Kuroki Honten’s Hyakunen no Kodoku Barley Shochu 40% is a single 720ml bottle. The Rakuten Ichiba product name includes 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box), and the order form lets you choose gift wrapping and noshi. On the other hand, we could not find the storage method or best-before date on the product page, and the wrapping fee is not shown consistently between the product name and the product description. Based on the Rakuten Ichiba product page and Rakuten reviews, this article organizes the product into five points: quantity, storage method, ingredient labeling, suitability as a gift, and reviews.
Drinking by anyone under 20 is prohibited by law in Japan. Please follow the laws of your country or region. Drinking during pregnancy or while breastfeeding may affect the development of the fetus or infant. Please also do not drink before or while driving.
*Many shops ship only within Japan. If you want overseas delivery, please check with the shop before ordering.
What We Confirmed
- Quantity and alcohol content
- Storage method and best-before date
- Ingredients and allergen labeling
- Whether it works as a gift
- Trends in public reviews
Basic Information
This table transcribes what is stated on the product page. However, the “not confirmed” labels and any notes we add are our own.
| Product Name | 百年の孤独 40度 720ml 〔化粧箱付〕【黒木本店】 (Hyakunen no Kodoku, 40%, 720ml, with gift box, Kuroki Honten)Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page (viewed October 4, 2026). The product name shown on the Rakuten product page also lists words indicating uses that are not quoted here |
|---|---|
| Name | Barley shochu (麦焼酎)Source: as written in the Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| Amount | 720ml × 1 bottle. We could not find any other size optionsSource: Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Alcohol Content | 40%Source: Rakuten Ichiba product name and product description |
| Ingredients / Production (Seller’s Description) | Ingredients are listed as barley and barley koji. The description says it is made from barley with hand-made koji, that the spirit distilled by single (pot) distillation is aged in oak barrels, and that it is filtered before shipping, so the color is a pale amberSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| Storage Method | Not confirmedWe could not find a description on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Best-Before Date | Not confirmedSame as above |
| Raw Material Origin | The origin of the raw materials is Not confirmed. The product specifications show Miyazaki in the “Place of origin (prefecture)” field, but it is not stated whether this refers to the origin of the raw materialsSource: product specifications on the Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Place of Processing | Not confirmed |
| State / How to Enjoy (Whether Cooking Is Required) | This is an alcoholic drink for drinking. We could not find any guidance on whether heating is required. The seller’s description says that mixing with cold water brings out the sweetness of the grain, and mixing with hot water brings out richnessSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| Packaging / Noshi | The product name includes 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box), and gift wrapping and noshi are selected on the order form. Details are in “Suitable as a Gift?”Source: Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| Shipping | The product name states ambient-temperature shipping (常温便). According to the shop’s notice, orders placed and paid by 12:00 on weekdays are shipped by the next business day, though this may not be possible depending on the order situationSource: Rakuten Ichiba product name and product page notice (viewed October 4, 2026) |
| Manufacturer | 黒木本店 (Kuroki Honten; as written in the brewer field of the Rakuten product description). Whether it is the manufacturer on the collective food label is Not confirmedSource: Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| Shop | ビッグリカーズ (Rakuten Ichiba) |
Prices are not listed here because they change. Please check the current price and stock availability at the link above.
Ingredients and Allergen Labeling
The Rakuten Ichiba product description lists the ingredients as barley and barley koji. We could not find an ingredient-name field or allergen labeling on the product page, so these are Not confirmed.
If you are concerned about allergies, please contact the shop before purchasing, or check the collective food labeling on the product when it arrives.
Reference: Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling” (accessed October 4, 2026)
Five Things to Check Before Buying
| What to Check | For This Product | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Amount and Number of Servings | One 720ml bottle, 40% alcohol. A guideline for the number of servings is not stated | Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 2. Storage Method and Shelf Life | The storage method and best-before date are both Not confirmed (no description found). The product name states ambient-temperature shipping (常温便) | Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 3. Ingredients and Allergen Labeling | Ingredients are listed as barley and barley koji. Allergen labeling is Not confirmed | Rakuten Ichiba product description |
| 4. Suitable as a Gift | The product name includes 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box). Gift wrapping, noshi, and a sender name on the noshi can be selected on the order form. The wrapping fee is not shown consistently between the product name, the product description, and the order form | Rakuten Ichiba product page |
| 5. Review Trends | Rakuten Ichiba’s rating is 4.68 out of 5 (243 reviews). We read 72 reviews in total: the first 60 in the default order (posted May 2008 to July 2026; latest July 2026), plus all 2 reviews rated 1★, all 1 rated 2★, and all 9 rated 3★. Many comments say it pleased the recipient as a gift or that it is easy to drink, while opinions on the price were divided. Within what we read, 17 reviews were posted in the last two years (since October 2024), and many are old. This trend may not reflect the product’s current state | Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 4, 2026) |
Suitable as a Gift?
On the Rakuten Ichiba product page, we could confirm the following (viewed October 4, 2026).
