Kitanishi Sake Brewery was founded in 1894 in Ageo City, Saitama Prefecture by Kitanishi Kamekichi, and has operated continuously under family ownership through five generations. The brewery's flagship brand Bunraku, established since the founding, takes its name from the classical Japanese puppet theater art that the founder deeply admired. In 2020, the fifth-generation owner Ryuichiro Kitanishi undertook an extensive renovation and introduced Sairai, a new label built around aroma, sweetness, and acidity, while Kiichi is among the sake brands in the broader portfolio.
