WAX&WANE is the name of a new project that has launched in an effort to support ARCADE TOKYO, an ‘online shopping arcade’ stocking countless must-grab products from Tokyo, due to the impact COVID-19 has had on participating businesses having to close down, resulting in a drastic decrease in shipping and consumption.

12 breweries pour 12 unique sake beverages

Pair your drinks with foods outside Japanese cuisine to change things up

Bottle clothes with designs showcasing each sakes’ personality

The project was launched on June 10 via the crowdfunding website CAMPFIRE as a way to pay back thanks to 12 sake breweries in Japan who produce sake you can’t get anywhere else. It aims to spread the word of Japan’s sake culture the world to preserve its future and create even more brands, thereby adding new value to sake.

As part of the project, tie dye creator YUKIDYE, who has worked with many different street brands, has produced a collection of tie dye cloths which take inspiration from each of the 12 sake flavours and the characteristics of each brand.

Yukihana Lamy, a Virtual YouTuber associated with hololive, launched her own Japanese sake project in February to bring her dream to life of making her very own sake by hand. That sake has now been released by the name of Yuki-Yo-Zuki, a premium brand daiginjo sake.

The sake was created in collaboration with Meiri Shurui, a Japanese sake brewery which has been around since the Edo Period. Every single ingredient in the drink was considered from scratch including the type of rice, the ratios, yeast, alcohol content, and so on. The sake is made by hand in a brewery located in Mito, Ibaraki.

Yuki-Yo-Zuki uses Fukushogun Daiginjo as its base, a sake that won Gold in the Sake category at IWC2020. It’s made with a combination of Yamada Nishiki and Biyama Nishiki rice as well as ginjoka, the highest quality daiginjo, known for its light spicy kick and fruity notes. The bottle features an illustration of Yukihana Lamy drawn by Abara Heiki, an artist Lamy likes, with a fusion of black and silver inspired by the meaning of drink’s name: ‘Snowy Evening Moon.’

haccoba launched its new sake brewery, haccoba -Craft Sake Brewery-, in February. It released its first product last Monday: a limited restock of Hanauta Drops, a sake that uses unrefined sake brewing methods which first originated in the Tohoku region.

Hanauta Drops

©︎ Puddle Inc.

Humulus lupulus hop

The sake crafted by haccoba uses the same techniques found in traditional Japanese sake brewing, including the rice and yeast used, but throws in a variety of fruits and herbs during the fermentation process. This upholds the traditional culture of Japanese brewery which was formerly carried out in homes while adding some fun flair. The brand plans to make its main product a fusion of hops used in beer making and classic Japanese crafting methods.

The secret ingredient that was so enjoyed in Japanese homes in the past when making sake is the humulus lupulus, a type of hop that makes this brewing process to making beer. Hanauta Drops uses the very same technique. It also enjoys a blend of yellow koji mold which has a sweetness similar to refined Japanese sugar found in rice, and white koji mold for a lemony tang. The result is a refreshing experience with every sip thanks to the bubbles that occur naturally during fermentation.

After the success of the hit Ikkon-Fugetsu event held at Perie Chiba Ekiue Hiroba last autumn, a permanent nihonshu Japanese sake lounge is set to open at JR Chiba Station on April 28, offering the same kind of atmosphere as inside a luxury airport lounge.

CHIBASAKE.COM SHOP with PERIE Onliine SHOP

A sake shop will also open at the same time at the lounge where customers can scroll through different drinks they’d like to purchase using their smartphone or tablet. You can purchase sake that you enjoyed drinking in the lounge as well as pick up exclusive and original beverages available online only at CHIBASAKE, sake from different regions across Japan, and more.

That’s not all for customers’ sake experience however. Umami is a big part of Japanese food culture, and so in order that all who visit can enjoy their drink to the fullest, Japanese wineglass makers RIEDEL, who have been in the business for 260 years, have provided their special junmaishu glasses which were developed over a period of eight years. Food will also be on the menu made with ingredients local to Chiba Prefecture, and more.

