Japan History and Culture

Sake is a Japanese alcoholic beverage made from rice. In Japanese, the word sake not exclusively apply to this specific single beverage; instead, the word Nihonshu (literally, “Japanese alcoholic beverage”) is used to distinguish it from other beverages. In English, the word sake never refers to anything other than Nihonshu. This article uses the word “sake” as it is used in English.

Sake is also commonly referred to in English as “rice wine”, but the characterisation implied is not accurate. Wine is made from the single fermentation of plant juices (Other than sparkling wine, which can be a double fermentation to create the carbonation.). Sake is produced by multiple fermentation of rice, which is more similar to how beer is produced. Also, outside Japan there exist other beverages known as “rice wine” that are significantly different from Nihonshu.