Nov. 12. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Sake kegs are on the way, opening up a new world of “draft sake.” Then, in sports news, Kikumasamune Sake Brewery drafts midfielder Andres Iniesta. Finally, an exciting new way to brew sake that does away with the shortcomings of past techniques.
Nov. 5. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Nagai Brewery’s sake gets the vegan stamp of approval in time for the Olympics. Then, Hokkaido aims to become a major force in sake with Japan’s first brewery operating on a university campus. Finally, OuSake offers a variety of lectures in Shanghai to spread the sake gospel.
Oct. 29. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Fun and enlightenment await at the Sake Museum soon to open in Shanghai. Then, the spat between South Korean and Japanese governments has taken its toll on the sake industry in Japan. Finally, all-you-can-drink at Sake no Jin may be no more, but operators are hard at work to reclaim the original spirit of the event.
Oct. 22. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: For those who love sake so much they want to bathe in it, Hoshinoya Tokyo has your number. Then, Shiokawa Sake Brewery and partners are finding out how possible it is to make sake in the vastly different environment of Vietnam. Finally, Finland’s premier sake spot, Zen Sushi, will be holding a special intimate tasting full of fall flavors.
Oct. 15. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: After falling vistim to a tsunami eight years ago, Sasaki Brewery returns with some fresh new sake. Then, an Ishikawa festival gets an English-language upgrade with the IT skills of Sakelogy. Finally, Asahi Shuzo comes up with a new brand name for its American-brewed sake right out of the blue.
Oct. 8. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Kubota gets ready to turn 35, and big changes are in the works. Then, break yourself off a piece of yuzushu Kit Kat in Japan. Finally, Nihonsakari has designed a namazake that can sit at room temperature for up to eight months without losing its freshly-squeezed taste.
Oct. 1. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Happy Sake Day! And, enjoy all the sake events of this joyous holiday! Then, one very special Sake Day event in Tokyo may be the chance of a lifetime for aspiring inventors. Last, sake brewery Oujiman creates Hocca, a successful winery that is set to become its own enterprise in 2021.
Sep. 24. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: The makers of Dassai recall thousands of bottles for incorrect ABV labels. Then, the hottest spot in Meguro is shaping up to be LDH Kitchen Izakaya Aobadai run by pop group Exile’s Kenchi Tachibana. Finally, does singing to sake make it taste better? Kakuboshi Co. aims to find out.
Sep. 17. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: A great opportunity to get a crash course in ochoko sake cups comes to Sydney, Australia. Then, one company is helping weary brewery owners find suitable heirs to their legacies. Finally, those who like their sake fruity ought to check out a new variety made with kiwi fruit yeast.
Sep. 10. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Gekkeikan Special Free promises the great taste of a daiginjo sake without any alcohol or sugar. Then, stop by Silencio in Hong Kong for dinner and have a glass of sake on the house. Finally, after losing a year to devastating rains, the Sake Matsuri in Hiroshima makes its triumphant return.
![Lucky Bottle [Mokkedano Tsuruoka]](https://en.sake-times.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/sake-news-20190903-04-250x160.png)
Sep. 3. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Exile dancer and Sake Samurai Kenchi Tachibana joins Matsumoto Sake Brewery to create his own take on sake. Then, sake drinkers can now take up stamp collecting at the same time with an upcoming guidebook for Kanto area eateries. Finally, sake fans can take a chance with some Lucky Bottles and help quake-affected breweries in the process.
Aug. 27. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: It’s time again for the Fushimi Sake Festival to hit the streets of Kyoto. Then, one of Japan’s biggest sake brands, Hakkaisan, ventures into the whiskey market next year. Finally, buying sake outside Japan is about to get a lot more straightforward with new, standardized information labels.
Aug. 20. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Kanpai in perfect harmony with a new set of musical brass sake cups. Then, a new type of filter that can mellow the flavor of any alcoholic drink is taking crowdfunding by storm. Finally, an entire sake brewery got accepted to a university in Hokkaido and will start operation on its campus next year.
Aug. 13. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Things are heating up in the sake world with the nation’s top hot sake awarded for 2019. Then, instead of two news stories, we’re taking a more in-depth look at how the recent Yamagata earthquake affected sake breweries and how the local business community is banding together to help.
