in Fukushima?
They are located in Odaka-ku, Minamisoma City, and the neighboring town of Namie.