A Hundred Years of Honda Shoten: What Next for the Innovative Sake Maker?
Jun. 16. 2022 writer:
On the legendary makers’ centennial, Honda Shoten’s president reflects on history and the road ahead
Japan
What Does the Future Hold for Niigata’s Famed Kubota Brand?
Jun. 2. 2022 writer:
35 years after releasing their famed Kubota brand, the brewer looks to shake things up
Rewriting the Rules of Sake, with Doburoku (Part 2)
May. 19. 2022 writer:
A visit to the humble pioneer shaking the foundation of both doburoku and sake-making, reminding us what’s truly important in the process
Rewriting the Rules of Sake, with Doburoku (Part 1)
May. 16. 2022 writer:
A grassroots pioneer shaking the foundations of sake-making while demonstrating what’s truly important in the process
Japan’s ‘King of Brewing’ Shares his Sake Secrets with the Next Generation
Apr. 21. 2022 writer:
SAKETIMES speaks to veteran brewmaster Naohiko Noguchi about his sake philosophy and his rise to the top of brewing
A Brewery Gives Back to Nature and Community With Sustainable, Local Brewing
Mar. 3. 2022 writer:
Yoshida Sake Brewery turns to local ingredients and community initiatives to protect the environment that sustains it
Hakkaisan x Brooklyn Kura: Working Together for the Future of Sake
Feb. 10. 2022 writer:
A Japanese and an American brewery form an international partnership
The Ethical Spirits & Co Tackle Sake Sustainability Issue with Craft Gin
Jan. 27. 2022 writer:
An innovative gin distilled from recycled sake lees is attracting attention for both its ingredients and its flavor
Flow Like Water: Celebrating 30 Years of Jozen Mizuno Gotoshi
Jan. 6. 2022 writer:
A look back at the history of a famed Niigata label reveals how it persevered and found fortune.
There She Blows! Suigei Aims Big with New Brewery
Oct. 14. 2021 writer:
With a state-of-the-art facility up and running, this popular pairing sake looks set for success.
Hyakumoku: A Bold New Release from a Centuries-Old Brewery
Aug. 26. 2021 writer:
How a big-name producer broke with tradition for their new brew.
Dewazakura Sake Brewery: How a Fateful Decision Sparked a Ginjo Boom
Jun. 10. 2021 writer:
Dewazakura inadvertently contributed to the ginjo sake boom when it gambled on sidestepping government regulations.
People Power: Teamwork Brews Success for Heiwa Shuzo
May. 6. 2021 writer:
An innovative brewery impresses on the global stage with a double win for their KID sake label.
Interview: Dassai Head Spills the Secrets Behind its Global Success
Apr. 1. 2021 writer:
How did the world-famous sake brand Dassai achieve its stellar global reputation? Dassai head Sakurai spills the details.
A Little Help from my Friends
Feb. 28. 2020 writer:
A Masuda Shuzo and Chivas Regal collaboration plays with aging and blending to create innovative new sake.
Tatenokawa’s Marketing Director Brings New Perspective to an Old Industry
Feb. 21. 2020 writer:
In the sake world, it’s often the toji - or "brewmaster" - who gets the lion’s share of the praise. But while toji may play a very important role, sake brewing requires a lot of hands on deck - some of whom, increasingly, contribute skills that have little to do with the actual brewing process. Breweries like Tatenokawa, Inc. are starting to take seriously the parts of the business that don’t get fermented and bottled, often to great effect.
Tokyo Port Brewery: The 100 year-old Brewery with a New Lease on Life
Feb. 13. 2020 writer:
In most businesses, the idea of a company lying dormant for a century and returning as a successful operation is unheard of. But in the sake world anything is possible and the only kura currently brewing in the heart of Tokyo is a perfect example. It’s also a great sake destination in its own right for anyone visiting the Tokyo area.
Making Sake Fun Again: KIKUSUI’s President Talks on the Philosophy of Running a Global Sake Brand
Feb. 6. 2020 writer:
For a Japanese sake manufacturer, KIKUSUI is making unprecedented headway in the American market. KIKUSUI president Daisuke Takasawa explains the company's international success in this exclusive interview.
Why Tour a Brewery When You Can Spend the Weekend in One? World’s First Sake Brewery Hotel to Open in Nagano
Jan. 23. 2020 writer:
Kurabito Stay, a new start-up in Nagano Prefecture, offers guests three-day, two-night stays in an actual sake brewery. It’s such a perfect travel experience for fans of sake or Japanese culture in general that it’s a surprise no one’s thought of it sooner. But, Kurabito Stay wasn’t easy to get off the ground, and took some ingenuity and a little luck for mother-turned-entrepreneur Mariko Tazawa to pull off.
How KIKUSUI USA, Inc. is Redefining Sake in America
Jan. 16. 2020 writer:
Sipping sake from a can could very well become a prominent scene in the beverage’s future.
Growing Number of Breweries Taking Up Farming to Bring Sake Production to Another Level
Jan. 9. 2020 writer:
The sake industry is currently in a new state of change. Domestic demand is continually slipping and yet global sales have never been better and continue to grow. This leaves the producers at an interesting crossroads the likes of which they have never seen before. For one group of 12 breweries, the key to drinkers’ hearts worldwide and to the future of sake lies in sustainably and locally produced organic rice made in-house.
People First: KIKUSUI’s Commitment to Empowering through Education
Dec. 19. 2019 writer:
A chance encounter led KIKUSUI and their American distributor, Mutual Trading, to join forces in employee education. SAKETIMES goes behind the scenes of the immersive internship at the brewer’s facilities.
