News

Capital Partnership with Sakurao Brewery and Distillery—Revitalizing Local Food and Beverage Manufacturers

Oct. 24, 2025

We are pleased to announce that Mitsui & Co., Principal Investments Ltd. (“MCPI”, Head Office: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, President and CEO: Nobuyuki Goto) has formed a capital alliance with Sakurao Brewery and Distillery Co., Ltd. (“Sakurao B&D”, Head Office: Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture, President and CEO: Koichiro Shirai), by underwriting a new share issue by Sakurao B&D through an investment limited partnership managed by MCPI.

Established in 1918, Sakurao B&D produces spirits, sake, liqueurs, and other products in Hatsukaichi City, Hiroshima Prefecture. In 2018, it marked the centenary of its founding with the establishment of the Sakurao Distillery, which began to produce gin and whisky using its legacy of distillation technology. In preparation for the launch of a single-malt whisky in 2021, the company changed its name from Chugoku Jozo Co., Ltd. to Sakurao Brewery and Distillery. In November 2025, it will complete construction of the Sakurao Distillery Forest Site at Yoshiwa in Hatsukaichi City and commence trial operations. This project will substantially increase the company’s distillation capacity and expand its sales of sprits.

MCPI has engaged in activities designed to revitalize local food and beverage manufacturers with the aim of contributing to regional regeneration in Japan. Japan has numerous local food and beverage manufacturers with excellent products. However, many face medium- to long-term challenges, including expansion into overseas markets, digital transformation, and business succession. MCPI aims to help regionally based businesses to achieve sustainable growth by leveraging the food industry networks and knowledge, management improvement expertise, and M&A know-how of Mitsui & Co. Group to address these challenges. Through this new capital alliance, MCPI will welcome Sakurao B&D as a partner in its efforts to accelerate these initiatives.

MCPI, in collaboration with Mitsui and its group companies, will help Sakurao B&D to take up the challenge of using the rich resources of Hiroshima and the Seto Inland Sea to promote the enjoyment of food, by expanding its sales structures and customer base and strengthening its corporate functions.

MCPI will continue to focus on the revitalization of local food and beverage manufacturers. We invite business owners and M&A advisors who are interested in using the networks, knowledge, and management improvement expertise of Mitsui & Co. Group to contact us. We can offer optimal solutions based on flexible approaches to diverse needs, such as growth finance and business succession.