Tanaka runs Kiminoi Shuzo, a revered brewery in the small town of Arai in Niigata Prefecture’s southern reaches. Arai lies at the bottom of a glacial valley, surrounded by rice paddies and, beyond those, mountains. During an average winter, these mountains receive over 20 meters of snow, which melts into the town’s paddies in spring.… Continue reading Niigata Japanese sake
Category: About Japanese sake
Learn about Japapnese sake and Japan sake drinking culture
What is Doburoku
Sake has become popular in the United States and Europe, so nowadays you can find bottles of sake from Japan in most retail stores. Although the range is limited to the main commercial makers In Japan, drinking sake at home is declining in popularity. Japanese consumers now prefer beer, wine and cocktails, and the… Continue reading What is Doburoku
Doburoku Sake revival
Doburoku Sake helping Japanese sake imports Doburoku, a type of unfiltered cloudy sake, is experiencing a renaissance. New brewers have joined long-established sake breweries in starting to brew the sweet rice wine, creating products with unique flavors and fragrances using fruit and other ingredients. All other sake is said to originate from doburoku. In… Continue reading Doburoku Sake revival
The drinking culture hidden inside Japan’s liquor stores
On a chilly day in late December, as most people were busy with New Year’s preparations, I stepped into a seemingly ordinary shop in Kitakyushu, the northernmost city on Japan’s island of Kyushu. Sake no Awaya had the usual appearance of a well-stocked liquor store specialising in sake: shelves were tightly packed with hundreds of meticulously… Continue reading The drinking culture hidden inside Japan’s liquor stores
How younger sake brewers are helping Japanese sake exports
Exports of Japanese sake have grown in step with the global Japanese cuisine boom, setting a record high for the 13th consecutive year in 2022. The continuing boom, with shipments surging 18.2 percent last year to 47.4 billion yen (about $340 million), is also fuelled by younger sake brewers targeting a more upscale market… Continue reading How younger sake brewers are helping Japanese sake exports
Decreasing domestic demand for Japanese Sake
Japan has a rich history of sake production, and the country has been known for its high-quality sake for centuries. However, in recent years, the domestic demand for sake has been on a steady decline. According to a report by the National Tax Agency of Japan, the domestic sake market shrank for the 12th consecutive… Continue reading Decreasing domestic demand for Japanese Sake
Sake cocktails
Sake cocktails have come a long way from their humble beginnings as a simple mix of sake and other ingredients. In recent years, the popularity of sake cocktails has exploded, with mixologists around the world using sake to create a wide variety of unique and delicious drinks. The history of sake cocktails can be… Continue reading Sake cocktails
History of Japanese Sake
Japanese sake, also known as nihonshu, is a traditional alcoholic beverage made from fermented rice. It has a rich history dating back thousands of years and has played an important role in Japanese culture and society. The origins of Japanese sake can be traced back to the Yayoi period (300 BC – 300 AD),… Continue reading History of Japanese Sake
Sake brewers building brand cachet by cultivating bespoke rice crops
Japanese brewers are gaining visibility by cultivating their own rice crops, using local grains to promote the unique characteristics of their regional sakes amid a surge in popularity of rice wine overseas. The change is unusual as sake breweries normally procure raw rice from farms around the country. In early July, workers at Shibata Brewery… Continue reading Sake brewers building brand cachet by cultivating bespoke rice crops
Japan’s Sake train
Some trains are simply a means to get from point A to B. On others, like the East Japan Railway Company’s Shu*Kura, it’s all about the journey. This train operates along a few routes in northwestern Japan’s Niigata Prefecture, a place known for its rice, water, and snow. Nicknamed “snow country” for the deep drifts that blanket the… Continue reading Japan’s Sake train