Old Sake Brewery Goes Up In Smoke

Jul 20, 2026 | News On Japan

NIIGATA - A fire that broke out at the long-established Echigo Tsurukame sake brewery in a densely populated residential district of Niigata City on July 19 destroyed the brewery and spread to at least six nearby homes, with firefighters still unable to declare the blaze fully extinguished by noon on July 20.

A nearby resident called emergency services shortly before 4:30 p.m. on July 19 after seeing black smoke rising from a building in Takenomachi, Nishikan Ward.

A person who was nearby said the aging buildings produced loud banging sounds as the fire spread, followed by the sound of roof tiles or other materials collapsing. "It was frightening," the person said.

A total of 19 fire vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Firefighters brought the blaze under control shortly after 6:30 p.m., about two hours after it started, but continued working at the site through the following day because the fire had not been completely extinguished.

Police and fire officials said the Echigo Tsurukame brewery building appeared to have been completely destroyed. At least six homes were also burned, while an earlier report said the fire had spread to one garage.

No injuries were reported.

Police said the brewery building had burned particularly intensely. Firefighters are continuing efforts to extinguish the remaining flames, and police and fire officials plan to investigate the cause of the fire.

Founded in 1890, Echigo Tsurukame had produced sake for more than 130 years at the foot of Mount Kakuda in Niigata City's Nishikan Ward. Originally operated as Uehara Shuzo, the brewery took its name from the crane and turtle, traditional symbols of longevity and good fortune. It was known for small-batch production, carefully controlled fermentation and bottle storage designed to preserve the fresh flavor of newly pressed sake, while also developing innovative products made with wine yeast.

Typhoon No. 17 Could Bring Sudden Swells to Pacific Beaches

Typhoon No. 17 (Nangka) remained near Minamitorishima as of 3 a.m. on August 14 and is expected to stay relatively weak, but forecasters warned that high waves and sudden swells could affect Japan's Pacific coast, posing a risk to swimmers and others enjoying marine activities during the summer holiday period.

Level 5 Heavy Rain Emergency Warning Issued Across Chiba

A Level 5 heavy rain emergency warning was issued for more than 20 municipalities in Chiba Prefecture on August 13 after a linear rainband formed over northwestern and southern parts of the prefecture, bringing torrential rainfall exceeding 100 millimeters per hour in several locations and causing widespread flooding, stranded vehicles and damage to buildings.

Google Opens Flagship Store in Tokyo's Omotesando

Google opened its first flagship store in Japan in Tokyo's Omotesando district at 2 p.m. on August 13, marking the company's first flagship retail location outside the United States.

Jellyfish-Like Red Glow Lights Up Kanagawa

A mysterious red light stretching vertically across the night sky over Kanagawa Prefecture has been identified as a rare "sprite," a brief luminous phenomenon that occurs high above thunderclouds at roughly the same time as powerful lightning strikes.

Awa Odori Dancers Fill Tokushima Streets

Street performances began across Tokushima on August 12 as the city's Awa Odori festival entered its second day, with leading dance groups showcasing graceful routines after months of practice.

MEDIA CHANNELS

MORE Society NEWS

Pythons Escape From Apartment in Kawasaki

Two pet pythons measuring about 2 meters in length escaped from an apartment in Kawasaki's Tama Ward early on August 13, prompting police and firefighters to search the surrounding residential area and warn local residents.

The Unseen Reality of Kumamoto Quake Survivors

Fifteen days after the Kumamoto earthquake, restoration of electricity and transport infrastructure is progressing, but thousands of people are believed to remain outside official shelters, while rising construction costs and interest rates are creating new challenges for rebuilding homes and restoring livelihoods.

Teens on Stolen Motorcycle Fire Rockets at Police Officers

Two teenage boys from Tokyo's Adachi Ward have been arrested on suspicion of stealing a motorcycle and firing aerial fireworks toward police officers at two police boxes, telling investigators they were annoyed that a new police box had opened in the area.

Japanese Woman Trapped in North Korea for 40 Years

Hiroko Saito was 19 years old when she left Japan for North Korea in June 1961 with her Korean husband and their one-year-old daughter, persuaded by assurances that they were heading to a "paradise on earth" and that she could return to Japan after three years. Instead, she would spend four decades in North Korea, enduring chronic hunger, the deaths of her husband and children and a desperate struggle to survive before finally escaping and returning home in 2001.