Tokyo's Ethical Spirits lands B Corp status, closes AMJ Capital-led round
What's the deal? The Ethical SpiritsDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a Tokyo-based craft gin distiller that upcycles unused ingredients, said it earned the international B Corp certification in July 2026. The company also closed the first tranche of an early-stage round led by San Francisco-based AMJ Capital.
What does it do? Founded in 2020 in Kuramae, Tokyo, the startup distils gin from materials that usually go to waste — sake lees, off-spec fruit, used coffee grounds, and cacao husks. Its signature brand, LAST , launched that year around the value of sake lees, the solids left after pressing sake.
Why the certification matters. B Corp, run by US non-profit B LabDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, scores companies across governance, workers, community, environment, and customers. More than 10,000 companies hold it worldwide, including 107 in Japan and 49 distillers globally.
What earned high marks? Upcycled products make up 100% of the company's own sales, and its business model was recognised as an environmental "impact business model." Since September 2025, its Tokyo Riverside Distillery and Kuramae office run on 100% renewable electricity, cutting 14,028kg of CO2 between January and September 2026.
What's the endgame? New funds will go toward expanding LAST at home and abroad and strengthening the management team.
"Certification is not a goal but a start," said chief executive officer Ono Chikara.
The signal: Certification is becoming a differentiation tool for sustainability-focused Japanese drinks makers. Coedo Brewery operator Kyodo Shoji became the first in the country's alcohol industry to earn B Corp status in 2026, a path Ethical Spirits — which raised US$2.92M in 2024 with backing from SuntoryDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → — now follows.
Read more: prtimes.jp
Image credit: Capital Spirits Baijiu Bar and Distillery
