Sake Today
@saketoday.bsky.social
A beautiful quarterly journal (est 2014) in English about travel in Japan, Japanese culture and cuisine, and, of course, its national beverage, sake! We're a kind of National Geographic through the lens of sake. We ship worldwide. https://www.saketoday.com
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Sake Today
@saketoday.bsky.social
· Nov 27
Hello world! Sake Today is a coffee table-style journal covering travel in Japan, Japanese cuisine and culture, and of course sake, its national beverage. We think of ourselves like the National Geographic of sake, looking at the culture and history of Japan through this lens. It yields surprises!
Doi Shuzo’s Sword of the Sun and Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here for a relaxing evening… what music do you listen to while sipping?
October 8, 2025 at 6:52 AM
Doi Shuzo’s Sword of the Sun and Pink Floyd’s album Wish You Were Here for a relaxing evening… what music do you listen to while sipping?
Ajinomachidaya is a bottle shop in western Tokyo that should be on your sake map. Founded in 1952, they offer a range of alcohol products, including shochu, whisky, craft beer, and wine, but excel when it comes to sake, especially local/craft sake. They’re not just retailers, but curators of taste.
September 19, 2025 at 12:32 AM
Ajinomachidaya is a bottle shop in western Tokyo that should be on your sake map. Founded in 1952, they offer a range of alcohol products, including shochu, whisky, craft beer, and wine, but excel when it comes to sake, especially local/craft sake. They’re not just retailers, but curators of taste.
What was the sake that turned on your love light?
This is a question we often ask sake professionals in our interviews. For me (this is Sake Today publisher Ry writing), it was Kaiun by Doi Shuzōjō (@kaiun.doishuzojo, featured in ST33).
This is a question we often ask sake professionals in our interviews. For me (this is Sake Today publisher Ry writing), it was Kaiun by Doi Shuzōjō (@kaiun.doishuzojo, featured in ST33).
August 13, 2025 at 6:04 PM
What was the sake that turned on your love light?
This is a question we often ask sake professionals in our interviews. For me (this is Sake Today publisher Ry writing), it was Kaiun by Doi Shuzōjō (@kaiun.doishuzojo, featured in ST33).
This is a question we often ask sake professionals in our interviews. For me (this is Sake Today publisher Ry writing), it was Kaiun by Doi Shuzōjō (@kaiun.doishuzojo, featured in ST33).
Baba ghanoush and sake? Oh yes, it works quite well. We like pairing ours with Sword of the Sun by Takatenjin, a versatile honjozo we find ourselves drinking quite often (one of those we ask our local bottle shop to keep stocked). We featured the Shizuoka-based brewery (Doi Shuzōjō) in ST33.
July 29, 2025 at 11:04 PM
Baba ghanoush and sake? Oh yes, it works quite well. We like pairing ours with Sword of the Sun by Takatenjin, a versatile honjozo we find ourselves drinking quite often (one of those we ask our local bottle shop to keep stocked). We featured the Shizuoka-based brewery (Doi Shuzōjō) in ST33.
Izumibashi opened a beautiful new tasting room housed in a refurbished storehouse on their property that retains elements of the traditional architecture with chic modern design. There’s a tour and tasting session, too.
July 9, 2025 at 3:52 AM
Izumibashi opened a beautiful new tasting room housed in a refurbished storehouse on their property that retains elements of the traditional architecture with chic modern design. There’s a tour and tasting session, too.
A few weeks ago, at the JFC San Francisco Sake Expo & Food Show, we got to try Daishichi’s The Gate, a collaboration with French sommelier and Kura Master founder Xavier Thuizat (featured in ST40). It’s a wonderfully complex but silky sake that owes its character to assemblage (blending).
June 30, 2025 at 12:29 AM
A few weeks ago, at the JFC San Francisco Sake Expo & Food Show, we got to try Daishichi’s The Gate, a collaboration with French sommelier and Kura Master founder Xavier Thuizat (featured in ST40). It’s a wonderfully complex but silky sake that owes its character to assemblage (blending).
Sekiya Jôzô (see previous posts, too) offers authentic Japanese dining experiences in its two restaurants in downtown Nagoya. One is in a beautifully refurbished storehouse from the 19th century, the other in Hisaya-odori Park.
We featured Sekiya in Sake Today 20: www.saketoday.com/sekiya-jozo/
We featured Sekiya in Sake Today 20: www.saketoday.com/sekiya-jozo/
May 7, 2025 at 12:29 AM
Sekiya Jôzô (see previous posts, too) offers authentic Japanese dining experiences in its two restaurants in downtown Nagoya. One is in a beautifully refurbished storehouse from the 19th century, the other in Hisaya-odori Park.
We featured Sekiya in Sake Today 20: www.saketoday.com/sekiya-jozo/
We featured Sekiya in Sake Today 20: www.saketoday.com/sekiya-jozo/
If you visit the Houraisen Sake Lab in Aichi (see previous post), grab a casual lunch in the Michi no Eki Shitara facilities, in which the lab is located. The cafeteria serves delicious curry made with sake lees from the brewery, and you can buy an exclusive bottle of Shitara sake made in the lab.
