Archive · 4 Oct 2026
Yamaroku Shoyu Sees India’s Growing Appetite for Premium Soy Sauce
Yasuo Yamamoto runs a Japanese soy sauce brewery called Yamaroku Shoyu.
Its special soy sauce is made slowly in wooden barrels and takes about four years.
On a visit to India, he found that many people were curious about how it was made.
Some thought it was expensive, but many understood the price better after tasting it.
The brewery wants to work with chefs, hotels and people who enjoy special ingredients, rather than sell everywhere.
Yamamoto thinks a little of the sauce could add flavor to Indian foods such as pani puri and curries.
Yamaroku also wants to help keep the traditional skill of making wooden barrels alive.
Yamamoto hopes India will become the brewery’s biggest international market within five years, and that people there will help carry the tradition forward.
Yasuo Yamamoto says Indian chefs and consumers showed curiosity about traditionally barrel-aged shoyu during his visit.
Yamaroku’s Tsuru-bishio takes about four years to produce, and a 500ml bottle sells for around $45–50 in the US.
The brewery is targeting chefs, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, home enthusiasts and corporate gifting rather than mass distribution.
Yamamoto sees potential uses for the soy sauce in Indian dishes including pani puri, kebabs, grilled meats and curries.
Yamaroku is working to preserve kioke barrel-making and hopes to build a community around traditional craft in India.
- Who
- Yasuo Yamamoto, fifth-generation owner of Yamaroku Shoyu, and Indian chefs and consumers.
- What
- Yamamoto is exploring demand in India for Yamaroku’s traditionally barrel-aged soy sauce and hopes to build a community around the craft.
- When
- During Yamamoto’s recent India visit; he hopes India will become the company’s largest international market within five years.
- Where
- India, and Yamaroku Shoyu’s brewery on Shodoshima, Japan.
- Why
- Yamamoto believes Indian consumers are curious about fermentation, tradition and craftsmanship, and wants to share and help preserve traditional shoyu-making.
- Brewery
- Yamaroku Shoyu, a Japanese brewery described as 150 years old.
- Owner
- Yasuo Yamamoto, the fifth-generation owner.
- Featured product
- Tsuru-bishio, traditionally fermented and aged in wooden kioke barrels.
- Production time
- About four years for Tsuru-bishio.
- US price
- About $45–50 for a 500ml bottle; the US is currently Yamaroku’s largest international market.
- India strategy
- Focus on chefs, high-end restaurants, luxury hotels, enthusiasts and possible corporate gifting, rather than mass distribution.
- Five-year ambition
- Yamamoto hopes India will become Yamaroku’s largest international market.