SAKEICE is an ice cream shop that offers a new kind of ice cream experience, combining Japanese sake and alcohol together with the frozen treat. The shop opened in Akusaka, Tokyo in March this year.

However, due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the store has had to close temporarily. SAKEICE wants to cheer people up during these turbulent times with their ice cream, and has therefore announced the launch of a crowdfunding campaign so they can set up a website where people can order ice cream in Japan and have it delivered to them.

I tried out their ice cream

Otokoyama / Nihonshu Ice

SAKEICE’s ice cream is laced with lots of Japanese alcohol. I tried the Otokoyama and the Nihonshu Ice, the latter of which is an original ice cream flavour exclusive to SAKEICE. They both contains around 4% alcohol. I were curious exactly how they would taste.

I started with the Nihonshu Ice. The moment the ice cream hits your tongue, your taste buds are met with its smooth texture, and your nose is filled with the full bodied flavour of nihonshu. The velvety texture on your tongue as it melts is to die for. The Otokoyama has a refreshing kick to it when compared to the Nihonshu Ice. It’s creamy, but the aftertaste is refreshing, so we recommend it for people who aren’t a fan of sweet treats. Both are sure to leave you feeling satisfied, and maybe a little flushed afterwards.

These ice creams contain alcohol, so keep that in mind when coming here with minors, kids, pregnant women, or if you’re driving.

They have non-alcoholic flavours too!

Matcha / Cherry Blossom

Of course, they have non-alcoholic options too. I tried out the matcha and cherry blossom flavours.

The matcha one has an irresistible bitterness layered inside the sweetness. You get that real rich matcha taste too. The cherry blossom ice cream is a cute light pink colour and has a subtle sweetness to it. If you don’t like alcohol then you’ll definitely want to try one of delights.

A regional KitKat Pairing Bar called “Gotouchi no KitKat Pairing Bar” is currently running in Roppongi Hills, Tokyo. The pop-up bar features an AI’s recommendations of regional KitKats with Japanese sake from among 1,650 combinations of pairings.

You can also witness the event vehicle covered in 15 varieties of Gotouchi KitKat prints at the event in Roppongi Hills.

The sake brands featured at the event are brands carefully selected by famous Japanese former football player Hidetoshi Nakata, who has been promoting sake to the world. He has built his expertise by visiting more than 350 breweries nationwide. Nakata was also present to kick off the event! Nestlé’s managing executive officer Cedric Lacroix also makes an appearance.

Cedric Lacroix commented that the products created with the help of Nakata have a favourable reputation in Japan. He stated that he is incredibly pleased to be working with Nakata for the pairing bar, as he is full of knowledge in the field of sake.

Nakata stated:

“We don’t have the mindset of creating a new product, but we intend to focus on the act of celebrating with people from the region by creating something new.

Besides the KitKat Nihonshu Masuizumi and Umeshu Tsuru-ume, there is now a third collaboration KitKat flavour being released!

You can experience 150 different pairings of KitKats and sake that have been carefully chosen by Nakata before they are on sale anywhere else! The AI will be introducing regional (Gotouchi) KitKats such as Kyushu Amaou strawberry and Gunma Asian skunk cabbage KitKat!

“The sweetness of the chocolate combined with the sharp aftertaste of the dry alcohol is very interesting. The taste differs from person to person so I would like everyone to try it for themselves”, continued Nakata.

“Having chocolate with alcohol is quite a normal thing to do, however, both chocolate and Japanese sake have a long, deep-rooted culture in Japan. There’s the impression that Japanese sake only goes well with traditional Japanese food (Washoku). Hopefully, this event helps people to discover this new combination of chocolate and Japanese sake”, he continued passionately. 

The Gotouchi KitKat Pairing Bar will be running until national holiday Monday 29th April. Come try this brand new experience involving regional KitKat flavours and their matching Japanese sake!

The Gotochi KITKAT Pairing Bar will be open at Roppongi Hills from April 19 to 29 serving KitKat and sake pairings chosen from 1,650 combinations by AI.