April 22, 2025 at 7:05 AM
If you visit the Houraisen Sake Lab in Aichi (see previous post), grab a casual lunch in the Michi no Eki Shitara facilities, in which the lab is located. The cafeteria serves delicious curry made with sake lees from the brewery, and you can buy an exclusive bottle of Shitara sake made in the lab.
Genuine sake brewing experiences are still rare in Japan, but Sekiya Jozo in Aichi Prefecture has been offering one–a really good one–for several years with Houraisen Sake Lab. It’s located in the mountain town of Shitara, to the northeast of Nagoya city, in the Shitara Michi no Eki facility. 🧵
April 18, 2025 at 4:56 PM
Genuine sake brewing experiences are still rare in Japan, but Sekiya Jozo in Aichi Prefecture has been offering one–a really good one–for several years with Houraisen Sake Lab. It’s located in the mountain town of Shitara, to the northeast of Nagoya city, in the Shitara Michi no Eki facility. 🧵
Speaking of Daimon (see previous post), we showcased the brewery’s cafe-restaurant Mukune in our recent issue’s main feature on Osaka. This is definitely the destination in Osaka if you’re hoping for some hearty food and great sake inside a traditional brewery building. (1/2)
April 5, 2025 at 5:49 PM
Speaking of Daimon (see previous post), we showcased the brewery’s cafe-restaurant Mukune in our recent issue’s main feature on Osaka. This is definitely the destination in Osaka if you’re hoping for some hearty food and great sake inside a traditional brewery building. (1/2)
Another regular in our ‘at home’ rotation is Daimon’s Road to Osaka, a light, lyrical nigori with subtle fruitiness. Pairs well with dried fruits, yoga, and Netflix. We don’t say this about many nigori, but this one is ‘must try’. Yes, must try not to drink it all so quickly…
April 3, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Another regular in our ‘at home’ rotation is Daimon’s Road to Osaka, a light, lyrical nigori with subtle fruitiness. Pairs well with dried fruits, yoga, and Netflix. We don’t say this about many nigori, but this one is ‘must try’. Yes, must try not to drink it all so quickly…
“So what do you drink at home?”
It’s a question we get often when talking with people. Takatenjin’s Sword of the Sun is a regular in our rotation of liquid bliss. Good, clean flavor for a good price, versatile with food, or delicious to drink as is.
It’s a question we get often when talking with people. Takatenjin’s Sword of the Sun is a regular in our rotation of liquid bliss. Good, clean flavor for a good price, versatile with food, or delicious to drink as is.
April 2, 2025 at 4:40 AM
“So what do you drink at home?”
It’s a question we get often when talking with people. Takatenjin’s Sword of the Sun is a regular in our rotation of liquid bliss. Good, clean flavor for a good price, versatile with food, or delicious to drink as is.
It’s a question we get often when talking with people. Takatenjin’s Sword of the Sun is a regular in our rotation of liquid bliss. Good, clean flavor for a good price, versatile with food, or delicious to drink as is.
Our walking routes around Kyoto are often about sake, but not always! Sometimes it’s important to find an old neighborhood or scenic spot where you can enjoy the quiet. When we need to recharge, the Shisendo Temple is one we’ll usually visit.
March 28, 2025 at 5:03 AM
Our walking routes around Kyoto are often about sake, but not always! Sometimes it’s important to find an old neighborhood or scenic spot where you can enjoy the quiet. When we need to recharge, the Shisendo Temple is one we’ll usually visit.
Another good stop during your Kyoto stroll, especially if you’ve worked up an appetite, is Sake Hall Masuya (also detailed in Sake Today 42). It offers casual, izakaya-style food with a good sake menu (including flights) and nicely designed interior.
March 27, 2025 at 8:20 AM
Another good stop during your Kyoto stroll, especially if you’ve worked up an appetite, is Sake Hall Masuya (also detailed in Sake Today 42). It offers casual, izakaya-style food with a good sake menu (including flights) and nicely designed interior.
Returning to our sake stroll in Kyoto (as featured in ST42), a fun, intimate joint with a community table (except for a couple of tables in the scenic alley outside) is Syuten Nishikawa. (1/2)
March 19, 2025 at 3:31 AM
Returning to our sake stroll in Kyoto (as featured in ST42), a fun, intimate joint with a community table (except for a couple of tables in the scenic alley outside) is Syuten Nishikawa. (1/2)
The new Sake Today showcases Osaka, Japan’s friendliest city, and highlights two local breweries, Katanozakura and Shonosato. On the cover (and inside), we feature Shuichi Ogura, the president of Imadeya, one of the industry’s more successful businesses owing to his vision, drive, and positivity.
