SAKE blog

 Since April, the new calendar year in Japan, there were 3 New area appointed as G.I. which are Yamanashi, Saga, Nagano. All the new G.I. this time is in the extent of a prefecture.

 This time, ikki deliver information about 3 new G.I., and why they are appointed and which Sake are appointed.

G.I. Yamanashi 山梨

   On 28th April 2021, New area in Japan appointed as one of the geographic indication system: Yamanashi. Yamanashi is the prefecture which surrounded by mountains and water sourced to Yamanashi breweries are different to which mountain the water breweries use come from. 

 Generally, Sake from Tone Numata has a soft texture, clear taste and matches well with salty foods.

 The unique point of Yamanashi Sake is it is made of water from 6 different water systems, which are Yatsugatake, South Alps, Chichibusan, Fuji Misaka, Fuji, and all the water have different characteristics to make Yamanashi breweries brew exclusive Sake of their own.

 In Yamanashi, there are 12 breweries and find from click the link below .

The list of Yamanashi Sake breweries

G.I. Saga 佐賀

 On 14th June 2021, Seishu from Saga prefecture was officially certified as “G.I. Saga”.

 Generally, Saga Sake has a rich umami of rice, mellow mouth feel and sweetness derived from rice. Especially for Ginjo, Junmai, Honjozo type Sake, you can feel rich flavor from rice with lots of umami in Sake. It matches well with foods with thick taste.

 To find the breweries and Sake from Saga, please click the link below. 

The list of Saga breweries

G.I. Nagano 長野

 On 30th June 2021, Nagano was certified as new area of G. I. in Japanese Sake and also wine at the sam time.

 Generally Nagano Sake has a clear thick taste and gentle flavor with less off-flavor. Its well balanced sweetness and acidity with full of Umami matches well with foods with thick taste.

 To find the breweries and Sake from Nagano, please click the link below. 

The list of Nagano breweries

Thank you for your time!

See you in the next post!

Related posts

https://ikki-sake.com/update-on-23rd-september-2020-geographical-indication-gi-in-japanese-sake-enhance-product-brand-with-brand-locality/

https://ikki-sake.com/g-i-tone-numata-6th-geographic-identification-of-japanese-sake/

https://ikki-sake.com/g-i-hagi-7th-geographic-indication-of-japanese-sake-and-6-breweries/

Author: Yutaro Kobayashi

President & CEO, Kobayashi Junzo Shoten Co., Ltd.

Based in Osaka, I lead Kobayashi Junzo Shoten, a sake wholesaler founded in 1890. Through the cultural richness of Japanese sake, my mission is to connect people and bring smiles to dining tables around the world.

While technology continues to make the world feel smaller, the stories and traditions behind sake brewing can easily fade into the background. I see my role as a bridge—sharing the passion of brewers, opening doors for new audiences, and delivering sake in a way that feels more approachable and relatable.

I enjoy visiting sake breweries, learning about new rice varieties and brewing techniques, and spending time with toji (master brewers) and kurabito (brewery workers) to experience the spirit of sake-making firsthand. On this blog, I’ll share those encounters, my personal insights, and tips to help you enjoy sake even more.

Thank you for reading, and I look forward to connecting with you.