The goal is to revitalize the local community.

Kumatori Town, where our company is located, once flourished with its local textile industry and was renowned for “Senshu towels.”

During my childhood, you could hear the sound of towel weaving machines just about everywhere you went. However, as Chinese products began to dominate the market, our local industry declined, and now you can no longer hear the sound of those weaving machines.

In order to restore Kumatori Town to its former status as a thriving textile center, we have named our initiative “Kumatsugi (熊紡).” The word embodies our desire to “spin” (tsumugu) the past history and stories of the town—once filled with spinning yarn—into a new future for Kumatori, a new industry, and onward to the next generation. We aim to establish it as a new industry for Kumatori Town.

Craft Beer Phantom Brewing by Someone Who Couldn’t Drink Beer

Takimoto, our representative, could barely drink beer until the age of 35. In fact, he was not fond of beer at all. However, after discovering craft beer, he started developing his own brews that even people who dislike beer can enjoy. This concept forms the core of our approach.

As a phantom brewery with no physical brewing facility of our own, we produce our in-house brand “Kumatsumugi” in collaboration with “Wakayama Brewery” (Yoshida Co., Ltd.) located in Wakayama City, Wakayama Prefecture.

Rather than simply outsourcing our production as an OEM, we are involved in every step from recipe development through to brewing, all in one place. We can handle production volumes ranging from 150 liters to 2 kiloliters.

Leveraging the Local Resource “Wadayama Blueberries”

One of the local resources in Kumatori Town, where our company is based, is blueberries. Kumatori-grown blueberries are notably sweet with a sugar content of 13, yet have a pleasantly balanced tartness. We have developed three products featuring these berries:

1. Sweet (01) – Emphasizes the natural sweetness of the blueberries.
2. Dry (02) – Offers a dryness reminiscent of sparkling wine.
3. Sour (03) – Subtly combines sweetness with a tangy acidity.

All three use the same blueberries, but each beer style yields a unique flavor, showcasing our skill as brewers.

These products have also been certified under Kumatori Town’s “Kumatoriyamon” brand as part of our “Kumatsumugi” line, and each variety can be paired seamlessly with meals.

We will acquire a liquor sales license in December 2023 and a self-branded wholesale license in March 2024, enabling nationwide distribution.

Craft Beer as a New Industry

Berry Ale is our third craft beer under the Kumatsumugi brand.

Currently, we offer “Kumatori Ale,” made with honey sourced from Shibata Apiary—one of our local resources—and “En en Ale,” which symbolizes connecting people through relationships. We were involved in the development of all these products from start to finish.

Although there are still few establishments that carry our beers, obtaining our wholesale license now allows us to ship nationwide. It’s no exaggeration to say that Kumatori Town—home to four universities—is a unique “college town” in Japan.

However, once students graduate, they tend to leave Kumatori. By focusing on craft beer brewing, restaurant management, and similar endeavors, we aim to establish craft beer as a new local industry that contributes to the town’s prosperity, becoming a fresh source of appeal for Kumatori.

Future Outlook

While raising awareness of the Kumatsumugi brand, our aim is to establish it as a new industry in Kumatori Town, creating job opportunities through distribution not only in Osaka Prefecture but throughout the Kinki region and ultimately across Japan.

Furthermore, we are refining the flavor of our “03 Sour”—a long-held dream—for export to the United States. After thorough marketing efforts, we plan to distribute it there. We hope to introduce “Made in Japan Quality” from Kumatori to the world, entering new markets in the birthplace of craft beer, America.

We believe the “Kumatsumugi” brand will become a global brand that Kumatori Town and Osaka can be proud of.

Kumatsumugi Berry Craft Beer Pairings

Kumatsumugi Berry Craft is carefully crafted with a recipe designed to pair well with food.

It complements just about any dish, but it’s an especially perfect match with one of Senshu’s specialties: “mizunasu” (water eggplant). The pickled mizunasu from Nouen Yosuke, a producer in Kumatori Town, is popular nationwide.

Please give it a try with their pickled mizunasu—you’ll be hooked!