When you would like to start a trading, you need to check the cost in order to make a profit for your business. Product cost, freight cost, tax… You have all sorts of costs you need to check in advance. Nevertheless, if there is an agreement between the countries, there is a cost which you […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Iwate, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Iwate Prefecture  As you may be aware by now, flavours and charms of Sake are largely influenced by Toji. The Toji group in Iwate is called Nambu Toji (南部杜氏), which is one […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Iwate, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Iwate Prefecture  As you may be aware by now, flavours and charms of Sake are largely influenced by Toji. The Toji group in Iwate is called Nambu Toji (南部杜氏), which is one […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Iwate, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Iwate Prefecture  As you may be aware by now, flavours and charms of Sake are largely influenced by Toji. The Toji group in Iwate is called Nambu Toji (南部杜氏), which is one […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Akita, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Akita Prefecture  Akita Prefecture is one of the coolest regions in Japan, blessed with clear underground water provided by the melting snow. The climate of the region is suitable for rice cultivation, […]

    Alembic Ono Distillery is a distillery that has won double the greatest awards from the 3 major competitions of the distilled alcohol. It is operated by Alembic Co., Ltd (address: Ono-machi, Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Pref., Representative : Toshihiko Nakagawa). The company launches limited bottles on 8 August 2023 for its 1st year anniversary […]

    　Connec.t Co., Ltd (HQ: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo, Representative: Jun Oguchi) launched a project team named ‘NO NAME DISTILLERY’ to develop sustainable gin that fights against social issues, namely wasted food, by using the local ingredients across Japan. ‘YORI’ is launched by turning wasted fruits and vegetables into the botanical ingredients of the original craft […]

    Home to cloudy wine, Sasaichi Shuzo launched a new flavour of peach, only available in summer. Sasaichi Sake Brewery Co., Ltd. is a long-lasting brewery with more than 360 years of history, located at the entrance of Yamanashi Sake Kaido, meaning Sake/alcohol Route of Yamanashi. (HQ: Otsuki City of Yamanashi Prefecture, Representative Rei […]

     Shin Nokaya Super Frozen Tokubetsu Junmai under the Shin Nokaya Super Frozen series was released on 8 June 2023 from the Wakatsuru Shuzo Co., Ltd. (Address: Saburomaru, Tonami-City, Toyama Prefecture, Representative : Takahiko Inagaki).  The Sake is instantly bottled, followed by a rapid freezing. Thus the freshly squeezed Sake which was previously only […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Akita, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Akita Prefecture  Akita Prefecture is one of the coolest regions in Japan, blessed with clear underground water provided by the melting snow. The climate of the region is suitable for rice cultivation, […]

    As a company exclusively produces and trades craft cola, Iyoshi Cola (representative: Cola Kobayashi) launched a series of craft cola named Iyoshi Cola new brew, focusing the possibilities of lees left during the food and beverage production. Craft cola made from spices and citric ingredients maximizes the hidden possibilities of lees, therefore the […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Akita, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan. Characteristics of Sake from Akita Prefecture  Akita Prefecture is one of the coolest regions in Japan, blessed with clear underground water provided by the melting snow. The climate of the region is suitable for rice cultivation, […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Aomori, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan.   Characteristics of Sake from Aomori Prefecture   Blessed with rich beautiful nature and traditional cultures, Aomori Prefecture is advantaged to access high-quality rice, pure water, and cold climate, which makes it proudly a famous Sake production […]

  Please find the list of Sake breweries in Aomori, the North end of Honshu island(main island) in Japan.   Characteristics of Sake from Aomori Prefecture   Blessed with rich beautiful nature and traditional cultures, Aomori Prefecture is advantaged to access high-quality rice, pure water, and cold climate, which makes it proudly a famous Sake production […]

    Please find the list of Sake breweries in Hokkaido, the northern island in Japan with unique climate. Characteristics of Sake from Hokkaido If we are familiar with the fact that 80 % of Sake consists of water, it is easy to imagine that the quality of water determines the outcome of Sake. Majority […]

    As you are familiar with the concept, companies can choose not to produce their own products using their sites but to make an order to produce items under their brands through OEM. Thus it becomes possible for the companies to use resources for sales and other activities rather than the product development, which […]

    One of the features of Sake is that it offers various charms in different temperatures. Warmed Sake has unique names according to its temperature. Let me explain the specification and charms of warmed Sake. Temperature variations within Kanzake   The term ‘Kanzake (燗酒) is a general word used for warmed Sake. Here are […]

