How Yamaguchi's Dassai Put Japanese Sake on the World Map

Dassai, produced by a brewery in the mountains of Yamaguchi's Iwakuni area, is one of the most internationally recognized Japanese sake brands, known for polishing rice down to a small fraction of its original size to produce ultra-refined junmai daiginjo. Its rise over the past few decades helped introduce many non-Japanese drinkers to premium sake generally, and it remains one of the more widely exported labels, sold in bars and shops well beyond Japan.

Dassai's fame sometimes overshadows the fact that Yamaguchi has other respected breweries producing distinctive sake using local water and rice, with styles ranging from crisp and dry to fruitier ginjo profiles. If you're in Yamaguchi, it's worth asking a sake shop or izakaya for other local labels beyond the famous one, since availability of lesser-known Yamaguchi sake locally is often better than what you'd find exported abroad.