The story behind San-J
San-J International, Inc. is dedicated to the manufacture of premium Tamari soy sauce and quality Asian-inspired products. We endeavor to produce excellence in our products and services.
PRIOR TO1804
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The Sato family was conducting a business as a kaisen-donya (wholesaler in port) shipping cargo on the nearby rivers.
1804
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The Sato family established San-Jirushi in Mie, Japan, as a Tamari soy sauce and miso company. The three river design of their logo came from the three rivers in the area that they used for their cargo-vessels when they were a wholesaler in port.
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San-Jirushi’s logo of three horizontal bars represent the three rivers. The name San-Jirushi means “the mark of three.”
1978
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San-Jirushi established San-J to begin selling their Tamari soy sauce in the US as an importer and their products were very well accepted in the natural market.
1987
The San-J plant was built in Henrico, Virginia. It was the first Tamari brewing facility built in the U.S.
Today
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Takashi Sato, an eighth generation member of the founding family, is president of San-J, continuing the exacting standards for brewing the world’s finest Tamari soy sauce.