  Wines and champagne are widely known as the accompanying drinks for the festive events. Why not Sake to celebrate special occasions? This article proposes Sake variations recommended for festive moments like Christmas. What to consider in selecting Sake for Christmas?     Sake for Christmas should accord with Christmassy ambiance and enhanced mood of […]

    A simple but interesting question. Have you imagined the transformation of Sake when it is placed in a freezer? Does Sake freeze in the first place? Freezing Sake can offer you a new insight of how to enjoy Sake. Let us explore the transformation of Sake being cooled down until it gets frozen. […]

    Sake has been gaining popularity overseas. Some Sake is made locally, while the majority is still exported from Japan. Let us look in the export procedures unseen from the public, and underlining problems related to export. Simple flow of export   Sake is dispatched from breweries               […]

Conditions to freshly preserve Sake    Sake is produced using natural ingredients and there is no preservatives to be added. Even with pasteurization, the contents of Sake is partly alive after being bottled. In order to maintain the original taste of Sake, its preservation needs some attention. In brief, Sake should avoid high temperature, direct […]

   Through an update of the Japanese Liquor Tax Law in 1994, the minimum annual production lot for beers was lowered. The change was followed by so-called, a ‘craft beer boom’, and it became an important turning point for micro-breweries to become popular. Do you know that there are more and more micro-breweries that produce […]

    Among a number of Sake production areas in Japan, there are three most important Sake production areas in Japan. The areas are called ‘Three largest production areas’ (Sandai Sakedokoro,三大酒処) with respect. Are you familiar with them yet?    They are Nada (灘) in Hyogo (兵庫), Fushimi (伏見) in Kyoto (京都), and Saijo (西条) […]

   When you go to a liquor store to pick a bottle of Sake, or at Izakaya to drink a glass, there is no doubt that you encounter numerous types of Sake. Unless you are determined to get particular label, you might feel at a loss what to select. Below is a general guidance of […]

    Have you tasted Genshu (原酒) meaning base / origin of Sake? Genshu is freshly made by filtering Moromi, fermented composition of rice, water and koji. For Genshu, the flavour nor level of alcohol is adjusted. Thus Genshu tends to carry a rich taste of rice and umami resulting in giving a powerful punch […]

   Koji (麹) is a traditional fermented food of Japan. Are you familiar with the variations and its efficacies? It is obvious that, Washoku, Japanese cuisine, cannot be completed without the work of Koji. In brief, the power of koji plays a critical role in preparing Washoku. Koji also has effects to boost human well-being […]

 There is an alcoholic beverage called “Doburoku”. It has a porridge-like texture in a white colour. The ingredients are equivalent to those of Sake, namely rice, koji and water. Precisely speaking Doburoku cannot be categorised under a genre of Sake, but considered as ‘other fermented alcohol’ (その他醸造酒) according to Japanese taxation regulations. This article analyses […]

 As its name shows, Sake also known as Nishonshu, is alcoholic beverage made in Japan. It has a long history. It is rare to find people who seriously think about the history of Sake when consuming it, however, the deeper you understand history of Sake, the more attractive you found the product. This article touches […]

   The concept of maturation / long-aging cannot be separated from alcohol as more people are attracted to the word and concept these days. You probably have an impression that aged wines and whiskeys tastes better in general. Have you heard of long-aged Sake by any chance? There is a type of Sake whose taste […]

   As in other places of the world, there are a number of alcohol available in Japanese markets. One of the most popular alcoholic beverages may be Umeshu (梅酒). Umeshu literally means alcohol made with Ume (Plum, apricot 梅) . It is loved by a wide range of generations of any sex. Umeshu can even […]

   Majority of people should have at least one experience of feeling sick after drinking too much. Yes, that’s hangover. Alcohol tolerance varies from person to person, or his/her health conditions of the day, and hangover can comes to you both expectedly and unexpectedly. In this article, I discuss some tips to possibly “manage” hangover […]

   Most Sake is found in a form of clear transparent liquid even with slight colours of golden, yellowish, or greenish look. If you have not seen Nigori-zake meaning cloudy Sake, you may deny it is fallen into the Sake category. This article will focus on Nigori-zake. There exist core Sake fans who like Nigori-zake. […]

   We seldom find the best before date on Sake bottles. Instead, they frequently provide the date of production. Why? Without a specified best before date, does it mean the flavour of Sake last forever…? Best before date does not exist for Sake…?  Let us examine what ‘date of production’ means to Sake. No Best […]

 If you are familiar with the basics of Sake, you come to enjoy it more. The more you come to learn Sake, the more you enjoy it. Terroir and vintage rarely exists for Sake    Rice used for Sake production can be acquired from any region of Japan, therefore Geographical Identification (GI) system is not […]

