The History of Shochu

Almost everyone has heard of Japanese sake before, but what about shochu? Shochu is another of Japan’s traditional alcoholic beverages that, much like sake, comes in a huge variety of flavors and types. Shochu production started about 500 years ago in southern Japan. An authentic Japanese spirit resulted from a combination of the basic sake […]

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Reizake, Kanzake … The taste of sake that changes with temperature.

The taste of Japanese sake changes with temperature. Japanese sake is a beverage whose taste and aroma change depending on the temperature. Some sake are suitable for Kanzake (hot sake), and on the contrary, some sake is better served as Reizake (cold sake). Today, we will introduce the changes in flavor of sake depending on […]

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What you need to know when picking a favorite sake! How to read labels

Sake, despite its simple moniker, actually has many different varieties. Have you ever wanted to find a sake that you can enjoy among all of those different types and varieties? What you really need to pay attention when trying to find one is the label. The information detailed in these labels is actually quite important, […]

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What local sakes are brewed in different regions around Japan? We’re going to talk about each type and about what makes each region special

Recently, sake has been growing in popularity along with the boom that Japanese food has been experiencing. We’re sure many of you have been able to experience Japanese sake. As with wine, the taste of a sake changes along with the region in which it’s produced. In this entry, we’d like to introduce local sakes, […]

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Did Japan’s Tradition of Toasting Originate in Europe?: On the Roots and Meaning of “Kanpai”

Alcoholic beverages are essential when it comes to social gatherings such as meals with friends and weddings. And in these situations, one almost always sees people raising their glasses in a toast. Japan has always incorporated alcoholic beverages such as sake in Shinto religious rituals, but did you know that the style of toast now […]

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Just what is sake to Japanese people? The sake used in ceremonies

In general, sake signifies three different things to Japanese people. First, it’s an offering to the gods. Second, it’s something used to entertain people. Third, it’s used medicinally or as an analeptic. This time, we’d like to talk about the relationship between sake and the gods. Your view of sake might change once you understand […]

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What kind of drink is sake? An easy-to-follow explanation covering everything from ingredients to different production methods

 Known as nihonshu in Japan, sake is one of Japan’s most well known products and is loved for its superb mouthfeel and quaffability. Although it goes well with cuisine from different countries, there are probably many people out there who still wonder what, exactly, sake is. If you like sake but aren’t sure about how […]

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