Sake maker in Holbrook blends rice with Navajo tea

Atsuo Sakurai estimates it takes approximately three months to produce a single bottle of sake at his Holbrook shop. The Japanese alcohol, made from fermented rice, has a history spanning thousands of years, yet Sakurai’s operation stands out for its location. The Arizona Sake facility sits just off Route 66, a spot that frequently surprises customers who do not expect a traditional brewer to be operating in the American Southwest.

Sakurai arrived in the United States from Tokyo, a city located roughly 6,000 miles away. He worked in the sake industry in Japan before relocating to Arizona. He stated that he initially dreamed of starting a sake manufacturing business somewhere in the world. That vision led him to establish Arizona Sake in Holbrook, where he now produces the beverage in a 200-gallon vat.

His wife, Heather Sakurai, is from the Navajo Nation. The couple combines their cultural backgrounds in their production methods. Sakurai explained that one of their specific products uses Navajo tea, a plant native to the region. He noted that this ingredient distinguishes their work from standard Japanese imports.

The production process is manual and slow. Workers wash and heat rice in baskets before moving it into vats for fermentation. Once fermentation is complete, the mixture is pressed like mash. Sakurai said the sake is squeezed out under pressure to extract the liquid. This hands-on approach contrasts with modern automation, and Sakurai said the slow process brings him peace in a world increasingly driven by artificial intelligence.

The shop’s products have won competitions in Japan and other countries. Sakurai produces traditional styles of sake, while some unique creations are sold exclusively in Holbrook. He described the aroma as beautiful, noting that customers often compare it to pear or blueberry. One taster at the shop reported tasting prickly pear in one of the varieties, a flavor profile Sakurai acknowledged as distinctly Arizona.

Sakurai remains confident in the longevity of his business. He compared the potential threat of technology to the impact the interstate highway system had on older Route 66 businesses. When asked if Arizona Sake will still be operating in 100 years, he answered, “Hopefully.” The shop continues to operate its small-batch production in the Holbrook area.