Aug. 6. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Cool Japan makes another power investment in sake distribution, this time in the US. Then, the makers of Dassai start a huge cash incentive for its rice farmers to the tune of 25 million yen. Finally, other breweries are beginning to get more involved with rice farming as well, with some even taking the labor on themselves.
Jul. 30. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Niigata is looking for English speakers to take on their sake expert certification exam. Then, the high-capacity and low-temperature Sake Cellar fridge goes on sale. What kind of fruit goes with which kind of sake? A new survey investigates.
Jul. 23. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: The International Wine Challenge names its top sake brands and breweries for 2019. Then, the Joy of Sake tasting event will return to Hawaii this year with more sake than ever before. Finally, we might get to look forward to some sake-based Valentine’s chocolate next year if Samantha Thavasa’s new project gets off the ground.
Jul. 16. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Kanpai London Craft Sake Brewery is bringing sake events and a new sake lees-brewed beer collaboration to the people of England. Then, a new trade deal with Japan will make Taiwan an even greater place to enjoy sake. Finally, the Mio Frozen helps drinkers beat the summer heat in the form of a portable, blended ice sake.
Jul. 9. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: What kind of sake does Japan drink the most and why? Then, celebrated winemaker Pascal Marty has reinvented sake yeast-fermented wine. Finally, sake information app Sakelogy is poised to take over Japan, and then the world.
Jul. 2. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Cool Japan is looking to show China, Hong Kong, and Macau how cool sake can be. Then, Kiku-Masamune is bringing their long-awaited Hyakumoku sake brand to the United States and threw a bash to celebrate. Finally, those traditional square sake cups called masu are about to get a huge upgrade with holograms and streaming audio.
Jun. 25. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Sake brewing makes its triumphant return to Hawaii with Islander Sake Brewery. Then, a new Japanese restaurant from a celebrated Seattle chef opens with a focus on sake. Finally, Sumiyoshi Shuhan thinks it has found the perfect aromatic environment for its two locations to heighten customers’ enjoyment of sake.
Jun. 18. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: A worldwide survey of sake takes a peek at what people like and want to see more of in the future. Then, a new sake tasting stand is bringing even more people to a taste of Niigata in Tokyo. Finally, will sake breweries follow in the footsteps of Japan’s hot springs as prime investment opportunities?
Jun. 11. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: A great chance to experience scores of sake brands in one place returns to Portland at Sake Fest PDX. Then, next time someone says their drink tastes like rocket fuel, it might be a compliment as Kiddo sake is set to power the next MOMO rocket. Finally, browser game Hatakeppi is a sim game where in-game sake brewing earns real-world booze!
Jun. 4. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Japan asks the people of France how well they think sake goes with France’s own world-class food. Then, explore new brands of sake through the anime Miki No Mikoto and its limited time collab with Tokyo's Otsuka Norengai bar district. Finally, put the final touch on any bottle of sake with a high-quality samurai helmet bottle-topper based on everyone’s favorite feudal lords of Japan.
May. 28. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: The famously refined Komyo sake with rice milled down to a mere 1% seimaibuai is back and more expensive than ever. Then, Fukushima takes home numerous awards at the National Sake Competition, cementing the previously disaster-stricken prefecture’s places on top. Finally, a visit to Mitoyotsuru Brewery is like no other, with art, music, and fine dining accompanying its century old sake industry.
May. 21. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Sake cocktails get their time to shine in a survey to find the very best mixes. Then, Pharrell Williams is no doubt happy to share his new sake brand, available in Kyoto. Finally, sake and shochu get a big break in Spain, being showcased at one of the country’s biggest wine competitions.
May. 14. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: The big story this week is the recent presale - and almost immediate selling out - of the rare and coveted Gengai 24-year aged sake. Born in the aftermath of the Great Hanshin Earthquake, this sake defied all odds to mature into a remarkable all-natural, single-source label. If that weren’t enough, Gengai is also expanding the horizons of Japan’s prestige sake market.
