Sakenomics: The 6 Biggest Brewers

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The global sake industry is evolving fast, with Japans sake exports reaching record highs as international demand grows. At the same time, domestic demand has dwindled. While hundreds of craft breweries contribute to Japan’s sake culture, just a handful of them dominate both domestic and global markets. These breweries have not only scaled their production but also expanded their presence abroad. Today we want to give you some insight into the top 6 largest and most-recognizable breweries out there so that you know what you’re buying!

1. Hakutsuru (白鶴)

As the largest sake producer in Japan, Hakutsuru has both mass-market reach and the sort of prestige that comes from being the biggest. Founded in 1743 in Nada, Kobe, its extensive distribution network ensures that its sake is widely available in supermarkets, restaurants, and specialty stores everywhere. You can find it everywhere from grocery stores in Japan to Costco in the United States!

If you’re in Japan, check it out here.

If in the US, check it out here.

2. Gekkeikan (月桂冠)

Founded in 1637 in Fushimi, Kyoto, Gekkeikan is one of Japan’s oldest sake breweries and among its most globally recognized brands. They’re famous for being the first brewery to brew year round as, traditionally, sake brewing could only be done during the cold winter, the temperatures of which inhibited bacterial growth. The company’s U.S. brewery, established in 1989 in California, gives it a competitive edge in supplying the North American market.

If you’re in Japan, check out a bottle from Gekkeikan here.

If in the US, check out their flagship bottle here.

3. Ozeki (大関)

Another sake powerhouse is Ozeki, founded in 1711 in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. Even though it’s not quite as big as Gekkeikan, it was actually the first Japanese brewery to establish a U.S. production facility in 1979. It’s probably best known for “One Cup”, a widely available single-serving sake, and it’s successfully positioned itself as an accessible, everyday kind of brand. That said, they do offer higher-tier styles like junmai daiginjo.

In Japan, check out this bottle of Ozeki here.

In the US, check out Ozeki’s standard bottle here.

4. Takara Brewery (宝酒造)

Takara Brewery, founded in 1842 in Kyoto, dominates the North American sake market through its brand Sho Chiku Bai (松竹梅). The company established a USA facility in 1982, and their brand is one of the best-selling in the U.S. They also produce Mio (澪), a sweet, sparkling dessert sake with massive distribution. You can find it in just about every convenience store and super market in Japan. Plus, they also manufacture shochu, umeshu, and mirin.

In Japan, check out this Sho Chiku Bai here.

In the US, check out their standard bottle here.

5. Dassai (獺祭)

The maker of Dassai, Asahi Brewery, was founded in Yamaguchi in 1948, making it the youngest brewery on this list by far. In the consumer market, Dassai sort of redefined what sake was, taking rice polishing to its greatest heights and producing a luxury product with international demand. Its elegant branding and meticulous brewing process have made it a staple in high-end and even Michelin-starred restaurants worldwide. Unlike the others here, Dassai tends to focus exclusively on high-quality offerings, so it’s not quite as easy to find at grocery stores and the like. In 2019, they launched a U.S. brewery in Hyde Park, New York called “Dassai Blue.” We always recommend trying Dassai at least once. We’re openly big fans.

If you’re in Japan, you can find Dassai’s “entry level” bottle here.

6. Hakkaisan (八海山)

Hakkaisan, founded in 1922 in Niigata, is a brewery and brand that embodies the region’s renowned tanrei sake style, which is dry, clean, and crisp. Its expansion into global markets has been steady, and they tend to appeal most to folks who are already sake lovers.

For those in Japan, check out Hakkaisan here.