Complete Guide: How To Read Sake Labels

How To Read Sake Bottles?

Sake labels provide essential details about the product. Most bottles feature a front label displaying the brand name and type of sake. Occasionally, a front label may only include an illustration with no text; in such cases, all required information will be on the back label. The back label typically contains key details such as alcohol content, ingredients, and the producer.

What can and cannot be included on a label is regulated by the Japanese National Tax Office's Alcoholic Beverage Labeling Standards (第86条の6 酒類の表示の基準). In this article, we will explore the mandatory items on sake labels, review optional information, and discuss prohibited labeling practices.

In the labeling standards, a "container" refers to items like bottles or cans used to hold alcohol and handed to consumers, while "packaging" includes decorative boxes or wrapping paper given with the container. Items used solely for transport or storage are not considered packaging. If labeling directly on the container or packaging is not possible, alternatives like hanging tags can be used but must still follow the same rules.

Labeling is not required for alcohol containers used in competitions or those seized or sampled for tax investigations. Labels must be clear and readable, placed in visible locations, and can include non-Japanese characters as long as they comply with the labeling standards.

Mandatory Sake Label Information

Here are the key elements required on a sake label by the Sake Industry Law, regulated by Japan’s National Tax Agency:

1. Ingredients (原材料名): The label must list all ingredients used in making the sake, except water. So for a “純米酒” (Junmai-type), you would have something like “米、米こうじ” and for the alcohol-added “本醸造” (Honjozo-type) the label would say “米、米こうじ、醸造アルコール”. For premium sake, the rice polishing ratio (how much of the rice grain was polished away) must also be included, along with the type of sake rice. 
2. Date of Manufacture (製造年月): The label must show at least the year and month the sake was made. For small containers (300 ml or less), a code can replace the date. Interestingly, there’s no expiration date given for sake, but if it's stored at the brewery for a while, the shipment date from the brewery will be the date of manufacture. For example, 製造年月 24.6 indicates that the sake was released from the brewery in June 2024.
3. Storage and Drinking Tips (保存又は飲用上の注意事項): Some sake, like Namazake (unpasteurized sake), needs special handling, and the label will provide storage and serving instructions. For example, you might see “要冷蔵” (Needs to be refrigerated), “冷蔵庫に保管してください” (Please keep it in the fridge) or something like “冷やしてお早めにお飲みください” (Please chill and drink as soon as possible). 
4. Country of Origin (原産国名): If the sake is imported, the label must indicate where it came from. If the sake is a blend of Japanese and foreign sake, both the origin and mixing ratio must be listed. As most sake is made in Japan, you won’t find it too often on sake labels.
5. Producer (製造者): The brewery’s official company name and address must appear on the label. Most of the time, the producer’s information is written last, like 製造者: さくら酒造株式会社.
6. Bottle Size (内容量): The size of the container (in most cases sake bottles or cans) must be indicated. Common sake bottle sizes are 1.8 liters, 720 ml, and 300 ml.
7. Product Category (品目): The label must clearly state the legal product category. For sake it is either “日本酒” (Nihonshu) or Seishu “清酒” (Seishu), so consumers can easily tell it apart from other similar beverages like “濁酒” (Doburoku) or “その他醸造酒” (Sonotajozoshu).
8. Alcohol Content (アルコール分): Sake typically has an alcohol content of 15% to 17%. Sometimes, the label shows a range, like 15-16%. Since 2011, a 1% variation is permitted, meaning a sake with 16% alcohol can be labeled as 15%, 16%, or 17%. Look for a number in the tens followed by either a "%" sign or the kanji 度, which represents alcohol percentage in Japanese.
9. Underage Drinking Warning (未成年者飲酒注意): Labels must include a reminder that drinking under the legal age (20 years old in Japan) is prohibited. You often will find the sentence “飲酒は20歳になってから”.

By understanding these key elements, you can better appreciate the information on sake labels and make informed choices.

