Thank you very much for always visiting our official website.
Today, a customer asked me, “Why did you decide to open a sake shop?” So, I’d like to take this opportunity to share a little about my journey to opening my own sake shop.
Encountering "Japanese Sake" and "Authentic Shochu" as a New Employee
I started drinking alcohol during my time as a vocational student, mostly beer and chuhai (shochu highballs). As for Japanese sake and shochu, I had only tried them a few times at all-you-can-drink izakayas, and I didn’t have a great impression of them at the time.
Back then, I was passionate about the construction industry. After graduating from a vocational school specializing in civil engineering and surveying, I joined a construction company. Since my job involved frequent business trips, I visited many different regions. One day, while in Yamaguchi Prefecture, I went to an izakaya with my senior colleagues. They said, “This local sake is really good!” and encouraged me to try it.
The moment I took a sip, I was amazed.
“The aroma is incredible, and it tastes amazing!”
“It’s so smooth and easy to drink, without any unpleasant sharpness.”
That experience left a lasting impression on me.
(The brands I tried at the time were likely Dassai, Hōken, Tōyō Bijin for sake and Tomino Hōzan for shochu.)
At that moment, I realized:
"Sake is a wonderful drink that can bring happiness and put smiles on people’s faces."
From then on, I became interested in Japanese sake and authentic shochu. Eventually, I left the construction industry and took the leap into the world of alcoholic beverages.
My Time at a Liquor Retail Store
At first, I assumed that any liquor shop would sell local sake, so I applied to a liquor store that was hiring. However, the shop mainly sold commercial-use alcohol, such as beer, and it was quite different from what I had envisioned as a specialty store for local sake.
The job was much more demanding than I had imagined. Though I had confidence in my physical strength, I found it quite tough.
Around my second year at the company, I was given a sales role. I wasn’t good at talking to people, but when customers told me, “The sake you recommended was amazing!” I felt truly happy. Especially when they understood the passion of the brewers, I thought, "This job is incredibly fun!"
At that moment, I made up my mind:
"One day, I will open my own sake shop."
After that, I trained and gained experience at two specialty liquor stores focused on local sake, which eventually led me to open my own shop. I am deeply grateful to my mentors who guided me with strict yet valuable lessons.
Aiming to Be a Sake Shop That’s Easy to Visit
While working in liquor retail, I often heard customers say:
"Liquor stores feel a bit intimidating and hard to enter."
"There are so many types of local sake that it’s difficult to choose."
Hearing these comments made me realize that, for many people, sake shops might not be the most accessible places.
Our shop is located in a residential neighborhood. It’s a small store with a limited selection, but we prioritize customer interaction and strive to help each person find the perfect sake for them. Our goal is to be a shop where anyone can drop by casually and feel welcome.
Although we still have much to learn, we will continue to operate our sake shop with the motto:
"Grateful for every encounter, conveying the passion of the brewers, and bringing smiles and happiness to those who enjoy sake."
Shop Owner – Nishino
