Ozeki Sake USA

What Ozeki Sake USA does

Ozeki Sake USA, legally Ozeki Sake (U.S.A.), Inc., is the American brewing and distribution subsidiary of the Ozeki brewery, founded in Japan's Nada district in 1711. Operating from a single brewery in Hollister, California since 1979, it is the first Japanese sake producer to establish a brewery in the United States, producing sake from locally grown California rice and Sierra Nevada water. The company maintains a catalog of roughly 35+ SKUs spanning Junmai (e.g., Ozeki Classic, Classic Dry, Sumo Junmai, Karatamba Junmai), Junmai Daiginjo (Sake Platinum, Judan Jikomi, Sakura Beauty 45, Souke Ozakaya Heirloom, Platinum Limited Edition), Daiginjo (Ozakaya Chobei, Choju), Honjozo (Karatamba line, brewed under the Tamba Toji guild), Nigori (including flavored strawberry, pineapple, and yuzu), sparkling sake (Hana Awaka range and Ikezo jelly shots), Taru, and Shochu. Production uses proprietary techniques including Mirai (combining Sanki-Amazake-Moto and Kobo-Jikomi), Judan ten-step low-temperature fermentation, and nama-chozo single-pasteurization methods, overseen by brewmaster Kenta Horie.

The business operates a hybrid B2B/B2C go-to-market: the primary distribution backbone is JFC International Inc. plus regional agents covering all 50 states, supplying Japanese restaurants and retailers (the Ozeki Classic line has reportedly served as the house sake at US Japanese restaurants for 40+ years). Direct-to-consumer sales run through a Vinoshipper-powered online store on ozekisake.com, supported by Mailchimp newsletters and educational content (Types of Sake, How Sake is Made, How to Enjoy Sake). A tasting room at the Hollister brewery (Mon–Fri, 8 AM–4 PM PST) provides an on-premise sales and brand-engagement channel. The company has not raised external funding, is privately held, and reports 11–50 employees.

Recent strategic activity is concentrated in product launches and premium-tier expansion: a 2022 anniversary and Tamba-Toji line buildout (Karatamba Junmai, Souke Ozakaya Heirloom Junmai Daiginjo for the 310-year milestone), a 2024 founder-named Daiginjo relaunch (Ozakaya Chobei) with multi-size packaging, and a coordinated 2025 release of Sakura Beauty 45 Junmai Daiginjo and three flavored Nigoris (Strawberry, Pineapple, Yuzu) targeting crossover occasions. A hiring banner on the site indicates ongoing organizational buildout. No M&A, funding, or geographic expansion events are recorded.

Name

Ozeki Sake USA

Legal name

Ozeki Sake (U.S.A.), Inc.

Website

https://ozekisake.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1979

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Ozeki Sake USA is the US subsidiary of Japan's 1711-founded Ozeki brewery, brewing Japanese sake in Hollister, California since 1979—the first Japanese sake producer in the US. It distributes a broad sake portfolio via JFC International, an online store, and a tasting room, serving Japanese restaurants and individual consumers nationwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Japanese Sake Manufacturing

NAICS

Beverage Manufacturing (3121)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Sake, Soju & Other Asian Alcoholic Beverages Producers & Brands (CRADAIAF)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sake & Traditional Rice Wine Production (AFAFAAAG)

Keywords

• Sake brewing
• Japanese sake
• Shochu production
• Craft brewing
• Alcoholic beverages

Headquarters

HQ city

Hollister

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Sake and Alcohol Product Sales: Direct sales of sake products through online store, tasting room, and distribution network. Products include Junmai, Daiginjo, Honjozo, Nigori, Sparkling sake, Shochu, and specialty items in various sizes from 180ml to 19L.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Ozeki Sake USA brews and sells Japanese sake and shochu at its Hollister, California facility, established in 1979 as the first Japanese sake brewery in the United States. The portfolio includes Junmai, Junmai Daiginjo, Honjozo, Daiginjo, Nigori, Sparkling, Taru, One Cup, and Shochu categories in sizes ranging from 180ml single-serve cups to 19L containers. Products are sold through B2B distribution to restaurants and retailers, a direct-to-consumer online store, and on-site tasting room sales.

