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Stories of makers, ingredients, places and the decisions behind Japan's most compelling drinks.

Drink

A Quiet Evolution in Bangkok

KANPAI THAILAND 2026, a Celebration of Japanese Sake and Spirits Over the past few years, the landscape surrounding Japanese sake in Thailand has been quietly, yet unmistakably, changing. Once tucked away in the corners of high-end Japanese restaurants, artisanal sake bottles are now appearing on the menus of Bangkok’s contemporary bistros and wine bars. A […]

DAIYAME, SEKITOBA

The Lychee Aroma Rising from Imo Shochu

Inside Daiyame’s Path of Innovation To many, imo shochu evokes an earthy, robust character. Yet, a single pour of Daiyame 25% ABV｜crafted by Hamada Syuzou in Ichikikushikino, Kagoshima｜instantly introduces notes of fresh lychee. How does a sweet potato spirit yield such a vibrant, fruit-forward profile? The secret rests upon two deliberate choices: the evolution of […]

Drink

Rethinking the Rule

How Natural Wine is Redefining Bangkok’s Thai Dining Table “Wine is hard to pair with Thai food.” For a long time, this was accepted wisdom in Bangkok. The heat of bird’s eye chilies, the sharp acidity of lime and tamarind, the pervasive aromas of lemongrass, and the layered umami of fish sauce｜Thai cuisine possesses a […]

Bar

The Architecture of Belonging

How Asia’s Bars Are Redefining the ‘Third Place’ At HOTELEX Shanghai in March 2026, the traditional exhibition booth felt like a relic of the past. In its place stood fully realized bar counters and intimate lounge spaces, built directly inside the hall. Rather than distributing catalogs, brands invited guests into curated worlds of light, sound, […]

Drink

Why Japanese Gin Alone Is Staying Afloat While the Global Gin Market Sinks

The Quiet Strategy of “Accessible Luxury” During the pandemic, people fell in love with gin. It became a small escape in an uncertain world. A few years later, though, the mood has changed. By 2025, the global spirits market｜including gin｜had largely lost momentum. The boom faded quietly away. And yet, one category moved against the […]

Drink

Steeping 136 Kilograms of Strawberries｜and Finishing Crystal Clear

AWAYUKI Strawberry Gin, and the Day Umenoyado Sake Brewery Was Called a “Disgrace” Until the bottle is opened, no one realizes it is a strawberry gin. AWAYUKI Strawberry Gin is completely colorless｜clear as water, indistinguishable from an ordinary gin. But the moment the cap is twisted open, the aroma of ripe strawberries rises from the […]

Drink

Beyond the Sushi Counter

Curating Operational Context: A Framework for Integration For teams evaluating sake in non-Japanese menu design, a practical framework can be built around three style archetypes rather than a direct sales narrative: a clean aromatic profile for contrast, a structure-heavy sake for savory anchors, and an acid-forward style for balancing richer preparations. Expanding Beyond Traditional Pairing […]

Drink

At 52, He Moved to Laos

How a Dream from Hiroshima Rewrote the Story of Rum In a definitive moment of transformation, a 52-year-old man chose to step away from the secure embrace of corporate life, embarking on a journey to craft fine spirits from inception in a land entirely unfamiliar to him. His name is Ikuzo Inoue, a native of […]

AWARD : SHOCHU

Spring Water from the Kirishima Mountains and a Century of Earthenware Pots

Akarui Nōson” by Kirishima Town Distillery The San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC) is one of the world’s largest and most respected spirits competitions, where dozens of professional judges conduct blind tastings and score entries each year. In 2018, the Double Gold｜awarded only by unanimous gold ratings from the panel｜was granted to “Akarui Nōson,” a […]

The Quiet Dedication Behind Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries

Drink

A Dialogue Between Two Distilleries｜Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries and Ichiro Akuto’s 20-Year Journey

In March 2026, the UK-based World Whiskies Awards announced that a Japanese blended malt had been named “Best Japanese Blended Malt.” The winner was Ichiro’s Malt Double Distilleries from Venture Whisky in Chichibu, Saitama Prefecture. Created by founder Ichiro Akuto, it is a flagship expression that vats malt whiskies from Chichibu Distillery I and Chichibu […]

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