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What Do These Numbers Mean? Japan is home to around 1,100 sake breweries — yes, that many!
And together, these breweries produce over 14,300 different sake labels every year.

Is That a Lot or a Little? What Do You Think?

Here’s how I see it.
Imagine you tried one new sake every day. How long would it take to taste them all?

Let’s do the math:
14,300 days ÷ 365 days/year = about 39.18 years
So, roughly 39 years and 2 months.
In other words — it’s endless! 😂

Of course, I’m not saying you should try to drink every sake in Japan…
But if you ever want to attempt it — now you know what you’re up against!

 

So, How Do You Find Your Perfect Sake?

With so many options, how do you even begin to find a sake you truly love?
There are a few ways… But here’s my honest answer up front:

Just leave it to us！！

Why? Because discovering your ideal sake is not as simple as picking a random bottle. There’s a lot to consider.

 

What Makes One Sake Different from Another?🍶

1️⃣ Sake Types (Based on Polishing Rate) The “special designation” system classifies sake by how much the rice is polished and whether extra alcohol is added:
・Junmai Daiginjo (純米大吟醸酒)
・Daiginjo (大吟醸酒)
・Junmai Ginjo (純米吟醸酒)
・Ginjo (吟醸酒)
・Tokubetsu Junmai (特別純米酒)
・Tokubetsu Honjozo (特別本醸造酒)
・Junmai (純米酒)
・Honjozo (本醸造酒)

 

2️⃣ Sake Meter Value (SMV)
・This is a rough guide for sweetness or dryness.
・+ (plus): less residual sugar, lighter, dry taste.
・– (minus): more residual sugar, heavier, sweet taste.
・But remember! This number only shows sugar content — acid levels and other factors also affect how sweet or dry it feels.

 

3️⃣ Acidity
Shows how much acidity is present — important for balance and food pairing.

 

4️⃣ Rice
Japan has over 100 types of sake rice!
Here are 10 famous ones:
・Yamadanishiki
・Gohyakumangoku
・Miyamanishiki
・Omachi
・Aiyama
・Hattan Nishiki
・Dewasansan
・Iwai
・Koshi Tanrei
・Ginpu

Some breweries even use regular eating rice (table rice) these days, so the variety keeps growing! The rice type and polishing rate change the aroma, umami, acidity, bitterness, and texture.

 

5️⃣ Koji & Yeast
・Koji mold affects the flavor.
・Yeast greatly influences the aroma.

 

Put this all together and you get an endless equation. Honestly? I don’t feel like solving it on my own — haha!

 

So Here’s the Shortcut: Learn & Taste With Us

Instead of struggling alone, the best way to discover your sake style is to:
・Try sake together,
・Learn what each style means,
・Share your impressions,
・Compare what you taste.

We believe this is the fastest and most fun way to find your perfect sake match.

🧩 For the Sake Nerds: The “Infinite Equation”
Still want to crack the code on your own?
Here’s a playful “Sake Preference Equation” we created with AI.
Spoiler: It’s mostly a joke — don’t take it too seriously! 😉 🍶

Final Thought
Sake is deep. But discovering it together makes it unforgettable. So, are you ready to find your new favorite bottle? Kampai! 🍶✨

 

Kampai Sake Tours
E-mail: kampaisaketours@keieimachi.com
Cell-phone: +81 70 5461 3231
Website: https://kampaisaketours.com
Instagram：@kampaisaketours

👉 Book Your Tour: https://kampaisaketours.com/guide2/
📩 Contact Us: https://kampaisaketours.com/contact/