The Fukushima Prefectural Government launched a weeklong sake promotion event in New York City on Monday, hoping to boost recognition of its Japanese rice wine among U.S. consumers amid a sales slump in the domestic market. Ten Japanese restaurants in the city are participating in ...
More French gastronomes singing the praises of rice wine
The sommelier lingers over her glass, taking in the bouquet while clutching a spoon of caviar and cucumber jelly. The union of food and beverage is "magical," she declares. But Paz Levinson, head sommelier at the high-end Anne-Sophie Pic restaurant group, is not savoring a ...
The government and ruling bloc are discussing plans to allow the issuing of new licenses for the production of sake meant for export amid the growing popularity of the drink overseas, according to informed sources. New entries are effectively not allowed at present, but the ...
Joetsu: A historic town braces for the first snowfall of winter
Joetsu, Niigata Prefecture, might be most famous for its snowfall and skiing, but it also has a long history of local sweets, sake and even samurai.
Sake from Abe's home prefecture served at controversial Tokyo cherry blossom party
Dassai sake from Yamaguchi Prefecture, where Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's constituency is located, was used at the annual state-funded cherry blossom-viewing party that's now the subject of intense scrutiny, it was learned Friday. The government admitted serving the well-known brand at the party in a ...
Sake pours into China amid shrinking consumption in Japan
Japanese sake sellers are looking to tap into China's growing taste for traditional rice wine to counter its falling consumption back home. Fueled by an increasing number of Japanese restaurants and rising Chinese household incomes, sake, while still considered a treat, can now be found ...
Sanbun: The simple joy of sipping a midday sake
It's trickier than you might expect to find a good sake bar where you can order a glass or two before sundown. Luckily, there's standing bar Sanbun to fill that gap.
An unexpected synergy of sake and wagyu
Innovative sake company Nihonshu Oendan has teamed up with Yakiniku Yazawa to pair its junmai daiginjō sake with wagyu beef.
'The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks': A compendium of Japan's alcohol traditions
Stephen Lyman and Chris Bunting's "The Complete Guide to Japanese Drinks" is a beautiful, carefully put together coffee-table book full of insights, anecdotes and thirst-inducing pictures of Japan's various alcohols.
Kokushu Sakaba: Knock back a glass of Saga kokushu, then try 199 more
In Kyushu, a region famed for distilleries rather than brewing, Saga is the odd prefecture out. More sake is consumed there — and less shōchū — than anywhere else in southwest Japan. And that is all the more reason for discovering Kokushu Sakaba, a ...
Yanagi Koji Taka: An intimate, unfussy standing bar with a tapas vibe
After cooking in Italy, Australia and Denmark for over a decade, kaiseki chef Taka Nishimura returned to Kyoto to open Yanagi Koji Taka, a small, local joint with a menu of perfectly executed bar food.
KitKat and yuzu help put Kochi sake on the map
Nestle Japan recently released the third in its line of sake-inspired chocolates, the KitKat Mini Yuzushu Bijofu, which uses yuzu citrus liqueur from Kochi Prefecture.
