Percentage DECREASE in domestic consumption for 24BY (7/2012 to 6/2013): 4.3
Percentage DECREASE in domestic consumption for Jan to April 2013: 5.2
Percentage INCREASE for month of May 2013 over May 2012: 5.6
Percentage DECREASE in domestic consumption for Jan to May 2013: 4.4
Percentage of contraction that disappears at this rate: 23

Percentage decrease of futsuu-shu for first half of 2013: 6.2
Percentage decrease of honjozo for first half of 2013: 4.3
Percentage INCREASE of aru-ten ginjo and daiginjo for first half of 2013: 6.5
Percentage INCREASE of junmai ginjo and daiginjo for first half of 2013: 8.1
Percentage INCREASE of junmai-shu for first half of 2013: 1.6

So, sifting through all of that, we see sake is doing well overseas, but domestically it is back to its contracting ways. Having said that, premium sake is growing healthily, while inexpensive sake is contracting.

We could analyze this until we are blue in the face, but let us watch and wait and hope it all shakes out in a healthy-for-our-beloved-industry way.

EXPECT PRICE INCREASES
All the big brewers have implemented price increases, some for the first time in 18 years. Expect that to trickle down to smaller brewers and premium sake as well, since the web of sake pricing will be affected.

YAMADA NISHIKI SHORTAGES, OTHER RICE SHORTAGES AS WELL
For a handful of reasons, we will see more Yamada Nishiki shortages this year, and more shortages of cheaper rice used in cheap sake. This is related to the fact that sake rice is classified as eating rice as far as farmers subsidies are concerned. So when farmers are subsidized to not grow rice so as to not have an over-supply, sake rice falls under that, and that is what goes first as it is harder to sell for them, unless of course sake rice is their main gig or unless it is contract-grown. Since sake rice is but one percent of all rice grown, it hardly commands favor in large-scale decisions. Hopefully, that will change.

***LABEL RULE UPDATE***

There has been a change that has taken place in the rules relating to the seimai-buai on the labels. It used to be that all junmai sake (junmai-shu, junmai ginjo and junmai daiginjo) had to list the seimai buai on the label. However, it has come to my attention that currently the rules read a bit differently.

In short, if a label declares a sake to be one of the tokutei-meishoshu premium grades (i.e. “special designation sake,” and as you all surely know, that means honjozo, junmai-shu, or one of the four ginjo classes) then the brewer must also list the seimai buai. If, however, a brewer chooses not to put the grade on the label, they are not obligated to put the seimai buai on the label either.

As you would likely surmise, rarely does a brewer not put the fact that a sake is tokutei meishshu on the label. Sure, they often might not put the highest grade for which a sake might qualify, but rarely do they put no designation at all on there.

One exception is Kubota, whose “Hyakuju, Senju, Manju” series does not have a grade listed. Price and the characters themselves tell us which is higher grade. But note, then, they do not have to (nor do they!) put the seimai buai on there.

So again: not just for junmai-shu, but for any special designation sake, if they put the grade on the label, they must put the seimai buai on there too. Let’s all remember this!

This one snuck up on me. I was not aware of it until very recently, and it seems significant enough to be sure that we all are aware of it!

FUTURE COURSES

CSP Course in Las Vegas, Nevada, October 28-30,  2013

From Monday, October 28 until Wednesday, October 30, 2013 I will run the 15th stateside Sake Professional Course in Las Vegas, Nevada. Should anyone you know or work with be interested, by all means, please pass this along. The course is recognized by the Sake Education Council, and those that complete it will be qualified to take the exam for Certified Sake Specialist, which will be offered on the evening of the last day of the course.

More information can be found here:
http://www.sake-world.com/html/spclv.html

To reserve a spot or should anyone you know or work with be interested, by all means, feel free to email me at sakeguy@gol.com.

JAPAN CSP Course
January 20-25, 2014

The next Japan-based SPC will be held January 20 to 25, 2014, in Tokyo for three days and the Kyoto-Kobe-Osaka area for two. As usual, the tuition is expected to be JPY180,000 with lodging and transportation separate. This next course is filling up unusually fast, so those interested should email me directly to inquire about details and make a reservation.

JAPAN ASP Course
February 10 15, 2014

The next Level II  course is scheduled for February 10 to 15, 2014. It will, as usual, be centered in Tokyo with bus and train trips to several kura that are within a day trip of Tokyo. NOTE: there has been significant expressions of interest in Level II this year. If need be, I might consider doing a second one if it is possible schedule-wise. Currently there are 15 that have expressed interest. While a more formal announcement will be forthcoming in a month or so, if you are interested in attending Level II next year, please do send me an email. I will do my best to meet the needs of those wishing to attend! Again, if you are interested in attending Level II 2014, please send me an email to that purport! Thanks in advance.

In Closing,

Enjoy the coming spring, and continued good luck in all things sake!

By all means, all CSP and ASP readers are encouraged to submit content for the SEC newsletter. Don’t be shy!

Please look for your name on the list of alumni on the SEC website. If your name is misspelled, please contact Sally Mohr to correct any mistakes.

If you are no longer involved with sake, God forbid, or for any other reason you prefer to not receive this email, then please let us know.

Sake Education Council

Sake Education Council

johngauntner@sakeeducationcouncil.org

paultanguay@sakeeducationcouncil.org

sallymohr@sakeeducationcouncil.org

jonathandriver@sakeeducationcouncil.org