- Gift box: the product name shows 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box)
- Gift wrapping: the order form has a wrapping-paper selection field, where you choose from no wrapping, 雲竜 (Unryu), ばら (Bara), つづれ (Tsuzure), blue, green, red, or おまかせ (shop’s choice)
- Noshi: on the order form you choose whether to have noshi and its inscription (plain noshi, 御祝 [celebration], 内祝 [return gift], 御礼 [thanks], 御中元 [midsummer gift], 御歳暮 [year-end gift], 御供 [offering], 志 [Kokorozashi]). The shop’s description says noshi is applied as outer noshi (外のし)
- Sender name and mizuhiki (cord): there is a field to enter the sender’s name, and the mizuhiki can be chosen from red-and-white butterfly bow, red-and-white knot-cut (musubi-kiri), black-and-white knot-cut, or yellow-and-white knot-cut
- Message card: the product description has an image about message cards. How they are handled is Not confirmed
The wrapping fee is not shown consistently. The product name says “包装無料” (free wrapping), the product description includes a note that gift wrapping is a paid option to be purchased together with the alcohol, and the selection item name on the order form shows “（￥0）” (all as displayed when viewed on October 4, 2026, and subject to change). We cannot determine the fee, so we do not state an amount or whether it is free. Please check the order screen.
Among the reviews we read, there were posts saying the noshi inscription was changed from 御祝 (celebration) to 退院御祝 (hospital discharge celebration) (2026) and that the packing was solid, including fragile-item warnings (2025). On the other hand, there is 1 post from 2018 saying the buyer wanted inner noshi (inside the wrapping) but it arrived as outer noshi. Reviews include past posts, so they do not show how the shop handles this today (source: Rakuten customer reviews, viewed October 4, 2026).
Please do not give alcohol as a gift to anyone under 20.
What Public Reviews Say
Below is a summary of the product reviews on Rakuten Ichiba, organized by theme. The rating figures are as of the time we accessed them and may change afterward.
| Site | Rating | Reviews | Viewed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rakuten customer reviews (product page) | 4.68 / 5 | 243 | October 4, 2026 |
Rating breakdown: 5★ 182 / 4★ 49 / 3★ 9 / 2★ 1 / 1★ 2 (as shown on Rakuten Ichiba, viewed October 4, 2026)
What we read: the first 60 reviews in Rakuten’s default order (posted May 2008 to July 2026; latest July 2026), plus all 2 reviews filtered to 1★ (December 2018 to January 2026), all 1 review filtered to 2★ (May 2018), and all 9 reviews filtered to 3★ (November 2008 to April 2018), 72 in total. Reviews posted in the last two years (since October 2024) number 16 in the default order and 1 in the 1★ filter. These are trends within what we read and may not reflect the product’s current condition.
What Reviewers Praise
Pleased the recipient
About 21 of the 60 reviews in the default order said they used it as a gift for occasions such as birthdays, Father’s Day, and retirement, and that the recipient was pleased. Some also mention giving it again as a repeat purchase. 8 of these were posted in the last two years.
Taste and drinkability
About 13 of the 60 reviews in the default order said it is mellow and easy to drink, with little harshness. Some posts also mention ways of drinking it, such as with cold water, hot water, or on the rocks; these are purely buyers’ impressions. 5 of these were posted in the last two years.
Wrapping, packing, and noshi handling
About 9 of the 60 reviews in the default order said the wrapping and packing were careful and that a change to the noshi was handled. 2 of these were posted in the last two years.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 4, 2026)
What Reviewers Note
Opinions on the price were divided
Among the posts that mention price, about 16 of the 60 reviews in the default order compared it with other shops. None of these was posted in the last two years; most were posted in 2023 or earlier. Meanwhile, about 10 of the 69 reviews (the 60 in the default order plus all 9 rated 3★) expressed a different feeling about the price, and 1 of these was posted in the last two years. We do not judge here whether the price is high or low.
The 3 reviews rated 1★ or 2★ each raised a different point, and we found no point raised in 2 or more of them.
Source: Rakuten customer reviews (viewed October 4, 2026)
Who It Suits / Who Should Be Careful
Who It Suits
- Want to check the details of a single 720ml bottle at 40% alcohol before choosing (adults aged 20 or over)
- Want a product shown as 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box), with gift wrapping and noshi selected on the order form
- Want to refer to reviews saying it pleased recipients as a gift
Who Should Be Careful
- Anyone under 20 (drinking is prohibited by law in Japan)
- Anyone who is pregnant or breastfeeding, or who will drive or is driving
- Want to know the storage method, best-before date, and allergen labeling before purchasing (not confirmed on the product page)
- Want to know the wrapping fee before purchasing (it is not shown consistently on the product page)
- Opinions on the price were divided in the reviews
Prices, stock, shipping fees, and delivery dates are subject to change. This article’s information-as-of date is October 4, 2026. Please be sure to check the listing at the link before purchasing.
This article contains affiliate links (advertising). Editorial Policy
*Many shops ship only within Japan. If you want overseas delivery, please check with the shop before ordering.
Summary
- It is a single 720ml bottle at 40% alcohol. Drinking by anyone under 20 is prohibited by law in Japan
- We could not confirm the storage method, best-before date, or allergen labeling on the product page. If you are concerned, please check with the shop before purchasing
- The product name includes 〔化粧箱付〕 (with gift box), and gift wrapping and noshi can be selected on the order form. Because the wrapping fee is not shown consistently, please check it on the order screen
Related Pages
This article organizes information published on various retail and review sites. Product details such as quantity, storage method, and ingredients are subject to change. Please check the seller’s listing for the latest information.
Comments on taste or quality are summarized from third-party posts cited with their source, and are not Ochinity’s own evaluation. Our approach to writing articles is described in our Editorial Policy.
Information as of: October 4, 2026 / Sources: Rakuten Ichiba “ビッグリカーズ” product page, Rakuten customer reviews, Consumer Affairs Agency, Japan, “About Allergen Labeling”
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