The world of sake: history and diversity

We're pleased to see that premium sake is enjoying increasing international popularity today, despite the decline in the number of breweries in Japan. However, many breweries have recognized the trend and are increasingly focusing on quality over quantity.

But where does the term SAKE actually come from and what does it mean?

The first written mention of sake dates back to the 8th century and is recorded in the kanji characters 酒.

In Japanese, the meaning of these characters can vary depending on the context. Written alone, it simply means sake, but at the end of another kanji, it means -zake or -shu.

There are differing opinions about the origin of the word sake. Some believe it derives from the term "sakaeru," meaning "to blossom, flourish, or grow."

Other theories suggest that it derives from “Sakae Mizu,” which means “splendid water.”

Another theory is that SA refers to the rice goddess Sanaburi and KE is an ancient term for food.

The first reference to sake in the Western world was by the Portuguese at the end of the 16th century with the term Saqe, which appeared in a Japanese-Portuguese dictionary.

In Japanese, sake often refers to alcohol in general, which is why the term Nihonshu is often used, especially in spoken Japanese. This term refers to the national drink (Nihon = Japan and -shu = alcohol) with a geographical reference, which is distinct from Yoshu (Western alcohol).

Another term often used in connection with sake is seishu, which stands for refined alcohol or filtered sake.

Sake is very diverse and can therefore exhibit different characteristics. Even for a sake connoisseur, these are not always easy to understand.