Japan is known for its KitKat flavours, with a total of 350 having been created to date, 40 of which are always available. Many of those flavours are made using ingredients from local regions across the country where they sold at those places’ souvenir shops. Their unique flavour combinations and colours have tickled the fancy of Japanese people and foreigners alike.

The KITKAT Pairing Bar offers a new way for both locals and overseas visitors to enjoy eating KitKats by picking which flavour will go best for them when paired with sake.

You must answer 5 questions at the bar from which the AI will filter your tastes from 150 combinations chosen that day. There will be a total of 1,650 combinations available across the 11 day period.

Of course, you can purchase your local flavour KitKat there and then. The sake combinations were carefully selected and curated by Hidetoshi Nakata, a former soccer player and experienced sake expert who has tried well over 350 brands of sake all over Japan. The sake pairings are supervised by CRAFT SAKE WEEK.

Have the AI find your flavours!

Sake brands from all across Japan are set to gather at Roppongi Hills in Tokyo for “CRAFT SAKE WEEK at ROPPONGI HILLS 2019”; an eleven-day event celebrating top-class Japanese sake that will run from April 19 to 29. The venue will be decorated with the Japanese essence of traditional handicrafts. During these 11 days, Roppongi will be transformed into a magical artistic space.

CRAFT SAKE WEEK is where you can enjoy an atmosphere of a total of 110 carefully chosen Japanese breweries and numerous top-class restaurants. The venue was designed with this intention and has been designed with meticulous attention to detail. There will be a special guest attending the event; Yuko Nagayama! Nagayama designed the Japan Pavilion for Expo 2020 which is a worldwide innovation exhibition that will be held in Dubai.

Hidetoshi Nakata worked alongside Nagayama to create the concept for the design of the venue and after much debate, they decided to base the design on something that represents the origin of the essence of Japanese culture: rope. Hemp rope is featured in the design as it has a variety of applications in Japan from festivals to everyday purposes and has been used since ancient times. The hemp rope used for this venue design is flexible and has excellent durability. Hemp rope has a sense of volume and is also light and weightless. No matter what perspective you view it from, its appearance has a dynamic impact.

A Statement by Hidetoshi Nakata

This event space created by Nagayama is not just high quality, but creates an atmosphere of the warmth of everyday life in Japan. You can feel this unique world she has created. This is a unique world that only Nagayama is capable of creating as a female architect. It is stylish and you can feel the comfort. I requested that she creates something that depicts and allows you to physically experience the wondrous essence of Japanese culture.  

A statement by Yuko Nagayama

I created this environment out of sustainable materials that have been used by Japan for many, many years. This environment is a place intended to lightly embrace those who love Japanese sake. I took advantage of the height of Roppongi Hills Arena. It’s 16 km tall and 570 hemp trees were used to make the three large canopies that cover the event space. The canopies naturally curve due to gravity. This natural curvy shape can be seen from afar and has become the symbol to represent the event.

One by one, experience a range of Japanese breweries, and discover the depths of the flavours of Japanese sake. Not only is the alcohol the attraction, but the venue design is entirely new and magical. People from Japan and around the world will be gathering at this event so please come take your fill!

YUMMY SAKE COLLECTIVE is a new sake bar in Daikanyama that held its grand opening on January 25, 2019.

It is both a bar and a shop that serves delicious Japanese sake casually without customers needing to be sake connoisseurs. You don’t need to rely on background knowledge or visual information. It is a ‘blind tasting’ service in which you enter your intuitive thoughts which the AI responds to, choosing a sake to match your tastes.

When going for drinks in Japan beginners to sake can find it difficult what beverage to go for, but this new AI service solves that problem. It enables anyone to easily pick the right drink for them.

The refrigerator show case in the bar houses around 90 brands of sake including rare selections not often seen served. Drinks are divided by onomatopoeia for customers to easily pick what sounds nicest to them. Drinks can be ordered from ¥700 and you can also buy bottles to keep and take away with you.