Product overview

Ozeki Sake USA is a Japanese sake brewery offering a diverse portfolio of sake products brewed in Hollister, California since 1979. The product lineup spans multiple sake categories including Junmai (Ozeki Classic, Classic Dry, Sake Go, Yamada Nishiki, Rai, Sumo Junmai, Shiboritate, One Cup Junmai, Komodaru, Karatamba Junmai, Karatamba Junmai Genshu), Junmai Daiginjo (Sake Platinum, Judan Jikomi, Souke Ozakaya Heirloom, Platinum Limited Edition, Sakura Beauty 45), Honjozo (Karatamba, Karatamba Nama Chozo), Daiginjo (Ozakaya Chobei, One Cup Daiginjo, Choju), Taru (Ozeki Taru Sake), Nigori (Nigori Strawberry, Nigori, Nigori Pineapple, Nigori Yuzu, One Cup Nigori), Sparkling (Hana Awaka, Hana Awaka Peach, Hana Awaka Yuzu, Hana Awaka Mix Berry, Ikezo Jelly Shot variants), and Shochu (Kaikouzu, Fukiage Kura). The company also operates an online store through Vinoshipper and offers products in various sizes from 180ml to 19L.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Ozeki Classic (Ozeki Premium Junmai) House sake brewed in California since 1979. Slightly dry with rounded clean flavor throughout the finish. One of the three original sake products Ozeki first brewed in California and best known as warm house sake offered by Japanese restaurants in the USA for over 40 years.
• Ozeki Classic Dry Extra dry, smooth, light-bodied sake. One of the three original sake products Ozeki first brewed in California in 1979 as part of the first Japanese sake brewery in the USA.
• Ozeki Sake Go Sake specially brewed to contain less alcohol for easy and casual drinking. Can also be used as cooking sake.
• Yamada Nishiki Premium sake using 100% Yamada Nishiki rice, known as the king of sake rice varieties. Rich, rice-forward, mild with generous, full, soft texture combined with purity and precision.
• Rai Rich, smooth, earthy sake using Ozeki's Mirai technique combining Sanki-Amazake-Moto and Kobo-Jikomi methods. Amazake base lends rich umami taste.
• Sumo Junmai Full-bodied, earthy, dry all-season sake that can be enjoyed warm, cold, room temperature, and for mixed drinks.
• Junmai Shiboritate Light, refreshing, lively sake meaning fresh squeeze in Japanese. Pasteurized only once at bottling.
• One Cup Junmai Re-sealable, re-usable environmentally friendly cup sake launched in 1964 with over 4 billion cups sold worldwide. Rainbow label is limited edition.
• Komodaru Earthy, dry, full-bodied sake. One of the three sake products Ozeki first brewed in California in 1979, best known as warm house sake offered by Japanese restaurants.
• Karatamba Junmai Crisp, dry Junmai from Hyogo, Japan with earthy, fruity, crisp characteristics. Natural brewing process and longer fermentation period gives mellow and savory flavor. 30% more rice used than Karatamba Honjozo and Namachozo.
• Karatamba Junmai Genshu Crisp, dry, bold sake brewed using Kimoto-style methods with longer fermentation period at lower temperature. Genshu means sake not diluted after pressing.
• Sake Platinum Floral, fruity, smooth Junmai Daiginjo using 100% premium Calrose rice with 50% polishing rate. Traditional long, low temperature fermentation extracts maximum flavor.
• Judan Jikomi Fragrant, fruity, velvety Junmai Daiginjo modeled after late harvest dessert wines. Meticulously brewed at low temperature with a ten-step process taking 50-60 days fermentation.
• Souke Ozakaya Heirloom Junmai Daiginjo celebrating 310 years of Ozeki's history. Hand crafted with 100% Yamada Nishiki rice, featuring elegant texture with aromas of ripe pear and melon.
• Platinum Limited Edition 2025 First Junmai Daiginjo brewed in the 2025 sake brewing season, made of California-grown rice polished to 50%. Draft (nama-chozo) bottled within a week after filtration with notes of peach, pear, and pineapples.
• Sakura Beauty 45 Premium Junmai Daiginjo crafted with yeast from a newly discovered cherry blossom variety in Nishinomiya City, Japan. Brewed from Yamadanishiki rice polished to 45% with notes of apple, peach, and cherry blossom and honey-like sweetness.
• Karatamba Extra dry, crisp, light-bodied Honjozo brewed by Japan's famous Tamba toji brewer's guild, one of the three great brewer's guilds of Japan.
• Karatamba Nama Chozo Crisp, clean, smooth Honjozo with enhanced fresh, clean aroma to smooth, dry aftertaste.
• Ozakaya Chobei Renowned Daiginjo named in honor of Ozeki's founder Ozakaya Chobei. Deeply fragrant and full-bodied with refined taste. Available in 300ml, 720ml, and 1.8L packaging sizes.
• One Cup Daiginjo Fruity, smooth Daiginjo with refreshingly fruity aroma and crisp, dry taste in re-sealable cup format.
• Choju Velvety, rich, delicate super premium Daiginjo sake with elegant finish, best enjoyed for hours with lighter dishes.
• Ozeki Taru Sake Peppery, oaky, smooth Taru sake stored in Yoshino cedar barrels, traditional method before stainless steel. Special occasion sake once served at weddings with traditional breaking of the cask.
• Ozeki Nigori Strawberry Cloudy Nigori sake combining tropical sweetness and creamy texture with light, refreshing strawberry flavor. Made with California-grown rice and strawberries. All natural: Non-GMO, Gluten-free, Sulfite-free, free of artificial flavors, aromas, and colors.
• Ozeki Nigori Creamy, rich, sweet roughly filtered cloudy sake perfect as dessert sake. Contains rice sediments; shake well before serving.
• Ozeki Nigori Pineapple Nigori sake with sweet, sour, creamy taste using best rice from Northern California and fresh pineapples from Costa Rica. Serve chilled as aperitif, dessert sake, or accompaniment to spicy foods.
• Ozeki Nigori Yuzu Sweet, refreshing, creamy Nigori sake using best rice from Northern California and real fresh yuzu juice from Japan. Serve chilled as aperitif, dessert sake, or accompaniment to spicy foods.
• One Cup Nigori Creamy, sweet, refreshing Nigori sake in re-sealable cup format with elegant sweetness balanced by refreshing aftertaste.
• Hana Awaka Light, refreshing sparkling sake with low alcohol. Tiny bubbles with sweet flavor and vibrant aroma. Hana Awaka means flower bubble aroma.
• Hana Awaka Peach Sparkling sake with fresh peach flavor bursting with every sip. Light and delightful with 7% alcohol.
• Hana Awaka Yuzu Sparkling sake with wonderfully balanced Yuzu citrus flavor surrounded by tiny, tight bubbles. Refreshingly delicious and mildly sweet.
• Hana Awaka Mix Berry Sparkling sake with tiny bubbles tickling palate with burst of sweet berries and vibrant aroma. Mildly sweet with refreshing finish.
• Ikezo Sake Jelly Shot Peach Jelly sparkling sake with refreshing peach flavor and unique Jello shot-like texture from plant-based jelling agent. Product name is Ozeki spelled backwards.
• Ikezo Sake Jelly Shot Mix Berry Jelly sake with plant-based jelling agent, very fruity and mildly sweet with blueberry, cranberry, and strawberry flavors. Unique Jello shot-like texture.
• Ikezo Sake Jelly Shot Yuzu Jelly sparkling sake with well-balanced yuzu citrus flavor that refreshes palate. Mildly sweet with unique Jello shot-like texture from plant-based jelling agent.
• Kaikouzu Mild, aromatic Shochu with mellow sweetness and dry finish using rare Kuri-Kogane sweet potato.
• Fukiage Kura Toasty, oaky Shochu aged 3 years in oak cask, bringing out toasty sweet aroma and rich finish. 24% alcohol content.

