Sake Brewery Associate – OPT Opportunity [Japanese Required]

* OPT welcome · E‑2 visa sponsorship available

Join us in building the first premium Japanese sake brewery in Los Angeles.

We are hiring a full‑time employee as a founding team member.

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Position
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- Japanese Sake Associate (Founding Team Member)
- Location: 210 W Arrow Hwy, Unit E , San Dimas, CA 91773

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Our Goal
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To create Japan’s first luxury sake brand.

* We aim to build a global luxury brand, like Dom Pérignon or Armand de Brignac, with Los Angeles as our base.

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Why We’re Doing This
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The global sake market is still in its infancy. Due to the nature of sake, its quality often degrades during export, making it challenging to enjoy truly delicious sake outside Japan.

Our mission is to share the highest-quality, authentic sake with the world. Beyond just great taste, we aim to create a globally recognized luxury brand from the ground up.

This is meaningful work for both Japan and the global market—an exciting opportunity to build a world-class luxury brand from scratch. Join us in this ambitious journey!

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Our Team
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Yuki Kurokawa (Founder & CEO, Los Angeles)  
- Serial entrepreneur with over 15 years of business experience, including 10 years as a CEO.  
- Produces and markets high-end sake in Japan ($170 per bottle).  
- Extensive business and marketing experience in Japan and Singapore (5+ years).  
- Built multiple businesses with annual revenues exceeding $10M (web media, advertising, dental correction services).

Naoki Tamura (Co-Founder, Tokyo)  
- Experienced startup leader with a track record of taking companies public.  
- Led the Singapore office of DX startup Monstarlab as president, scaling operations across the US, Europe, and Asia to 20 countries and 1,500 employees.  
- Expertise in fundraising, IPOs, and post-IPO investor relations.

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What You’ll Do
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We are seeking a passionate individual to join our founding team as a sake brewer.

▼ Key Responsibilities
- Participate in all aspects of sake production
- Additional Opportunities (based on interest and aptitude)
 (1) New product planning and concept development.
 (2) Branding initiatives.
 (3) Social media management.
 (4) Data analysis for quality assurance.
 (5) Sales outreach to restaurants.

▼ Required Skills/Abilities

Native‑level Japanese proficiency required

* No sake production experience required.

▼ Required Mindset
- Highly professional attitude
- Positive outlook
- Enjoys drinking 
- Ambitious with big life goals

▼ Important Notes:  

1. The job involves more mundane and physically demanding tasks than you might expect.
Especially in the first 1–2 years, founding members will handle everything from brewery cleaning to production and other general tasks, so please apply only if you’re prepared for this reality.

2. You will need to avoid consuming the following foods due to their impact on sake production:  
 - Natto (1 month before starting).  
 - Kimchi, yogurt, kombucha, or strongly fermented foods (1 week before production).  

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Compensation
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$40k – $80k ( per year )

* Housing allowance and medical insurance provided.

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Hiring Process
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1. Resume screening .  
2. Casual interview with CEO (online 30 min).  
3. Test assignment submission.  
4. Final interview (in-person in LA).

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VELUGA Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.