YUMMY SAKE – ¥2,000 (Before Tax)

Ordering the YUMMY SAKE service lets you try a blind taste test to compare 10 types of Japanese sake. You evaluate which you like and don’t like based on 5 different ratings and the AI will pick your taste type. There are 12 categories you can be placed into all based on onomatopoeia. This means you will be prepared for when you go out to a bar, shop or event in Japan and can intuitively pick what sake you want without needing to know difficult sake slang or tehchnical rules.

Snack Pairings – ¥500 Each (Before Tax)

Snacks will also be prepared to go with your drinks based on what taste type you are.

If you’re looking to get into Japanese sake then look no further – start at YUMMY SAKE COLLECTIVE.

Sake brands from all across Japan are set to gather at Roppongi Hills next year for Craft Sake Week, an event celebrating Japanese sake that will run from April 19 to 29.

First held in Roppongi back in 2016, Craft Sake Week is produced by JAPAN CRAFT SAKE COMPANY which is spearheaded by Hidetoshi Nakata who has tried well over 300 brands of sake all over Japan. The event is being held as “a place for people to enjoy and learn about top brand sake.” Each day of the event will have its own theme which will be led by 10 different sake breweries. Each and every brand is valued equally, giving attendees a chance to find their favourite brands and brewers.

As well as being able to try out different drinks, there will be a chance to talk to sake experts who can advise on the best ways to pick out and enjoy sake. A line-up of food will also be available to complement the beverages on show. There will be many popular restaurants in attendance.

To date, around 400,000 people have attended the event including those from outside Japan, and the event aims to bring in even more visitors from overseas. The event has grown in popularity and is now also recognised worldwide.

Nakata doesn’t just want to celebrate and promote sakeーhe also wants to spread Japanese culture. That’s why every little thing at the event has been considered, from the venue design down to the cups you drink from.

The event won the Golden World Awards in October this year, an international award which recognises excellence in public relations practice. It was highly regarded for creating a space to spread Japanese sake culture to a diverse audience and for making sake appealing to the world.

If you’re in Japan next year and a true lover of sake then you won’t want to miss the 4th run of Craft Sake Week.

Japanese sake bar Kuranoya held the grand opening of its second branch at the Karasumori exit of Shimbashi Station on May 15, 2018.

The main components of Kuranoya are sake and meat. Drinks are their forte, and they offer up a wide variety along with the perfect meal to match.  They clear away stereotypes and confidently serve up food with a Western essence along with Japanese sake.

Their beverage line-up includes amino acids and is recommended to those who are looking to take care of their health and beauty. The café interior is stylish with the colour white as the base.

Drinks range from affordable prices such as ¥299 (pre-tax) for one cup of sake to more premium brands. There are high table counter seats which make for the perfect date setting, or even customers on their own.

There’s even an all-you-can-drink plan with close to 30 brands of sake which can be enjoyed either across a two-hour period or an unlimited period. As well as their stock of highly valuable premium sake, the café even offers a sangria made using Japanese sake.

Whether you’re going on a date or having a girl’s get-together, Kuranoya can be used for numerous settings and promises delicious food and drinks.

A mobile app called SakeWiz used for finding information on Japanese sake was released on May 8, 2018 and is available on iOS and Android in Japan, the US, Canada and Singapore.

There’s been a boom recently amongst young females in Japan for local sake. SakeWiz was developed to play a role in helping spread the boom of Japanese sake even more through the internet.

The app was officially endorsed by Sake Service Institute (SSI), a Japanese sake service that authorises the Kikisake, or Master of Sake course.

Using artificial intelligence, the app has label scanning software to search for Japanese sake brands and names which can be difficult to remember. Additionally, you can save your favourite brands on the app to share and recommend with friends.

Sake has a tendency to mostly be enjoyed by males and females in their 30s. The polyphenol effect, which became the impetus for the first wine boom in Japan, also played a role in lighting a fire amongst young women who are consistently the leaders consumption in this area.

There are plans to implement more functions such as to enable users to be able to comment on sake and food they like, as well as introduce coupons. The app is also available in multiple languages, including Chinese and Korean.

If you love Japanese sake or someone who wants to try out all the sake that Japan has to offer, then consider downloading SakeWiz.