Sake Knowledge

Glossary

JapaneseReadingMeaning
AmakuchiAmakuchiSweet in taste. Opposite of karakuchi (dry in taste).
AmazakeAmazakeLiterally, “sweet sake.” The non-alcoholic mixture of steamed rice, koji, and water that results when enzymes in the koji convert rice starch into glucose.
AtsukanAtsukanWarmed sake.
DaiginjoDaiginjoSuper premium sake brewed with rice milled down to 50% or less of its original weight.
Futsu-shuFutsu-shuStandard-grade sake, with milling rates above 60%, and a moderate amount of distilled alcohol added. (No more than 280 litres per ton of rice).
GenshuGenshuSake that is undiluted with water.
GinjoGinjoPremium sake brewed with rice milled down to between 60% and 50% of its original weight.
HonjozoHonjozoSake with a small amount of distilled alcohol added. (No more than 116 liters per ton of rice).
IzakayaIzakayaJapanese-style bar or pub.
Junmai-shuJunmai-shuSake that has no distilled alcohol added.
KarakuchiKarakuchiDry in taste.
KasuKasuThe lees that remain after the sake is pressed at the end of the brewing process. Masumi uses its lees to distill two high quality shochu products, “Sumi 20” and “Sumi 25”.
KoboKoboSake yeast.
KojiKojiA type of mold (aspergillus oryzae) that produces enzymes that break starch down into glucose. Also refers to rice upon which koji mold has been propagated.
KuraKuraA sake brewery. Also called a sakagura.
KurabitoKurabitoLiterally, “brewery people.” Refers to everyone working at the brewery.
MoromiMoromiThe fermenting mash of steamed rice, water, koji, and yeast that produces sake.
NamazakeNamazakeSake that has not been pasteurized. This type of sake must be kept refrigerated.
Nihonshu-doNihonshu-doKnown in English as the Sake Meter Value (SMV), is a measure of the density of sake relative to water. Can be a rough indication of the sweetness or dryness of the sake, higher being dryer in theory, but a variety of factors influence the flavor so this index alone cannot be taken as a guide to dryness.
SakaguraA sake brewery. Also called a kura.
Seimai-buaiSeimai-buaiPolishing rate. Usually indicated as a percentage on the label, this refers to the amount of rice that remains after milling. The lower the percentage, the higher the grade of the resulting sake.
ShinshuShinshuTraditional name for the mountainous region of central Japan encompassing all of Nagano Prefecture and parts of surrounding prefectures.
ShochuShochuA clear distilled spirit popular throughout Japan. Masumi produces two shochu products using the lees remaining after the sake is pressed, “Sumi 20” and “Sumi 25”. Masumi also produces shochu from the rice flour created when sake rice is milled. This shochu is used as the base for Masumi’s fruit liquors.
ShuboShuboYeast starter. The yeast starter is the first stage of sake fermentation, and is intended to produce a vigorous, highly concentrated yeast culture.
TojiTojiMaster brewer.