Quantifiable outcome

• 4 billion+ cups of One Cup sake sold worldwide since 1964
• +2 more outcomes

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration5 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• JFC International Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrimary distribution partner for Ozeki Sake products throughout the United States. JFC International handles distribution alongside regional agents across all 50 states, covering major metropolitan areas including California, New York, Texas, Florida, and many others.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Others

• True Sake: True Sake is the first dedicated sake retailer in the US (San Francisco) and serves as a useful channel and category benchmark for how sake brands — including Ozeki — are merchandised to American consumers.

Direct peers

• Asahi Shuzo (Dassai): Producer of Dassai, a premium Junmai Daiginjo brand that has rapidly gained US share in the high-end segment, directly pressuring Ozeki's premium tier SKUs such as Souke Ozakaya Heirloom and Sakura Beauty 45.
• Takara Sake USA: Takara Sake USA (producer of Sho Chiku Bai) operates a Berkeley, California brewery and is one of the largest US-based sake producers, directly competing with Ozeki in Japanese restaurants as house sake and in retail distribution.
• Kikusui Sake Brewery: Kikusui is a major Niigata brewery with a recognizable Funaguchi 'cup sake' product line that competes directly with Ozeki's One Cup range in US convenience, retail, and single-serve occasions.
• Hakkaisan Sake Brewery: Hakkaisan is a respected Niigata-based premium sake brewery with established US import distribution, competing with Ozeki in the premium Junmai and Junmai Daiginjo segment.
• Ty Ku Sake: Ty Ku is a US-marketed premium sake and spirits brand sold through retail and on-premise, competing with Ozeki's premium and flavored sake lines for the same modern American consumer.
• Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co. One of Japan's largest sake brewers based in Kobe, Hakutsuru exports widely into the US market and competes directly with Ozeki in mainstream Junmai and Honjozo categories on US retail shelves.
• SakeOne (Momokawa): SakeOne brews Momokawa and other sake brands in Forest Grove, Oregon and is one of the leading craft sake producers in the US, competing with Ozeki in premium and specialty retail channels.
• Suigei Sake Brewery: Suigei is a high-end Kochi-based sake brand with growing US on-premise and retail presence, positioning similarly to Ozeki's premium tier in restaurants and specialty retail.
• Gekkeikan Sake USA: Gekkeikan's US subsidiary operates a sake brewery in Folsom, California and is the closest direct competitor to Ozeki in US-made Japanese sake, with overlapping wholesale, foodservice and retail channels and a similar product breadth.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ozeki_jp
• Facebookfacebook.com/ozekisakeusa
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ozeki-sake-u.s.a.-inc.

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ozeki Sake USA