BambooCut (株式会社バンブーカット), the company behind well-known spots such as Tachigui Umeboshi-ya and Guruguru Shakashaka in Tokyo Solamachi and Ume to Hoshi in Asakusa, has opened pre-orders for the 2026 editions of its home-fermentation kits: "Umeko" for making traditional umeboshi (pickled plums) and "Umesuke" for making umeshu (plum liqueur) or plum syrup.
Pre-order page (BambooCut Market): https://bamboo-cut.shop-pro.jp/?mode=grp&gid=3127346
Each kit centers on freshly harvested, high-quality Kishu Nanko plums sourced directly from farmers in Wakayama Prefecture. Rather than delivering just the raw plums, the kits bundle all the additional items needed for the process — removing the need to source tools separately or measure ingredients precisely. Some items do require preparation by the user.
Pre-orders are accepted from early April to early May each year, with all orders shipped at once when the plums reach peak ripeness at harvest time. In 2026, shipping is planned for June 11.
Umeboshi Making Kit "Umeko" — Three Points That Make It Beginner-Friendly
Umeko is designed to help anyone make traditional, sour, and salty homemade umeboshi. Here are three key features of the kit.
① Fully Ripe Kishu Nanko Plums, Delivered Straight from the Farm
Working directly with farmers in Wakayama Prefecture, BambooCut selects and ships plums at peak ripeness. Opening the box is said to fill the room with an irresistible plum fragrance.
② Quality Salt to Match Quality Plums
Umeboshi has only two ingredients — plums and salt — so the kit puts equal care into both. A dedicated umeboshi salt called "Umeko no Shio" was developed with the supervision of salt coordinator Shiho Aoyama. The blend combines four types of salt, and Aoyama has endorsed it as a formula that produces delicious results regardless of who does the pickling.
③ A Clearly Written Guidebook, "Umeko no Hon"
BambooCut's representative Junpei Takeuchi hosts umeboshi-making workshops across Japan every year. The experience gained from working with thousands of participants has been distilled into a booklet that anticipates common questions and explains each step in an easy-to-follow way. Live-streamed tutorials, LINE, and email support are also available, so first-timers can proceed with confidence.
Umeboshi Making Kit "Umeko" — 2026 Edition
- Pre-order period: April 1–May 14, 2026 (closes early once stock limit is reached)
- Price: from ¥4,320 (tax incl.)
- Producer/Seller: BambooCut Inc.
Umeshu Making Kit "Umesuke" — What Makes It "Wonderfully Satisfying"
Making umeshu at home is a straightforward three-step process:
- Wash the plums, remove the stems, and freeze them
- Layer the plums and rock sugar into the container
- Pour in the liquor and let it rest for about three months
(Plum syrup is even simpler.) The kit makes this simple process even more satisfying with a few thoughtful additions.
The Best Plums
Just like Umeko, Umesuke uses Kishu Nanko plums sourced from Wakayama farmers. While commercially available umeshu is often made with green, unripe plums, BambooCut recommends plums that are nearly ripe and aromatic — a choice that noticeably deepens the flavor, sweetness, and richness of the finished liqueur.
Freedom to Choose Your Liquor
While white liquor (shochu) is the conventional base for homemade umeshu, whisky, gin, rum, and other spirits also produce excellent results with a distinctive character. Users are asked to prepare two 700–750ml bottles of their preferred liquor themselves. Whether it's an everyday favorite or a more indulgent pick, the choice is entirely up to the maker.
A Container and Rock Sugar Sized Just Right
The kit includes a lightweight polyvinyl chloride bottle (approx. 26cm tall, 13cm in diameter) that holds exactly the right amount for two 700–750ml bottles of liquor. The accompanying 800g of plums and 800g of rock sugar are proportioned to match, so no measuring is needed and nothing goes to waste.
Umeshu Making Kit "Umesuke" — 2026 Edition
- Pre-order period: April 1–May 14, 2026 (closes early once stock limit is reached)
- Price: ¥6,912 (tax incl.)
- Producer/Seller: BambooCut Inc.
Pre-order page: https://bamboo-cut.shop-pro.jp/?mode=cate&cbid=2800435&csid=0
The Joy of Making Something Yourself
The tradition of home-made preserved foods has been fading over the generations, but umeboshi and umeshu made by hand carry a lasting personal attachment — and because both essentially have no expiration date, they become a long-kept treasure. Whether enjoyed little by little each day, saved as a treat, or shared quietly with someone close, the result of the process is something genuinely personal. Both kits are designed to make that experience accessible to anyone, from the moment the box arrives to the first taste.
