All Japan News Blog
2026-09-09
What is “Arabashiri” (“First Run”) for Japanese Sake?
“Arabashiri” (“First Run”) is the white, cloudy sake that results when first squeezing the aged moromi (fermentation-mash), also referred to as “freshly-pressed sake.” Squeezing the moromi (fermentat...
2026-09-02
Sake Nation: “Japan’s Rice Crisis in the Reiwa Era: Challenges Facing Sake Rice Supply. Part 1”
By Kosuke Kuji   In Japan, the "Reiwa Rice Crisis," which has become a major issue since two years ago, has caused the price of table rice to surge dramatically. Last year, the price of rice for ever...
2026-08-26
Japanese sake type – Classified into four types according to the concentration of flavor and aroma.
Dry/sweetness indicates the degree of sweetness while smooth/refreshing and rich/full flavor indicates the degree of richness. The stronger the rice flavor, the more easily the rich sake flavor is de...
2026-08-19
What to Cut, What to Keep: Managing Costs in a High-Inflation Liquor Store
By Ryuji Takahashi   Tokyo was already topping 30°C in May, making spring feel shorter than ever. As another hot summer begins, sake retailers face a familiar challenge: selling sake in the heat. Wit...
2026-08-12
What is the difference between sweet vs. dry sake?
Sweet Japanese sake is the sweet flavor you taste, while dry sake has the opposite meaning. The sweet flavor in Japanese sake is derived from the glucose and glycerin containing in the extract (the s...
2026-08-05
Sake Nation “Anime, Voice Actors, and Japanese Sake. Part 3”
By Kosuke Kuji   Tokyo’s Akihabara and Ikebukuro are widely known as anime “holy sites,” and at the center of Ikebukuro stands Animate Ikebukuro Main Store, one of Japan’s most famous anime retailers...
2026-07-22
Japanese Sake Type Differ According to the Combination of Flavor and Aroma
In addition, Japanese sake type also differs by aroma and preparation method. The Sake Service Institute focused on the sake flavor and aroma to classify sake into four different types. Sake type is ...
2026-07-15
A Night of Half-Priced Lemon Slices — The Quiet Happiness Drifting Through Keihin’s Beloved Izakaya, Akafudaya
- The Popular Tavern Culture I Encountered in a Seaside Town—Cheap, Delicious, and Free from Having to Worry About Anyone Else-　   By Ryuji Takahashi On a personal note, I recently moved from the sha...
2026-07-08
Alcohol content of sake
Japanese sake generally sold is undiluted sake adjusted with water to the alcohol content of 15 ~ 16%. However, the alcohol content of squeezed sake mash itself is rather high, at approximately 20~22...
2026-07-01
Sake Nation “Anime, Voice Actors, and Japanese Sake. Part 2”
By Kosuke Kuji   A collaboration project titled “Seijo” has launched, bringing together anime voice actresses and “Kokushu,” Japan’s traditional alcoholic beverages culture that has been registered a...