Optional Sake Label Information

While some information is required by law, many sake labels also include optional details, usually related to the brewing process. Here are some common optional elements:

1. Rice Type (原料米の品種名): If more than 50% of the sake is made from a specific rice variety, the label may list the rice type and its percentage. For example, it might say “100%山田錦” (100% Yamada-Nishiki).
2. Place of Origin (清酒の産地名): If all the sake is brewed in a single region, the label might include the region's name. This doesn’t apply to blended sake, which combines sake from different areas.
3. Storage Age (貯蔵年数): If the sake has been aged for over a year, the label may state how long it was stored. When different-aged sake is blended, the age of the youngest sake is listed.
4. Production Term (製造時期): As mentioned above in the mandatory label information, the manufacturing date that is required on the labels only describes the data when the brewery decides to release the sake from the brewery. Therefore, it is optional to include the production year or data. For intentionally aged sake you will find the brewery year on the label. For example, BY2019 stands for brewery year 2019.
5. Dilution (加水): Some sake has water added during processing. If no water is added, the label may say “undiluted” to highlight this.
6. Pasteurization (火入れ): Sake is usually pasteurized for stability. If it isn’t, or if it’s pasteurized at a different stage, labels like “生酒” (Nama-zake, unpasteurized sake) or “生貯蔵酒” (Nama-chozoushu, fresh sake pasteurized only before shipping) may appear.
7. Barrel Sake (樽酒): Some sake is stored in wooden barrels, usually made of cedar, which gives it a unique aroma. This may be noted on the label as “樽酒.”
8. Quality Labels (品質用語): Brewers sometimes use terms like “極上”, “優良”, “高級”, meaning superior or premium to indicate the quality of sake, even if it’s from the same brand.
9. Awards (アワード): If the sake has won awards or received certifications, this may be displayed on the label to boost its appeal.

In addition to these, some labels offer even more detailed information, like sake grade, acidity level, yeast type, and koji type, especially for sake enthusiasts who appreciate deeper insights into the product.

Restricted Sake Label Information

Certain words and phrases are not allowed on sake labels to prevent misleading consumers. Terms like “best” or “representative” that suggest the product is superior to others are prohibited.

It’s also not allowed to imply that the product is certified by a government agency. Additionally, premium-related terms can’t be used for reasons that don’t meet premium category standards (特別純米酒).

Sake Label Considerations for Importing Sake

Sake Classifications Abroad

The labeling rules in Japan, including mandatory and optional elements, only apply domestically under Japan’s Liquor Tax Law. Outside of Japan, each country has its own regulations for alcohol labeling and marketing. However, many sake brewers still use common Japanese terms like "Junmai" or "Daiginjo" when branding and selling their products internationally.

Sake Label Design For Imported Sake

When importing and selling sake, there are two main options for your sake label design:

1. Secondary Label: Retain the original Japanese label and add a secondary label with the required local information. This must comply with the alcohol regulations of the importing country, which may include details like a trade number or the importer’s contact information.
2. Export-Specific Back Label: Create a custom back label that follows local regulations and is applied by the brewer before shipping. This label can also include useful details in the local language, such as tasting notes and brewer information, making it easier for consumers to understand the product.

Most sake bottles in Japan feature both a front and back label. The front label typically highlights the brand and product name, while the back label contains details like alcohol content, ingredients, and producer information.

Read more about private and white label sake as well as OEM sake in our blog article about private and white label sake here.

Frequently Asked Question On Reading Sake Labels

How to read sake bottles? 

Sake bottles typically have a front label showing the brand name and type of sake. Sometimes, the front label may only have an illustration, and in those cases, all necessary information is found on the back label. The back label usually includes details like alcohol content, ingredients, and the producer. 

How to know if sake is expired?

Sake does not have an expiration date, but the label will show the date of manufacture, indicating when the sake was released from the brewery. As a rule of thumb, for most sake should be consumed within one year after release. But if stored correctly sake, of course also lasts longer than 1 year. Some sake may have storage or drinking recommendations, especially for unpasteurized sake that needs refrigeration. 

What do the numbers on sake mean? 

Numbers on sake labels usually indicate alcohol content, sake meter value (SMV), or other details like the rice polishing ratio. For alcohol content, a number followed by "%" or the kanji 度 represents the alcohol percentage, commonly somewhere between 13%-18%. The second number with a percentage is most likely the rice polishing ratio, commonly between 35%-70%.

What is the negative number on sake? 

The sweetness or dryness of sake is often indicated by the sake meter value (SMV), also known as Nihonshudo. A positive SMV indicates drier sake, while a negative SMV suggests sweeter sake.

What does plus and minus mean in sake?

The plus and minus signs refer to the sake meter value (SMV). A plus sign (+) indicates a drier sake, while a minus sign (-) suggests a sweeter sake.

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