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 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.
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.”
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.