About us
Kami Shochu is a premium spirits brand that introduces shochu—Japan’s versatile and deeply rooted drink—to a global audience. While honoring the rich traditions of Japanese craftsmanship, Kami Shochu embraces innovation, reimagining shochu not only in its pure form but also as a unique ingredient in modern cocktails.
Maxim Kassir is a beverage professional and entrepreneur with extensive experience across fine wine, sake, shochu, whisky, and premium spirits. With a career rooted in hospitality and a background in mathematics and economics, Max brings a rare balance of analytical thinking and creative storytelling to the world of Japanese beverages.
Before co-founding Kami Shochu, Max worked closely with leading Japanese producers, developing private-label whisky and sake in collaboration with renowned names such as Chichibu Distillery and Tsuchida Brewery. These projects deepened his understanding of Japanese craftsmanship, production philosophy, and long-term brand building.
Francesco Braun is one of Europe’s most influential voices in sake and shochu. A respected bartender, educator, and mentor, he has played a key role in introducing Japanese spirits to the European bar community and redefining how they are understood and used in contemporary cocktails.
Through hands-on education, advocacy, and a strong digital presence, Francesco has successfully engaged bartenders and hospitality professionals, helping shape the future of Japanese beverages outside Japan. His work extends beyond the bar—he is widely recognised for his ability to translate tradition into modern relevance without losing authenticity.
Kami Shochu isn’t just about making great shochu—it’s about sharing a tradition in new ways, inviting fresh perspectives, and celebrating a drink that has been cherished for centuries while embracing the possibilities of the future.
KAMI – DIVINE SPIRIT OF JAPAN
In ancient Japan, it was believed that Kami—divine spirits—resided in nature, their essence found in trees, rivers, and even sake. Among the warriors of the land, a samurai named Hiroshi was known for his skill, honor, and deep reverence for tradition.
One day, while traveling through a dense forest, Hiroshi discovered a hidden shrine, its worn stones nestled beneath towering cedar trees. At its center stood a sacred sake barrel, said to house the Sake Kami. Sensing the spirit’s presence, Hiroshi knelt in quiet respect. As an offering, he poured a small measure of his own sake into a cup and placed it before the shrine.
In that moment, the air stirred, and a radiant spirit emerged from the shadows—the Sake Kami itself. Moved by Hiroshi’s sincerity, the Kami granted him a rare gift: the recipe for a unique shochu, infused with the essence of the divine. A drink meant not only to honor tradition but to carry the spirit of craftsmanship into the future.
Centuries later, Kami Shochu was born—named in honor of this legend and crafted with the same devotion to tradition and innovation.