By Ryuji TakahashiThe state of emergency is now lifted nationwide, with sake and food events held in various regions. Meanwhile, “Omi City’s Delicious Specialties and Quality Consumer Goods Fair” was held at the shopping center Viva City Heiwado in Hikone city, Shiga prefecture for twenty-five days ...

By Yuji MatsumotoTo be able to taste sake, the most importing to do is to identify and set your own tasting criteria. The criteria are not based on one’s preferences, so one must find the foundation that become the basis for judging various sake. One must have that foundation in place to be able to ...

By Kosuke KujiWe made the decision to continue producing rubbing alcohol indefinitely for the most vulnerable - disabled children needing constant medical care. However, as stable supplies of commercial rubbing alcohol are now available in the market, rubbing alcohol produced by sake breweries have ...

In this issue, let’s discuss the compatibility between sake and Japanese cuisine. The flavor of sake enhances the flavors of Japanese cuisine and vice versa, a compatible combination that produces a synergistic effect that enhances both flavors. Complex in flavor, Japanese sake is easy to pair with ...

By Ryuji TakahashiThe Kura Master 2021 contest for Japanese sake, Shochu and Awamori was held at the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris on September 20.Japan w...

By Yuji MatsumotoI often see breweries and wholesale dealers recommending their sake to local American diners at sampling events, saying, “This sake goes with any food,” “We use 100% Yamadanishiki rice,” “This is Junmai Daiginjo,” and “This is a traditional kimoto sake,” etc. However, most people (i...

By Kosuke KujiJapanese sake sales suffered due to the impact from the novel coronavirus pandemic. The issue of sake rice inventory left over sparked a movement to encourage “support by consuming the sake rice.” I thought of participating in this movement myself. Speaking to rice farmers however, I l...

Souboushu were brewed in many temples. The Souboushu highly rated for their flavors are Bodaisen by Shoryakuji Temple (Nara prefecture) and Amano sake by Amanosan-Kongouji (Osaka city). Bosaiden was highly acclaimed as a “well-renowned sake nationwide” by the eighth shogun Yoshikazu Ashikaga during ...

By Ryuji TakahashiAt the time this article was being written, over half of the Japanese population had received the second COVID-19 shot. As the number of cases started to decline, the state of emergency declaration was soon to be lifted in various areas. Restaurants and liquor shops were looking fo...

By Yuji MatsumotoThis is a trend I’ve recently noticed in the last two to three years, but I’ve noticed a widening division between the winning vs. losing brands of sake and shochu. The reason is as follows:• The selling products vs. those that don’t are clear at the storefront• At restaurants, labo...