Further Reading
While we try to offer content for both novices and more advanced sake-geeks here at sakeguide.net, there are many true sake experts out there who are deeply involved in the Japanese sake scene and know much more than we do. So if your interest has been piqued and you want to dig even deeper, below are some books worth checking out.
This list will be updated occasionally as new titles are released.
Sake Confidential and The Sake Handbook, John Gaunter
Sake Confidential: 2014, Stone Bridge Press, Berkeley, CA.
184 pages. ISBN 978-1611720143
The Sake Handbook: 2002, Tuttle Publishing, Clarendon, VT.
248 pages. ISBN 978-0804834254
When it comes to sake knowledge in English, there is no way around John Gaunter’s books, as he was the first to make sake accessible to an English-speaking audience. Either of his books is a good reference to have at hand and covers all the basics in an entertaining and easy-to-read way. The Sake Handbook also includes a number of tasting notes and recommendations for shops and bars in Japan.
Sake: The History, Stories and Craft of Japan's Artisanal Breweries, Hayato Hishinuma, Elliot Faber
2015, Gatehouse Publishing, Singapore.
420 pages, many photos. ISBN 978-9810795283
If you want everybody to know about your new hobby, just leave this whopper on your coffee table. Besides beautiful photos by travel photographer Jason M Lang, it contains profiles and stories of few breweries from all over Japan plus tasting notes for each brewery’s flagship brand.
Nihonshu—Japanese Sake, Gautier Roussille
2018, self-published
260 pages, softcover. ISBN 978-2-9562895-0-0
Originally funded via a Kickstarter campaign, this book is the results of five years of research and looks at every aspect of sake history, raw materials, production, tasting and culture in great detail. Mr Roussille is an agricultural engineer and oenologist who has worked in Burgundy and at Sohomare Brewery in Tochigi Prefecture, so you can be sure all the information in the book is well-founded.
Sake And The Wines of Japan, Anthony Rose
2018, Infinite Ideas, Oxford.
380 pages, softcover. B/W illustrations. ISBN 978-1-906821-76-0.
While Japanese wine is also gaining popularity worldwide, you’ll be happy to hear that sake is the main focus of this book. After an introductory part with history and basic knowlege, Anthony Rose provides a unique look into a large number of sake breweries from all over Japan. If you already know a bit about how sake, these profiles will be the most interesting part of the book. The author also includes useful tips for your own visit to Japan with contact info for the breweries and recommendations for restaurants in the area.
Sake, Hiroichi Akiyama
2017, Brewing Society of Japan, Tokyo.
201 pages, hardcover. Illustrations. ISBN 978-4-9903394-1-8.
3,500JPY
This is the English translation of the equally simply named Nihonshu that has been released as a second, international edition in 2017. The Japanese original is from the early 90’s. The book consists of five chapters which look at different aspects of sake production and history. The articles are very detailed and technical at times, but also full of interesting information.
Textbook of Sake Brewing
2016, Brewing Society of Japan, Tokyo.
232 pages, hardcover. B/W illustrations. ISBN 978-4-9903394-4-9.
2,500JPY
If you want to understand the science behind every step of the brewing process, this is the book for you. This is a real guidebook for would-be brewers and explains alle aspects of sake production in great detail, with accompanying charts and graphs.
Where possible, the links point directly to the author’s or publisher’s website. Remember to support your local bookstore. Even if what you’re looking for isn’t in stock, most shops can order any book for next-day pickup!
