"The Engine of our Hometown" - Thinking Globally, Acting Locally -

On April 10, 2025, Kuge Honten donated a quantity of 'Drink then Push (your bike!)' bottle-neck keychains featuring the mascots of Usuki and Tsukumi to the local police. The Regional Traffic Division of Usuki-Tsukumi Police has been distributing them around local bars as part of their anti-drink-driving campaign. (Photo: Article from Oita Godo Shimbun - morning edition, showing a snack bar (Snack Yurari) owner offering a bottle of Tsunezo while raising awareness.)

On April 10, 2025, Kuge Honten and the Usuki-Tsukumi Police Department signed an agreement to promote a crime-free society. We aim to make Usuki and Tsukumi the safest cities in Japan. (Photo left: Newspaper coverage from April 14, 2025, Oita Godo Shimbun) We also donated 3,000 'Drink then Push (your bike!)' bottle-neck keychains featuring the city mascots, to raise awareness about drink-driving/riding. Police Chief Takeshi Fujisawa thanked us, stating they’ll distribute them to restaurants to remind customers to walk their bicycles home after drinking. We at Kuge Honten wish for a world where alcohol brings joy, not tragedy. (Photo right)

With guidance from JA Oita Nambu Economic Centre, we visited the Kanta-kun sweet potato fields in Hirano, Chizuka, Notsu Town, Usuki City. Set against vast rolling hills, the thriving crops promise a delicious shochu harvest. So, here’s hoping those Kanta-kun sweet potatoes turn into a truly special shochu.

From this year, Kaguya-hime Agricultural Corporation in Oji, Notsu Town, Usuki City, has started cultivating Gin no Sato sake rice for us. The paddies in Kikko, Notsu Town, were lush and healthy. Near the fields stands Kinmei Mousochiku, a golden bamboo designated a natural monument by Oita Prefecture, gracefully swaying in the heat.

Wishing you all a safe and cool summer. The intense heat continues in Usuki City, often exceeding 35℃. Please take care of yourself. We recently visited the rice paddies in Mochizuki, Usuki City, where Mr. Minato is growing Wakamizu rice for our Tokubetsu Junmai sake. Despite the heat, the rice is thriving. Here’s hoping these golden grains become a delicious sake !

Renpei-kun and Uta-chan from Usu-Kids (Usuki Cable Net) embarked on a company tour at Kuge Honten. The president and Toji Matsuno provided an engaging explanation of the company and sake, tailored for elementary school students.

 

Following the success of the first event, please join us at Japanese restaurant, Orizuru (Hotel Nikko Oita Oasis Tower) for the highly anticipated "Sake Tasting Event." Indulge in freshly squeezed Tokubetsu Junmai Muroka Namagensyu - USUKI and Daiginjo - Kurokui. We are enthusiastically encouraging everyone to come along! We look forward to seeing you there ! Check out the flyer for more information.

As the chill sets in, we savoured a warm 180ml flask of Josen - Ichinoide using a Nonbe Yokocho, (sake warmer) accompanied by grilled eel, liver skewers, and an omelette-wrapped eel. The combination was simply exquisite !

A devoted "Ichinoide" fan in Usuki City gifted us with homemade karasumi. The dried mullet roe, harvested in Usuki Bay, underwent a meticulous salting and sun-drying process, then Josen - Ichinoide is drizzelled directly onto the karasumi resulting in a flavourful delicacy that perfectly complemented Josen - Ichinoide.

 

Once more, "Chanpon Chikara" presented the delicious barley shochu - Tsunezo in an enticing manner. We are very grateful !
This time, it was delightfully paired with yellowtail.