May. 7. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Lots of collaborations happening in the sake world, starting with the King of Monsters and the King of one-cup sake joining forces. Then, out of the post-apocalyptic wastelands come a pair of Fist of the North Star-themed sake and shochu bottles. Finally, Shibuya remembers the beloved dog Hachiko with a special sake brewed in the pooch’s hometown of Odate.
Apr. 30. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: It’s Detroit Rock Sake as several brands of KISS Sake roll out over the year at Tower Records. Then, you can be one of the lucky owners of the first ever sake brewed in Paris by the trailblazers at WAKAZE. Finally, Gekkeikan had the brilliant idea of surveying duty free staff in order to customize a sake that appeals especially to foreign visitors.
Apr. 23. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: SAKETIMES is pleased to announce that our useful infographics are now free to download in four new languages. Then, Cheetos may finally get their moment in the spotlight thanks to a new category in Sake Competition 2019. Finally, fans of sake and KitKats can experience a match made in AI heaven during CRAFT SAKE WEEK at Roppongi Hills.
Apr. 16. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Konishi Brewer wasn’t just thinking out loud when they suggested a sake in the shape of Ed Sheeran. Then, a guaranteed gift for the person who has everything - a Bluetooth speaker that looks like the cedar ball traditionally used by sake breweries. Finally, sake breweries are increasingly heading over to crowdfunding site Makuake, inspiring a number of groundbreaking projects.
Apr. 9. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Like the first flowers of spring, new sake bars are opening up all over Taiwan these days. Then, a long overdue fridge exclusively for sake lovers is becoming a crowdfunding magnet. Finally, this year New Zealand isn’t just bringing its best rugby players to Japan; they’re bringing their best wines to the new bar Rangitoto in Tokyo.
Apr. 2. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Run to the hills of the UK and pick up a bottle of Iron Maiden’s beer made with sake yeast this May. Then, SAKETIMES brings coverage of one of Japan’s biggest sake festivals, Niigata Sakenojin 2019. Finally, first class just wouldn’t be first class without exquisite drinks, and JAL has just announced their offerings of sake, wine, and champagne for this year.
Mar. 26. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Instead of our regular three news stories, this week SAKETIMES would like to introduce you to five sake festivals coming to several places in Japan this spring. Spring is a special time in the sake industry, because a lot of the brewing takes place in the winter months and is generally completed in March, giving breweries lots to celebrate. This, combined with the natural beauty of the cherry blossom season and mild weather of spring is Japan, makes it a great time for some sake-related fun.
Mar. 19. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Can’t decide whether to have sake or white wine? Why not have both with Abysse from Hananomai? Then, the great taste of just-pressed namazake can be had by anyone, anywhere, thanks to a new freezing technique. Finally, the newly opened Den Sake Brewery in Oakland is honored with a nomination at the 2019 James Beard Awards.
Mar. 12. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Hats off to Chang Hung Liang for winning a sake sommelier’s highest honor. Then, SakéOne in the US is hoping you crack open one of their new canned sake offerings. Craft Sake Week returns with a cavalcade of best sake along with delicious meals from Japan’s best restaurants and shops around Japan.
Mar. 5. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: A brand new variation of sake is delivering Parisian chefs into spiritual bliss. Then, a simple yet cleverly effective sticker may help global sake sales. Finally, 20-somethings are likely to spend more on sake for themselves and loved ones, according to a recent survey.
Feb. 26. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Sake producers Hakutsuru and Takara Shuzo duke it out for the top spot, with a new winner taking the title… for now. Then, the amazing art of Nada sake barrel making is crowned a Cultural Heritage. Finally, VR-enhanced tours let you explore sake breweries from the comfort of home!
Feb. 19. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Sake’s meteoric rise abroad continues with record high exports for 2018, but there’s still a lot of room to grow! Then, KIKIZAKE WEB aims to help international users find the right sake for them amidst a glut of options. Finally, the same sake served at one of Japan’s holiest shrines can be experienced at a special event in Monaco this March.
Feb. 12. 2019 writer:
In the news this week: Wear your love of sake on your sleeve with brewery T-shirts from UNIQLO. Then, Nanbu Bijin get vegan status in a clever play that highlights sake’s inherent purity. Finally, Kubota Seppo, the strange lovechild of a sake brewery and an outerwear brand, returns for this year’s camping season!
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