Nakamoto Brewery

Nakamoto Brewery

In Nara, Japan's ancient capital city, nestled among rolling hills steeped in history and surrounded by lush nature, stands a quiet sake brewery with an extraordinary story. Nakamoto Sake Brewery has been crafting sake since 1727—nearly 300 years of tradition flowing through its veins. Their signature sake bears the name "Yamatsuru" (Mountain Crane), and within these walls, something magical happens: exceptional sake meets unexpected stories and the burning passion of dedicated craftspeople.

The Machinery Salesman Who Accidentally Bought a Brewery

Yamatsuru's modern chapter begins with one of the most unusual origin stories you'll ever hear. The current brewery owner, Yoshinao Kurita, started his career running a machinery company—about as far from sake-making as you can imagine. One day, he visited Nakamoto Sake Brewery to sell them one of his company's filtration machines. Simple business transaction, right? Wrong.

During that visit, he learned the brewery was facing closure. The bank representative casually asked, "Why don't you buy it?" Kurita initially declined, but something stirred within him. Here was a piece of living history about to disappear forever, and he'd been feeling restless following the predictable path his career had taken. The idea of starting something completely fresh, building from the ground up, sparked his imagination.

And so it happened: "I came to sell a machine and somehow ended up buying the whole brewery!"

Coming from an entirely different industry, Kurita brought fresh business and marketing expertise to the ancient craft. He was soon joined by his cousin, Yasuhiro Kurita, a marketing specialist, and together they've been pioneering what they call "sake that challenges everything you think you know about sake."

"First Rice, Second Brewery, Third Master Brewer" - Small Team, Big Dreams

Nakamoto Sake Brewery operates by a traditional philosophy: "Ippaku, Nikura, Santoji" - meaning exceptional sake requires three elements in order of importance: premium rice, excellent brewery facilities and equipment, and finally, the skill of master brewers and their team.

This philosophy comes to life through just four dedicated craftspeople. In our age of mass production, they remain committed to treating every step of the process with meticulous care.

Take rice washing, for example. While most breweries use machines, Yamatsuru still washes their sake rice entirely by hand. The craftsmen rely purely on decades of experience, adjusting washing time based on that day's temperature, humidity, and the rice's condition.

The same attention applies to koji cultivation (the crucial fermentation starter). This process is said to determine 70% of the final sake's character, so Yamatsuru's team carefully controls every aspect of the koji's development to achieve their signature clean, crisp finish.

Where Tradition Meets Innovation

What started as an unexpected encounter between a machinery company president and a traditional sake brewery has blossomed into something remarkable. Rooted in Nara's ancient soil, guided by a small team of passionate craftspeople, Yamatsuru creates sake that bridges centuries.

Their range spans from "Nagaya-o" (inspired by ancient Japanese history) to "Tsuki no Tabibito" (Moonlight Traveler, crafted using local Nara resources). Each bottle represents both deep tradition and bold innovation, while the brewery itself serves as a welcoming space open to the local community.

Every sip of Yamatsuru sake tells this story. You'll taste Nara's unique terroir, feel the craftspeople's dedication, and experience the excitement of new possibilities. The brewery stands as proof that sometimes the most beautiful things emerge from the most unexpected beginnings.

We invite you to discover Yamatsuru sake and experience this remarkable story for yourself. Each glass offers a journey through time, tradition, and the endless possibilities that unfold when passion meets purpose.

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