Brewery Stories

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: Steven LeBlanc

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.

Brewery Stories

Growing Number of Breweries Taking Up Farming to Bring Sake Production to Another Level

Jan. 9. 2020 writer: Steven LeBlanc

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.

LEARN

Yumeurara and Shinho Sake Breathe New Life into a Gem of Japanese Agriculture

Sep. 26. 2019 writer: Steven LeBlanc

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.

How to Drink

The Best Place to Grab Sake Before You Go at Narita Airport

Sep. 12. 2019 writer: SAKETIMES_PR

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.

LEARN

Omachi : SAKETIMES GLOSSARY

Aug. 15. 2019 writer: SAKETIMES

Brewery Stories

Interview : The Secret Behind KIKUSUI Sake

Jul. 4. 2019 writer: SAKETIMES_PR

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.

LEARN

Geographical Indication and A Case for Calling Sake “Nihonshu” Instead

Apr. 18. 2019 writer: Steven LeBlanc

As sake continues to gain momentum in the global market there are many reasons why it might be wise to introduce its proper name of "nihonshu" (a.k.a. Japanese sake) on a global level. Your drinking satisfaction may depend on it.

LEARN

Sake rice

Apr. 12. 2019 writer: Ailsa Wylie

From sushi to curry rice, rice seems to be an ubiquitous part of Japanese cuisine. It is also the primary, and almost sole, ingredient in brewing sake. Find out what makes certain rice more suitable for sake, and how different varieties affect sake's character.

Brewery Stories

A Sake Maker, a Buddhist Temple, and the Evolving Role of Traditional Institutions in Small-town Japan

Apr. 4. 2019 writer: SAKETIMES_PR

"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."

NEWS

SAKETIMES NEWS – Jan 22, 2019

Jan. 22. 2019 writer: SAKETIMES

In the news this week: Let an artificial intelligence guide you to your ideal brand of sake at the Yummy Sake Week event in Tokyo. Then, Brussels gets its first ever sake bar at none other than the EU headquarters! Finally, Koreans, Taiwanese, and Hong Kongers agree: "drinking sake" is the best reason to travel to Japan in the winter.

LEARN

The Terroir of Sake: an Expert Explains Why the Wine-centric Buzzword Applies to Sake Too

Oct. 26. 2018 writer: SAKETIMES

Terroir [ter-wahr] n.: The collective character of an artisanal crop derived from the human and environmental factors involved in its growth and cultivation.

Terroir is a major buzzword in the wine world. But, is there terroir in sake? It’s complicated. Join us for this crash course in terroir, sake and the growing interest in sake provenance.