Abe Brewery, located in Kashiwazaki City, Niigata Prefecture, is a sake brewery led by its sixth-generation owner, Yuta Abe. Having rebuilt the brewery from the brink of closure, Abe has transformed it into one of the most dynamic and fast-rising breweries in Japan. As a result, many trainees from across the country gather under his guidance. Many of his former trainees have gone on to establish their own breweries and are now active at the forefront of the industry, making Abe Brewery a true breeding ground for talent in the world of sake.

Its lineup includes the core Abe (あべ) Series, the more experimental Star (★) Series, and the Single Paddy Field (圃場別) Series, which follows a unified recipe while using rice harvested from specific rice fields in Kashiwazaki.

The first time we SAKE Street had the opportunity to sit down and speak with Yuta was during a visit to the brewery in June 2024. Our first impression of Abe-san was: “He is incredibly strong in both vision and business.”

He has a powerful commitment to continuing to brew the sake he truly wants to make, while also making full use of IT to thoroughly streamline brewery operations and maintaining an exceptional grasp of management and financial figures.

Above all, he is simply a fascinating person to talk to. Whether the subject is the industry, the future of sake, or anything else, he always brings sharp perspectives and thought-provoking insights, and every conversation with him leaves us with new realizations.