Many of you may have a confusion when understanding about “MUROKA SAKE”. Muroka Nama Genshu has been a trend in Japan since few years ago, there were many restaurants and bars which offer Muroka Nama Genshu Sake only. Now, there are 3 words in Muroka Nama Genshu Sake, which are “Muroka” “Nama” “Genshu”. Nama is […]

Do you know about 70% of wine is consumed by women in developed countries? In 2007, the world first wine competition judged by only women was founded in France, called “Concours Mondial des Vins FEMINALISE”, and in 2020 Sake category was established. As mentioned above, the unique point of this competition is the judgement is […]

   Do you know the important role of Shiga prefecture in Kinki region?  Shiga prefecture holds the largest lake in Japan “Biwako”, and supplies water to more than 1.5 million people living in Osaka, Kyoto, Hyogo and Shiga from the lake.      In Shiga prefecture, you can find various festivals and religious events regarding […]

   Have you ever come up with the question “What is in Sake?”. When you are new to Japanese culture, perhaps you might be heard of the unique alcoholic beverage from the island in far east “Japanese Sake”, but do not know about Japanese Sake itself.  Those of you might have many questions about Japanese […]

  In this ikki weekly news, ikki deliver what is happening in Japan in Sake industry for your knowledge as well as hints for your business. Please note that if you would like to see photos or full contents, kindly visit the original site from the link below the news topic and use google translate […]

  ***Notice – you will find the photo of fish eggs below, if you are not comfortable stop reading***   In Japanese culture, as you can imagine “Sushi” as a signature dish of Japan, sea foods plays a significant role. When we look at the map of Japan you can realize Japan is entirely surrounded […]

 OTSUMAMI is one of the important elements in Japanese Sake and food culture. OTSUMAMI is a small dish like finger food or appetizer which people enjoy with Sake. Some people enjoy OTSUMAMI before main dishes, but some do not order main dishes and order several OTSUMAMI to enjoy Japanese Sake.  ikki delivers information about how […]

In this ikki weekly news, ikki deliver what is happening in Japan in Sake industry for your knowledge as well as hints for your business. Please note that if you would like to see photos or full contents, kindly visit the original site from the link below the news topic and use google translate to […]

****** Ceramics ware in Japan is separated in 4 articles, please go to the article from the link below  Ceramics ware in Japan -East Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -Middle Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -West Japan- ******   What do you enjoy Japanese Sake? Cups? Glasses? or Ceramics?  These Days, people enjoy Japanese Sake […]

****** Ceramics ware in Japan is separated in 4 articles, please go to the article from the link below  Ceramics ware in Japan -East Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -Middle Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -South Japan- ******   What do you enjoy Japanese Sake? Cups? Glasses? or Ceramics?  These Days, people enjoy Japanese Sake […]

****** Ceramics ware in Japan is separated in 4 articles, please go to the article from the link below  Ceramics ware in Japan -East Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -West Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -South Japan- ******   What do you enjoy Japanese Sake? Cups? Glasses? or Ceramics?  These Days, people enjoy Japanese Sake […]

[Update 4/15]   Canada/US Still under the curfew, but ports are operating. Due to the inefficient picking by customers, land transport in North America is delayed. Less cargos from Asia leading to the cancellation of the ship schedule.   South America No significant change. Ports are operating, but due to lack of manpower likely to […]

****** Ceramics ware in Japan is separated in 4 articles, please go to the article from the link below  Ceramics ware in Japan -Middle Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -West Japan- Ceramics ware in Japan -South Japan- ******     What do you enjoy Japanese Sake? Cups? Glasses? or Ceramics?  These Days, people enjoy Japanese […]

    Have you ever heard of the term “Kannazuki”(神無月) or “Shiwasu”(師走)? To go straight to the bottom line, it is the name of months in the calendar. In Japan, the calendar was slightly different and the calendar was so-called “Kyoreki”(旧暦), and it has been used by Meiji era(1868-1912). This time, ikki deliver information about […]

[Update 4/8]   South Africa  At the container yard, it is possible to take the container after the end of lockdown. In addition, it is not possible to use land transport at the moment. Trading is temporary suspended for both import, export.    4/8  UPDATE END ↓ Old contents from here   [Update 4/7]   […]

[Update 4/7]   Please find the update as below;   Canada/US The curfew was imposed in several states, but still the workers at port considered as essential workers. Less shipments from China to North America, and some of the shipments cancelled.   Los Angeles On 1st April, one of the worker tested corona as positive, […]