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- news
Making the most of sake’s ‘blank slate’ potential
In her work at Akashi-Tai, Miho Komatsu regularly faces misconceptions and confusion about sake. But, rather than simplifying the category, she sees its future success being built on education and embracing its “entirely distinctive” profile. The post Making the most of sake’s ‘blank slate’ potential appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sakura Sake Shop launches Japan’s first low-carbon sake
Sake retailer Sakura Sake Shop, has teamed up with global carbon management platform Zevero, to launch 作 for 2126 (ZAKU for 2126) – which it claims is Japan’s first low-carbon sake. The post Sakura Sake Shop launches Japan’s first low-carbon sake appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Space-brewed sake snapped up for £517k
A bottle of Japanese sake made using space-fermented mash has fetched almost ¥110 million (£517,000), and things are still looking stellar for its producer, Dassai, which now has its sights set on making the drink on the moon. The post Space-brewed sake snapped up for £517k appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Fukuju embraces ‘sustainable luxury’ with organic release
The post Fukuju embraces ‘sustainable luxury’ with organic release appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Japan whisky and sake exports hit ¥95 billion in 2025
Japan’s combined whisky and sake exports have soared by 289% over the last 10 years – peaking at ¥95 billion (around £500 million) in 2025 – data from the country’s Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries has revealed. The post Japan whisky and sake exports hit ¥95 billion in 2025 appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sparkling ambitions: Yamanashi Meijo steers sake forward
From Champagne-esque expressions to an upcoming rosé, Yamanashi Meijo is pushing the boundaries of sake making. Rebecca Lo speaks to the brewery's president, Tsushima Kitahara, to discover how the Shichiken producer is reshaping the future of Japan’s iconic drink. The post Sparkling ambitions: Yamanashi Meijo steers sake forward appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Inside Akashi-Tai’s drive to champion sake in the UK
The UK's leading premium sake brand, Akashi-Tai, is strengthening its position in the UK market with guided tastings and high-end cocktail collaborations. The post Inside Akashi-Tai’s drive to champion sake in the UK appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake achieves second-highest export total on record
Newly released figures show sake exports growing for established markets, as well as a building momentum in Latin America. db crunches the numbers. The post Sake achieves second-highest export total on record appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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London restaurants to showcase sake’s versatility beyond Japanese cuisine
Top London restaurants will serve sake alongside modern European dishes this February, as part of a campaign designed to challenge perceptions of how the drink can be enjoyed. The post London restaurants to showcase sake’s versatility beyond Japanese cuisine appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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What’s next for Japan’s Unesco-recognised drinks industry?
From centuries-old traditions to innovative fine dining, sake-making with koji mould goes from strength to strength, one year after it joined the Unesco list of intangible cultural heritage. The post What’s next for Japan’s Unesco-recognised drinks industry? appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Tradition and support offer solutions to Japan’s rice crisis
Rice-growing in Japan is facing greater pressure than ever before, making sake production challenging. Yet tradition and collective action are both helping the industry adapt. The post Tradition and support offer solutions to Japan’s rice crisis appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake’s adoption is growing beyond Japanese restaurants
Nimmi Malhotra travels to an international sommelier competition to find out why sommeliers around the world are embracing sake. The post Sake’s adoption is growing beyond Japanese restaurants appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake Day offers a chance to reflect on Japan’s national drink
To mark Sake Day, db looks at the current state of the sake industry. From a rice crisis to ‘sake-highs’, here are the key narratives emerging this year. The post Sake Day offers a chance to reflect on Japan’s national drink appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Can Japanese shochu follow in sake’s footsteps?
Hong Kong’s shochu experts weigh in on why the delicately minimal spirit has potential as the next trend from Japan. Rebecca Lo reports. The post Can Japanese shochu follow in sake’s footsteps? appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Why sake deserves a place next to wine in the beverage world
As sake develops a stronger following, are we doing enough to make sake understandable to the new consumer? Nimmi Malhotra attended a sake masterclass in Singapore to investigate. The post Why sake deserves a place next to wine in the beverage world appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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The Drinks Trust reopens WSET bursary
The reinstatement of the scheme, which provides fully-funded training for drinks sector employees, comes as the hospitality industry grapples with recruitment and retention issues, with recent data revealing more than 80,000 vacancies across hospitality roles. The post The Drinks Trust reopens WSET bursary appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake moves beyond the sushi bar
As UK demand for artisanal sake surges, Akashi-Tai is showing how the drink fits into cocktails, cheeseboards, and fine dining menus alike. The post Sake moves beyond the sushi bar appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Japan’s rice crisis: how a table rice shortage is taking a toll on sake
Price hikes are putting strain on Japan's sake producers, many of whom are already feeling the pressure. But what, if anything, is the government willing to do? Eloise Feilden reports. The post Japan’s rice crisis: how a table rice shortage is taking a toll on sake appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Japan’s alcohol producers put on united front at the Kokushu Fair 2025
For the first time, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association presented sake, honkaku shochu, awamori and other koji-based alcohols at a single two-day event. The post Japan’s alcohol producers put on united front at the Kokushu Fair 2025 appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake vending machine comes to Japanese rail station
One of the largest private railway companies in Japan has launched a self-service sake dispenser inside its Tobu Nikko Station, with four different brands to try. The post Sake vending machine comes to Japanese rail station appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Japan releases rice from emergency stockpile, but just for food
Japan will release another 200,000 tonnes of rice from its reserves to counter serious shortages and doubling prices. But will this impact sake producers? The post Japan releases rice from emergency stockpile, but just for food appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Sake meets mixology at Fukuju’s inaugural cocktail competition
The inaugural Fukuju Sake Cocktail Competition in Kobe, Japan, celebrated both tradition and creativity, showcasing the evolving role of sake in contemporary cocktails. The post Sake meets mixology at Fukuju’s inaugural cocktail competition appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Are we on the cusp of a sake shortage?
Sake producers are lobbying for price equity between rice varieties as farmers switch to growing rice more suitable to cooking than brewing, leaving drinks makers without key ingredient. The post Are we on the cusp of a sake shortage? appeared first on The Drinks Business .
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Top 10 oldest sake producers in Japan (and the world)
The process of brewing sake goes back nearly 2000 years. The oldest still operating brewery dates back to before the Second Crusade, for goodness' sake! db looks at the ten oldest breweries still producing Japan’s iconic beverage. The post Top 10 oldest sake producers in Japan (and the world) appeared first on The Drinks Business .