Nanbu Bijin Co Ltd

Nanbu Bijin – From Iwate to the World

Founded in 1902 in Ninohe, Iwate, Nanbu Bijin has grown from a local brewery into one of Japan’s internationally recognised sake producers. Its name, meaning “Southern Beauty”, reflects the brewery’s ambition from the beginning: to create sake of exceptional purity, elegance and quality.

For five generations, the Kuji family has followed a simple principle — quality above all else. Working alongside the renowned Nanbu Toji brewing tradition, Nanbu Bijin combines meticulous craftsmanship with a willingness to embrace new ideas and technology.

That forward-looking spirit became especially important in the late 1990s, when the brewery began actively promoting sake overseas. Rather than simply exporting bottles, Nanbu Bijin helped introduce international audiences to how sake should be served, stored and enjoyed with food.

Today, the brewery continues to evolve while remaining deeply rooted in Iwate, creating sake that connects local craftsmanship with a truly global audience.

From Iwate to the world. Quality without compromise.