Japan's Crystal Clear Ice Cubes Conquer Global Markets

Japan's high-end ice cubes have gained popularity worldwide, particularly in the US, Australia, and Singapore. The unique ice is produced by Kuramoto Ice, a 100-year-old company in Kanazawa city, Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.

The water used for producing these crystal-clear ice cubes is slowly frozen for 48 to 72 hours, which helps remove impurities and air bubbles. This process results in transparent ice that can be cut and shaped accurately.

Kuramoto Ice's head, Kazuhiko Kuramoto, noticed the potential of this product after visiting Las Vegas over a decade ago. He saw bartenders using easily soluble ice that diluted the flavor of expensive cocktails.

Since 2019, the company has experienced double sales, with prices reaching up to 200 Yen (about 1.25 USD) per ice cube. In Singapore, Native bar imports around 900kg of Kuramoto Ice each year to serve its customers.