Japanese Sake
日本酒
Japanese Sake (Nihonshu) is a nationwide GI. Only sake brewed in Japan using exclusively Japanese-grown rice may be labeled "Nihonshu." The GI exists to distinguish genuine Japanese sake from sake brewed overseas or made with imported rice.
- Production area
- Japan
- Type
- Sake
- Designated
- December 25, 2015
- Managing body
- 管理機関なし（関連団体：日本酒造組合中央会） (opens in a new tab)
Production standard in brief
Our summary of the standard set by the National Tax Agency. See the agency's page for the official text.
Limited to sake produced in Japan using only Japanese rice for both the rice and the rice koji. Sake made with imported rice or produced overseas may not be labeled "Nihonshu." Verification by a managing body is not required.
National Tax Agency production standard (opens in a new tab)
Brewery visits & events
Toast events are held around October 1, "Nihonshu Day." At the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center in Toranomon, Tokyo, visitors can taste sake.
FAQ
Japanese Sake (Nihonshu) is a nationwide GI. Only sake brewed in Japan using exclusively Japanese-grown rice may be labeled "Nihonshu." The GI exists to distinguish genuine Japanese sake from sake brewed overseas or made with imported rice.
Sake made in Japan to the production standard.
The National Tax Agency designated it as a liquor Geographical Indication on December 25, 2015.