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.

Old Picture of the Sato Family

Prior to 1804


The Sato family was conducting a business as a kaisen-donya (wholesaler in port) shipping cargo on the nearby rivers.

1804


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.

Old picture of city in 1804

The San-J Founder Original & Current Trademarks.


San-Jirushi’s logo of three horizontal bars represent the three rivers. The name San-Jirushi means “the mark of three.”

The original trade mark for San-J
San-J Founder Logo
San-J Soy Sauce being poured from a barrel

1978


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.

2019


The first stage of the plant expansion was completed to meet increasing demand of San-J products.

Today


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.