Our Story
MTN WTR CEO Masa Kinemuchi grew up in Niigata, Japan, where clean, refreshing water was part of everyday life. When he moved to the U.S., he was surprised to find that most bottled water had an overpowering taste, often due to high TDS levels – nothing like the neutral, balanced water he knew in Niigata. Realizing that many had never experienced what he considered “true water,” Masa set out to change that.
1.Water is the Source of Everything
MTN WTR CEO Masa Kinemuchi grew up in Niigata, Japan, in a family that has farmed rice for over 250 years. From childhood, he witnessed how clean water shaped the quality of rice, the richness of the land, and the health of the people. "Water is the source of everything," Masa says. "When water is good, the rice thrives, the land flourishes, and people feel the difference." In his hometown, great-tasting water was simply part of daily life…
2. A Taste Worth Sharing
different the water tasted. The balanced, neutral quality he'd taken for granted in Japan felt hard to find. He missed water that felt balanced and neutral — water that doesn’t compete with flavor, but supports it. Japanese food culture — sushi, ramen, even sake — relies on quality water. Japanese products are loved worldwide, yet Japanese water rarely makes that journey. That gap stuck with him: this was water worth bringing to America.
3. Building Something New
In 2017, Masa partnered with Takashi Nakamura — an expert in Japan's water distribution and logistics — to found MTN WTR Co. Their goal was clear: bring Japan’s quality spring water to the U.S., sourced from underground springs in Narusawa, Yamanashi Prefecture, near Mt. Fuji.
Breaking into the U.S. beverage market as a Japanese-owned brand wasn’t easy—but the challenge made it meaningful. MTN WTR introduced naturally alkaline spring water (pH 8.6+) and the Japanese tradition of strong carbonation. Alongside spring and classic sparkling, MTN WTR offers EXTRA STRONG (about 4.0–4.5 volumes of CO₂)
4. From Mt. Fuji to Your Everyday
In 2022, MTN WTR brought Mt. Fuji–area spring water to the American market—naturally filtered for 50 years through volcanic rock and an underground aquifer.
The result is crisp, refreshing water with a naturally alkaline pH of 8.6+, made for meals, quiet resets, and everyday rituals. Today, MTN WTR is available in 1,000+ stores and restaurants nationwide.
Good Water for Everyone is our mission.
Better Water, Better Lives is our vision.
