Late last month, the sake of Yamagata Prefecture was officially granted GI (Geographical Indication) status by the National Tax Administration. This means that they have secured the right to call their sake “Yamagata” sake, and that no one else can do that. This is similar in letter and spirit to putting the term “champagne” on…
The Shimbashi area of Tokyo has no shortage of drinking establishments and great sake bars. It has long been a haven for businessmen looking to unwind after work with coworkers over a few, or substantially more than a few, glasses of sake. Anyone looking to learn more about sake would be well-served by paying the…
Export numbers for Japanese sake in 2016 extend a trend from the last few years, namely robust growth in demand for premium brands overseas. According to data released in late January from Japan’s Ministry of Finance, exports of Japanese sake reached 15.5 billion yen, the 7th year in a row of record numbers. Experts believe…