The Season For Peaches and Plums!

March 2026

Staff Picks of the Month

Each Product 10% off*

KATO SAKE WORKS BOTANIKARU $35.10
Kato Sake Works arrives with their new seasonal botanical infused sake. Rose and cardamom bring an elegant floral aroma but do not overpower the Junmai base sake made with . A perfect departer from a traditional “floral” sake.

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DAIYAME 24 IMO SHOCHU $35.10
This expectation defying shochu not only has the refreshing aroma of lychee, but a full-bodied dry and fruity complexity that matures over a lingering finish.
The name Daiyame is a Kagoshima dialect for an evening drink following a hard days work, meant to heal the tiredness one feels.

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HAKKAISAN SHIBORITATE NAMA GENSHU
$25.20 A fresh squeezed unpasteurized, undiluted, and seasonal limited nama zake with a soft aroma and a complex flavor. Very clean with a light touch of nama-sweetness and a pinch of earthiness.

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IZUMIBASHI YAMADA JURO $44.10 Made from a base of Junmai Daiginjo sake and infused with Juro Ume from Kanagawa to make a super smooth, elegant, rich and fresh umeshu.

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*Discounts applied at checkout

New Arrivals coming to The Store:

Masumi Arabashiri Nama & Shichi Hon Yari Shiboritate Nama: March is the time when the freshest unpasteurized nama-zake, known as "shiboritate" or "arabashiri," arrives from Japan. This only happens once a year, so don't miss out! The two products introduced here are sold by Kuraichi every year and are among the finest Japanese unpasteurized sakes that we confidently recommend. There will also be a free tasting featuring these drinks, so stay tuned!

Tonoike Iki: Yamada Nishiki, the highest quality sake rice, is said to be Special A-rank rice grown in a limited area of Hyogo Prefecture. However, due to Japan's recent climate change, especially in the summer, which can be described as "tropicalization," sake rice from the northeastern region is becoming the best. In particular, Yamada Nishiki from Tochigi Prefecture has attracted the attention of sake breweries all over Japan. This excellent sake from Tochigi has finally arrived at Kuraichi. Please try this small 300ml bottle first!

Yamamoto Barley Shochu "Mugio": Shochu is essentially "cheap liquor." Or rather, it should be sold cheaply. Kuraichi also carries high-end shochu with rare and special flavors, but the most important thing is that shochu should be enjoyed casual at an affordable price. This barley shochu, with its soft and elegant fruity flavor, is sure to be one of the representative products.

Kurokirishima Cup: Got cup? We're not talking about sake cups, it's about shochu cups! Sake cups are one of Kuraichi's best-selling products, and now shochu cups have finally arrived in New York! How you drink it is up to you. Drink it neat, with ice, or mix it with soda or your favorite juice. Why not try it with your meal at the food hall next door?

Events this Month:

Choya tasting & Workshop: March 7th

Masumi Arabashiri Nama Free Tasting: March 14

Hakkaisan Shiboritate Nama Genshu Tasting: March 28

Shichi Hon Yari Shiboritate Nama Free Tasting: TBA

From the Staff:

The Season Of Plums and Peaches!

by Sam T. Miyazawa
March in Japan can be called the season/month of plum and peach. The most important day is "Hinamatsuri" (Doll Festival) on March 3rd, which is properly called "Momo no Sekku (Peach Festival)."

It's said that the Chinese ritual of purifying oneself by water was introduced to Japan, where it evolved into the practice of making paper dolls and throwing away the impurities in the river. It's said that these paper figures then evolved into dolls.

The modern practice of displaying dolls began during the Edo period, and some regions still float dolls down the river today. The ritual of purification evolved into an event celebrating spring, displaying Hina dolls and peach blossoms, and praying for the health and happiness of children (daughters). "Hinamatsuri" is celebrated on March 3rd, but this is actually based on the lunar calendar, so peaches do not yet bloom on that day according to the modern calendar. Therefore, producers let their peaches bloom according to the modern calendar and then ship them.

If possible, why not get some peach blossoms and Hina dolls and celebrate everyone's health with some peach sake and sweets?

Our Peach Products

In March, plum blossoms bloom across Japan, ushering in the cherry blossom season. While the timing varies by region, the plum blossom season is long, allowing you to enjoy the vibrant blossoms in Tokyo and Kyoto until early March (early mornings are recommended).

After the beautiful blossoms have finished, the plums are harvested between May and July (depending on the ripeness of the plums). Umeshu is typically made using unripe green plums, but because they are seasonal, if you miss the season you won't be able to get them until the following year. I remember my grandmother would be the first to buy green plums when they appeared in stores, and then she soak them in shochu to age them.

Nowadays, umeshu isn't limited to shochu; you can enjoy a variety of styles, including those steeped in sake, wine, or brandy, as well as flavors like shiso and matcha.As winter draws to a close, enjoying a glass of ume liquor and anticipating the arrival of spring is a wonderful way to celebrate.

Our Umeshu Products