March 13, 2025 at 4:09 AM
The new Sake Today showcases Osaka, Japan’s friendliest city, and highlights two local breweries, Katanozakura and Shonosato. On the cover (and inside), we feature Shuichi Ogura, the president of Imadeya, one of the industry’s more successful businesses owing to his vision, drive, and positivity.
This wood kiln-fired guinomi with ash glaze by Inayoshi Osamu is simply stunning.
March 8, 2025 at 9:05 PM
This wood kiln-fired guinomi with ash glaze by Inayoshi Osamu is simply stunning.
In Tokyo? A new spot called WASAKE provides educational tasting sessions, with English and Chinese-speaking sake professionals on hand. There are often themed weeks and specials. Currently, they are offering a "Dassai sake flight experience".
For more information: www.wasakexperienceeg.com/dassai
For more information: www.wasakexperienceeg.com/dassai
February 28, 2025 at 3:39 AM
In Tokyo? A new spot called WASAKE provides educational tasting sessions, with English and Chinese-speaking sake professionals on hand. There are often themed weeks and specials. Currently, they are offering a "Dassai sake flight experience".
For more information: www.wasakexperienceeg.com/dassai
For more information: www.wasakexperienceeg.com/dassai
One quintessential Kyoto stroll is The Philosopher’s Path near Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), and where you’ll also find the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery. As the world’s foremost expert on contemporary Japanese ceramics, Yellin has contributed to Sake Today columns many times over the years.
February 11, 2025 at 2:29 AM
One quintessential Kyoto stroll is The Philosopher’s Path near Ginkakuji (Silver Pavilion), and where you’ll also find the Robert Yellin Yakimono Gallery. As the world’s foremost expert on contemporary Japanese ceramics, Yellin has contributed to Sake Today columns many times over the years.
The draw of Asano Nihon Shuten Kyoto (see previous post) is its tasting menu: not large, but well curated with intriguing flights, like this nama genshu option (unpasteurized, undiluted). Two were unfiltered. All were as fresh as can be and a wonderful treat on the Kyoto stroll.
February 8, 2025 at 7:10 AM
The draw of Asano Nihon Shuten Kyoto (see previous post) is its tasting menu: not large, but well curated with intriguing flights, like this nama genshu option (unpasteurized, undiluted). Two were unfiltered. All were as fresh as can be and a wonderful treat on the Kyoto stroll.
In our article on strolling Kyoto in ST42, one of the featured sake retailers was Asano Nihon Shuten Kyoto, just a minute from Nishiki Market (see last post). It’s a bottle shop offering a slightly upscale kaku’uchi (stand-and-drink) experience with good local selection and reasonable prices.
February 6, 2025 at 9:23 PM
In our article on strolling Kyoto in ST42, one of the featured sake retailers was Asano Nihon Shuten Kyoto, just a minute from Nishiki Market (see last post). It’s a bottle shop offering a slightly upscale kaku’uchi (stand-and-drink) experience with good local selection and reasonable prices.
In Sake Today 42 we wrote about strolling Kyoto and the places you can stop into for casual food and/or good sake along the way. An obvious one is Nishiki Market, which some might say is overrun with tourism, but the deals are still good and if many locals still go, well, that tells you something.
February 3, 2025 at 12:42 AM
In Sake Today 42 we wrote about strolling Kyoto and the places you can stop into for casual food and/or good sake along the way. An obvious one is Nishiki Market, which some might say is overrun with tourism, but the deals are still good and if many locals still go, well, that tells you something.
Returning to the Kura Masters competition, we wanted to also highlight the previous year’s winner of the prestigious Prix du Président award, Yamada Shoten’s flagship “Tamakashiwa” Junmai Daiginjo. This was an extraordinary achievement for such a tiny, family-run brewery.
January 17, 2025 at 7:46 PM
Returning to the Kura Masters competition, we wanted to also highlight the previous year’s winner of the prestigious Prix du Président award, Yamada Shoten’s flagship “Tamakashiwa” Junmai Daiginjo. This was an extraordinary achievement for such a tiny, family-run brewery.
Konishi Shuzo (see Sake Today 13) was the big winner of France’s Kura Master competition late last year. As we reported in our interview with Xavier Thuizat (Sake Today 40), this competition recognizes sake in a range of categories, but the emphasis is on sake that pairs well with French food.
January 16, 2025 at 9:02 AM
Konishi Shuzo (see Sake Today 13) was the big winner of France’s Kura Master competition late last year. As we reported in our interview with Xavier Thuizat (Sake Today 40), this competition recognizes sake in a range of categories, but the emphasis is on sake that pairs well with French food.
We’ve been enjoying the holidays with some of our favorite sake (Konishi’s elegant Winning Horse sake) in our favorite ceramics (from Inayoshi Osamu). What’s in your cup?
December 29, 2024 at 6:03 PM
We’ve been enjoying the holidays with some of our favorite sake (Konishi’s elegant Winning Horse sake) in our favorite ceramics (from Inayoshi Osamu). What’s in your cup?