The Art of Ice: Kuramoto and the Craft of Japanese Cocktails
In the realm of Japanese craftsmanship, even the most unassuming element is treated with reverence and precision. At the bar, ice is no exception. At Sushi Ii, we’re proud to work with Kuramoto, a more-than-100-year-old, family-owned ice manufacturing company based in Kanazawa, Japan. Kuramoto ice is meticulously sourced, flawlessly pure, and deeply tied to Japanese values of simplicity, harmony, and excellence.
Born of Nature and Tradition
Kuramoto ice begins in the pristine springs of Mount Haku, one of Japan’s sacred peaks and a region renowned for its naturally soft water. The water, filtered over centuries through layers of volcanic rock, emerges mineral-balanced and delicately pure. It’s this water—considered some of the finest in Japan—that forms the foundation of Kuramoto’s crystal-clear blocks.
Unlike mass-produced ice, Kuramoto ice is frozen slowly and intentionally, a method that allows air bubbles and impurities to escape. What’s left is a crystal-clear, ultra-dense block of ice, smooth and flawless—likened often to a cut diamond. Hand-cut and shaped by artisans, each piece reflects Kuramoto’s century-long commitment to excellence and the Japanese cultural reverence for detail.
Elevating the Cocktail Experience
In both presentation and performance, Kuramoto ice transforms a cocktail into a quiet spectacle. Its clarity adds visual drama, while its density ensures minimal dilution, preserving the integrity of each pour. At Sushi Ii, our cocktail menu highlights spirit-forward drinks designed to let Japanese spirits shine.
The Toki High Ball, made simply with Suntory Toki whisky and club soda, is poured over cracked Kachiwari ice—irregular, organic shards that reflect the Japanese aesthetic of wabi-sabi, or the beauty of imperfection.
The Ume Soda, with Choya Plum Wine, club soda, and a honey-fermented sunken plum, also rests on Kachiwari ice, its form echoing nature’s irregularity and simplicity.
The Roku Tonic is served over a large, hand-cut Kuramoto cube, a pristine pedestal for the clear spirit and a single sprig of hanaho (shiso flower), enhancing the gin’s botanicals with soft aromatics and delicate color.
A Legacy of Subtlety and Precision
For more than a century, Kuramoto has operated with one simple goal: to elevate the experience of drinking through ice. It is this level of quiet excellence that aligns so seamlessly with the Japanese approach to hospitality and craftsmanship. In a culture where every detail matters, Kuramoto ice is not just functional—it is a final, finishing touch.
Kuramoto’s luxury ice is a reminder that true refinement often lies in what’s least expected. At Sushi ii we use Kuramoto ice not just for its form or function, but for its symbolism—for its ties to nature, tradition, and the Japanese spirit of intentional beauty. Whether cracked or cut, Kuramoto ice allows each ingredient to shine exactly as it was meant to: with clarity, elegance, and purpose.