Obama Brewery: Japan’s Newest licensed Brewer Also Happens to Date Back 189 Years
Dec. 3. 2019 writer:
Stories abound of age-old sake breweries in Japan passing leadership to younger generations. Obama Brewery in Fukui Prefecture, though, went the extra mile and applied for a new license under the relentlessly rigid National Tax Agency. Here’s how they did what most in the industry call “impossible.”
Taiji Okura: From SAKETIMES Intern to Future Head of One of Japan’s Biggest Breweries
Nov. 28. 2019 writer:
Taiji Okura has followed a career path traveled by few; partly due to birthright, partly due to personal ambition, he’s carved an interesting trail and is all but destined for greatness. But the likely future head of Gekkeikan says his time spent interning here at this very publication, SAKETIMES, was as important a stepping stone as any on his way to the top.
Yumeurara and Shinho Sake Breathe New Life into a Gem of Japanese Agriculture
Sep. 26. 2019 writer:
One of the interesting things about the world of sake is that every one of the thousands of brands has a story behind it. Take Shinho, a junmai sake that was released as a part of the Sake 100 line of luxury brands. This story begins in the Noto Peninsula of Ishikawa Prefecture. Once a jewel of the farming industry in Japan, the area suddenly found itself on the brink of collapse.
Heiwa Brewery’s Bold Attempt at Powering a Rocket and Inspiring an Industry
Sep. 19. 2019 writer:
It’s one small step for Heiwa Brewery, but one giant leap for sake as the daring producer attempts to turn its popular KID brand of junmai daiginjo into literal rocket fuel to power one of Interstellar Technologies Momo commercial rockets. The move has gotten Heiwa a lot of buzz in the media, but it’s other sake breweries that president Norimasa Yamamoto hopes take notice.
The Best Place to Grab Sake Before You Go at Narita Airport
Sep. 12. 2019 writer:
Terminal 2 of the airport houses a duty-free liquor shop that lets you sample sake before buying. Team SAKETIMES was invited to get a frontline view of what makes this outlet special.
The Lifeblood of Kyoto Culture
Jul. 25. 2019 writer:
The rich cultural life of Japan's ancient capital is steeped in sake tradition, if you know where to look.
The Science of Sake Aroma
Jul. 11. 2019 writer:
In the worlds of sake and wine alike, descriptions like “luscious fruit” and “warm spices” adorn labels and crop up in discussion describing the “nose” of particular drinks. But what exactly imbues a beverage with these unmistakable aromas without such fruits or spices even being present? It’s time for a chemistry lesson as we take a deep dive into the topic of sake aroma!
Interview : The Secret Behind KIKUSUI Sake
Jul. 4. 2019 writer:
We speak with one of KIUSUI's top engineers on sake brewing, the friendly relationship shared by Niigata’s producers, and delivering new experiences to sake fans.
A Guide to Visiting Fushimi, the Bordeaux of Sake
May. 30. 2019 writer:
We chat with the head of the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association, Tokubee Masuda, about why this Kyoto district is a must-visit sake destination.
Sake’s Living History in Fushimi
Apr. 25. 2019 writer:
South of Kyoto, Fushimi is attracting visitors with picturesque buildings from the area's history of sake production, repurposed for the tourist trade.
A Sake Maker, a Buddhist Temple, and the Evolving Role of Traditional Institutions in Small-town Japan
Apr. 4. 2019 writer:
"The world-famous sake maker, KIKUSUI, teams up with Chotokuji, a local Buddhist temple, to give back to the neighborhood they call home - in the process providing a fascinating case study on the evolving role of traditional institutions in modern Japan."
Dassai: The Sake Brand that Dared to Be Different
Feb. 15. 2019 writer:
To survive in a harsh market, the makers of Dassai, Asahi Shuzo, needed to evolve. In doing so, they’ve found success around the world, but have they also turned their backs on tradition?
KIKUSUI Sake Culture Institute Makes Sake Education Accessible to the Masses
Feb. 12. 2019 writer:
"We’ve reached an age in which producing great sake isn’t necessarily enough to translate into great sales."
Interview: SAKE100 for the People
Nov. 30. 2018 writer:
We sit down with sake entrepreneur (and enthusiast!) Ryuji Ikoma to learn more about his luxury sake brand, SAKE100, his own sake journey, and the state of the drink today.
A Valuable Taste Test
Nov. 2. 2018 writer:
We try Gekkeikan's Tokusen Sake, gold medalist and Great Value Champion Sake at the International Wine Challenge 2018
Tsunekichi Okura: The Henry Ford of Japanese sake
Aug. 23. 2018 writer:
How a 13-year-old transformed a small Fushimi brewery into a global powerhouse and changed the world of Japanese sake forever.
Mukantei sake: Jamming with Blue Note Tokyo’s dinner menu
Mar. 2. 2018 writer:
KIKUSUI’s Mukantei was born from the philosophy that good sake need not be exclusive — it’s for everyone to enjoy.
Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori: Once a “brewery only” specialty, now available anytime, anywhere in Japan
Feb. 22. 2018 writer:
Sake fans used to have to travel to the KIKUSUI brewery in Niigata to enjoy the taste of Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori, but this freshly-pressed sake is now available throughout Japan year-round. The details of how Funaguchi Kikusui Ichiban Shibori came to be is full of first-in-Japan developments — it's quite the story!
