Japan Info Swap Blog

Although sake is the most famous Japanese alcoholic beverage, in Kumamoto (and, in fact, on the entire island of Kyushu), shochu is more common. Nonetheless, Kumamoto has a strong sake culture and creates a drink that is unlike what you find elsewhere in the country. To understand why that is, we need to go back to the beginning.

Akazake, the Red Sake

From around 1600 to near the end of the 19th century, Kumamoto was only permitted to produce …