Our Story
“It All Begins in the Rice Fields”
Since 1647, KUHEIJI has pursued one belief:
the soul of sake begins in the land.
From the rice fields of Kurodashō in Japan to the vineyards of Burgundy in France, we seek to express terroir through fermentation.
Because great sake, like great wine is born from the earth.
A New Chapter - KUHEIJI USA
In 2026, KUHEIJI begins a new chapter in the United States.
For the first time, we are building our own import and distribution team across the country, allowing us to share the true story of KUHEIJI more directly.
Our mission is simple:
to bring our philosophy, our passion, and the spirit of our brewers to the table.
We invite you to discover our Sake and Wine —
a new expression of rice, terroir, and time.
Our History
Origin
Since 1647, the name Kuheiji has been passed down through fifteen generations. Our legacy lies not in tradition alone, but in a constant pursuit of innovation.
Each generation has stepped beyond the boundaries of its present, reshaping our craft in the image of its own era.
Handcrafted
To elevate Japanese sake is to redefine its place in the modern world. We aim to return this heritage to the center of the stage, offering a reimagined value for a new era.
This pursuit of excellence defined the reformation led by 15th-generation Kuheiji Kuno, culminating in the birth of our signature line: Kamoshibito Kuheiji.
New Light
Our story begins in Paris.
“You are a small producer—I can taste it. Your wines are handcrafted.”
The greatest compliment.
From a history of hardship, we came to believe: true quality transcends borders.
Thus, Kuheiji entered the world of France’s finest chefs and sommeliers.
From the Farm
One might expect the first question to be how sake is made.
Yet with chefs and sommeliers, the conversation always began with rice.
“What variety do you use? Do you grow it yourself?”
They understood what matters most: the raw material shapes the final expression.Unable to answer fully, I felt a quiet resolve.
It led us to cultivate a new rice crop in Kurodashō — giving birth to Kyoden.
Wine
Something exceptional emerges from the meeting of elements.
In Bourgogne, we began crafting wine—guided by intuition, care, and human touch.
A pursuit of perfect harmony gave rise to DOMAINE KUHEIJI. (First release, April 2020, French Wine)
At the same time, through cultivating rice alongside French farmers,
“Born in Camargue” came into being. ( French Rice Sake)
In the Rice Fields
Rice is the essence of sake.
No matter the skill of the brewer, the character of each vintage is shaped in the field—this is what Kurodashō taught me.
As with wine and grapes, sake is defined by rice.
Kurodashō has taken this to heart, ensuring its rice is properly cared for, from tiny seedling to final product, thereby demonstrating the importance of a strong connection between rice field and brewery - inspired from Morey Saint Denis.
Through this philosophy, Domaine Kurodasho was born.