OSP provides a one-stop solution for sake label design, from materials to design
| Industry/Service | ： | Manufacture and sale of sake and liqueurs, sake brewery tourism, etc. |
|---|---|---|
| Head Office Location | ： | Kyoto |
Sasaki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is the only brewery still standing in the center of Kyoto. Using rice produced in Kyoto Prefecture and "Ginmeisui," a water that is said to have been used by Sen no Rikyu in the tea ceremony, the brewery has produced a variety of brands of sake. How did Osaka Sealing Printing (hereinafter OSP) support the company's desire to make each of the distinctive sakes more appealing and promote them? We spoke to CEO Akira Sasaki about their work with OSP.
Customer Issues
- ・Label peeling off due to changes in temperature
- ・Creating label designs that make products look more attractive
OSP proposal
- ・Quality design of labels, multifaceted design proposals by multiple designers
- ・Improved work efficiency with the labeler "LA-9500M Cylindrical Pasting Machine (※)"
- ・Support for the creation of universal designs that can be used for overseas sales
We were worried that the quality of our sake labels would deteriorate due to changes in temperature and humidity.
Please tell us about your business and how you started doing business with OSP.
Mr. Sasaki: Our company has been making sake in Kyoto's Rakuchu area for over 130 years. Our representative brands are all related to Kyoto, such as "Jurakudai," named after Toyotomi Hideyoshi's mansion that existed here, "Koto," beloved by Kawabata Yasunari, and "Nishijin." Recently, we have been holding "sake brewery tourism," and are working on a business that accepts visitors to our sake breweries.
I first met OSP about 15 years ago. A sales representative from OSP came to visit us for a sales call, and at that time, a client had placed an order for us to create a label for their sake. We asked them to design the label, and that was our first transaction with OSP.
At the time, we were facing issues with label specifications. We had been ordering labels from various companies for many years, and although they stuck perfectly fine in normal environments, there were issues with the labels peeling off when placed in the refrigerator, and wrinkling over time due to humidity.
Not only do we solve the problems of sake labels, but we also offer a wide range of label design suggestions
Please tell us more about how you solved the design and specification challenges.
Sasaki-san: When we first met OSP, we consulted them about the label issues. We discussed in detail the label material and adhesive strength, and they suggested a synthetic paper that would not peel off easily even if it gets wet or is stored in the refrigerator. Not only that, they also suggested printing information to match the material of each product, and I remember working together to create the sake labels.
The label design was also a very good suggestion. Originally, our product labels were a traditional Japanese sake label design, with black brush writing on a white background or white writing on a black background.
We consulted with OSP on a design that would change the typical impression of the product and make it look more attractive. What was particularly impressive was that they created so many different designs. I heard that OSP's designers worked with multiple people to create designs with a variety of different approaches. They were all so attractive that it would have been a waste to use only one.
The introduction of OSP's label applicator "LA-9500M Cylindrical Pasting Machine (※)" has realized a more stable printing system.
Did you receive any support that helped you solve any issues other than the production of labels?
Mr. Sasaki: Actually, I still keep the proposals for the sake label designs that they proposed but we were unable to adopt. They are very useful as reference material when discussing new label designs with customers. I am also grateful to OSP for making it easier for me to propose label designs to customers.
Design wasn't the only thing that solved the problem. Before introducing OSP's labeling machine, the LA-9500M Cylindrical Pasting Machine (※), we were using an old machine that had been in use since the Showa era.
There were cases where those machines were not compatible with the labels and could not be applied properly, and it was unclear whether the cause was with the machine or the label. However, as soon as we introduced OSP's label application machine, not only were we able to apply the labels without any problems, but we were also reassured by the fact that even if any trouble did occur, they would follow up to help us solve it.
We want to work together to create a universal label design that can be used anywhere in the world.
What are your future prospects and expectations for OSP?
Sasaki-san: Our company handles not only sake, but also various brands such as seasonal products and non-alcoholic drinks. Currently, many of these products have labels that use designs created by OSP. From now on, we plan to venture into overseas markets, not just Japan, and we are currently having OSP create labels for products to be exported overseas.
OSP is working on creating designs with an eye on the whole world, including Japan. I hope they will create universal designs that can be used anywhere in the world, where the brand, grade, etc. can be identified at a glance, and I would like to continue working together to create attractive products.
* Currently out of stock. Successor model: LA-5M Cylindrical Pasting Machine
About Sasaki Sake Brewery Co., Ltd.
Founded in 1893 (Meiji 26), this brewery is located in Kamigyo Ward, Kyoto City, and is the only sake brewery still standing in the central Kyoto area. They mainly manufacture and sell sake, liqueurs, and soft drinks, with representative brands including "Jurakudai" and "Koto." They are also working to utilize local resources through sake brewery tourism.
Related Products
