Keeping the lights on

On the subject of sake brewery succession and economics… would you like to invest in one?

The Nihonshu Capital company has started using an investment crowdfunding site named Securite (セキュリテ) to finance sake breweries and shochu distilleries. 

Representative Director Fumio Tanaka started the company in 2021 and has been involved with reviving breweries since 2010. He holds that in keeping with their traditional role as an integral part of their local community, sake breweries are key to regional revitalisation and need to be kept in business. 

He is currently working with four breweries and distilleries that supporters can invest in through Securite. All the projects are open from late April to late October 2025, and ask for a unit investment of JPY 30,000 with additional handling fees of JPY 1200 to 2400. 

Dainagawa, Akita Prefecture: Target JPY 11.52 million. The brewery passes down the techniques of the Yamauchi Toji and are working with the local community to expand production. Reward: Dainagawa junmai daiginjo muroka genshu brewed exclusively for investors. (Securite crowdfunding page)

Uozu, Toyama Prefecture: Target JPY 11.52 million. This recently revived brewery aims to increase production using a sake rice they developed and integrate with the local agricultural system to support the community. Reward: Uozu junmai daiginjo fukurotsuri OCEAN 30% polishing. (Securite crowdfunding page with photos of updated facilities and equipment)

Shiwa, Iwate Prefecture: Target JPY 17.4 million. A 120 year old brewery making sake in the tradition of the Nambu Toji, looking for new equipment in order to expand sales in Japan and overseas. Reward: Hiroki junmai ginjo vintage 2005, released to investors only. (Securite crowdfunding page)

Hinatayama, Kagoshima Prefecture: Target JPY 11.52 million. Makers of “Asahi” honkaku imo shochu, the distillery wants funding to buy raw materials and strengthen their production and sales systems. Reward: Investor-exclusive set of their most three most popular products. (Securite crowdfunding page)

As this is an investment (rather than the usual crowdfunding) supporters do run the risk of losing the money they invested.
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伝統と想いを受け継ぎ、次代につなぐ—未来を醸す酒蔵たちの挑戦が始まります。 (PR Times, 2 May 2025, Japanese)