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Caveats and Disclaimers
There are about 1600 sake breweries in Japan. Each produces at least several grades and/or types of sake. Each of these will change somewhat from year to year.
I am fundamentally against ranking systems. (Actually, that is a gross understatement.) Sure, there is a difference between good sake and bad sake. However, to say that one good sake is better
than another good sake borders on silly, as there is so much subjectivity involved in making such an assessment. What are your personal likes and dislikes? Will you have one glass or several? With
or without food? What kind of mood are you in? Who are you with? There are just too many factors involved to make ranking sake a meaningful exercise.
And ranking systems take many forms. There are experts that complain that a 100-point system is nasty, but they themselves rank A, B, C or D. Or perhaps one star to five stars, or maybe one single
star is awarded to the best values in a group. In the end, ranking systems are ranking systems, they are all the same, and while potentially helpful, they can never replace a consumer's personal
experience.
My grudging concession to this necessary semi-evil was to create a series of lists of
good sake that will help you find what might be appropriate based on your wants and needs.
We all need a place to start. I have been tasting sake for 23
years, and have tasted thousands of sake. Most others do not have that advantage. Nothing can replace your own personal experience and your palate when it comes to
assessing the merits or lack thereof of a sake, but an idea of where to
begin - an arrow at the crossroads so to speak - sure comes in handy.
I have done all that I can to shirk responsibilty, yet be helpful to the consumer at the same time. Below are lists of sake grouped around what might attract you to them. Do
you just want to know what is popular? What is stable? Who the large, reputable brewers are? Sake with meals? Sipping Sake? Obscure sake? My personal - if quirky -
favorites? Generally good sake? It's all here, in one list or another. Good luck and enjoy!
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Super Popular Sake
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Brand Name
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Prefecture
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Description
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Juyondai
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Yamagata
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Elegant, fruity, fragrant
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Isojiman
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Shizuoka
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Balanced, slightly rich
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Kubota
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Niigata
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Light and dry
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Koshi no Kanbai
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Niigata
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Light and dry
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Michizakari
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Gifu
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Light and dry, yet full
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Kikusui
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Niigata
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Light and dry
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Hakkaizan
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Niigata
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Light, dry, slightly full
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Urakasumi
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Miyagi
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Settled and balanced
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Koro
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Kumamoto
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Fruity and Fragrant
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Kokuryu
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Fukui
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Earthy, balanced, rich
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Denshu
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Aomori
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Full, rice-laden, rich
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The Largest Brewers
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The largest brewers in Japan make mostly mass-produced, inexpensive sake. However, it
must be remembered that they are all extremely good, solid companies, and while much of their run-of-the-mill sake is less than distincitve, they are very, very
skilled brewers, and in the end, have the ability to make outstanding sake. And all of them do, in some quantity. The top-class sake of all of these huge brewers is
indeed excellent.
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Brand Name
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Prefecture
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Description
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Hakutsuru
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Hyogo
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Solid, straightforward, clean
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Gekkeikan
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Kyoto
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Soft, complex
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Sawanotsuru
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Hyogo
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Full, flavorful, direct
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Ozeki
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Hyogo
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Solid and lively
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Shochikubai
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Kyoto
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Gentle and mellow
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Fairly Large Brewers
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Brand Name
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Prefecture
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Description
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Kamotsuru
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Hiroshima
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Solid, earthy
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Nishinoseki
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Oita
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Gently sweet
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Urakasumi
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Miyagi
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Dry and balanced
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Ichinokura
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Miyagi
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Clean, even
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Momokawa
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Aomori
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Clear, flavorful
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Masumi
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Nagano
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Gentle, balanced
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Tsukasa Botan
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Kochi
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Dry and crisp
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Suehiro
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Fukushima
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Soft and gentle
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Hatsumago
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Yamagata
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Crisp and clean
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Eisen
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Fukushima
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Light yet full
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Ginban
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Toyama
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Full, flavorful
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Tosatzuru
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Kochi
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Dry yet soft in back
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Umenishiki
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Ehime
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Gentle and inviting
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Aramasa
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Akita
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Slightly full and clean
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Koshi no Homare
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Niigata
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Dry yet flavorful
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Dewazakura
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Yamagata
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Fragrant and light
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Okunomatsu
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Fukushima
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Balanced and unique
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Fukumasamune
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Ishikawa
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Crisp and layered
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Tateyama
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Toyama
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Mellow but full
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Ryozeki
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Akita
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Solid and mellow
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Hakutaka
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Niigata
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Dry but tight
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Hakubotan
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Hiroshima
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Soft and sweet
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Takashimizu
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Akita
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Elegant and clean
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John's Personal Favorites
(Asterisks indicate where many "experts" may not agree with me!)
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Brand Name
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Prefecture
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Description
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Suminoe
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Miyagi
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Intuitive, layered *
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Juyondai
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Yamagata
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Fruity, complex
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Isojiman
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Shizuoka
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Autumnal, balanced
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Tsukuba
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Ibaraki
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Deep and intuitive *
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Rikyubai
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Osaka
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Balanced yet full
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Kamoizumi
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Hiroshima
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Earthy, unique
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Kaiun
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Shizuoka
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Light and fragrant
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Otemon
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Fukuoka
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Full and mellow
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Azumi Ichi
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Saga
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Full and rich
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Kikuyoi
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Shizuoka
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Elegant and friendly
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Shigemasu
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Fukuoka
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Creamy and full
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Ama no To
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Akita
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Earthy and full
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Hamachidori
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Iwate
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Grainy yet elegant
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Tsuki no Wa
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Iwate
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Complex and elegant
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Eiko Fuji
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Yamagata
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Clear and tasty
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Oroku
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Shimane
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Rich and unique
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Rihaku
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Shimane
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Nutty and full
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Shinkame
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Saitama
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Dry, tart, earthy, solid
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Kudoki Jozu
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Yamagata
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Full, feminine
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Kokko
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Shizuoka
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Light and fresh
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Tama no Tsuyu
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Nara
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Fresh and lively
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Tamanoi
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Kochi
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Dry and embracing
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Kame Izumi
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Kochi
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Lively and absorbing
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Tokaizakari
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Chiba
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Compex and rich
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Shishi no Sato
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Ishikawa
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Gentle and unobtrusive
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Asahikikusui
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Hiroshima
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Soft and settled
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Toyonoaki
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Shimane
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Elegant and mature
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Tedorigawa
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Ishikawa
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Crisp and balanced
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Nanbu Bijin
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Iwate
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Clean and lively
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Jokigen
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Ishikawa
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Full and absorbing
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Asahi Tenyu
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Shimane
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Calming and rich
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Benkei
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Ishikawa
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Solid and elegant
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Kotsutsumi
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Hyogo
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Intuitive and dry
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Tenzan
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Saga
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Rich and funky
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Fukucho
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Hiroshima
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Soft and layered
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Biwa no Choju
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Shiga
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Deliberate, layered
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Kinsen
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Hiroshima
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Elegant and complex
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Ugo no Tsuki
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Hiroshima
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Soft and balanced
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Sharaku
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Fukushima
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Lively and grainy
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Kokuyru
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Fukui
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Settled and deep
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Umenoyado
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Nara
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Complex, slightly rich
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Seikyo "Maboroshi"
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Hiroshima
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Full and elegant
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Takaisami
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Tottori
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Crisp and delicate
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Iwanoi
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Chiba
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Rich and layered
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Ayakiku
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Kagawa
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Funky but balanced
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Tentaka
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Tochigi
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Dry yet complex
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Hanagaki
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Fukui
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Soft, slightly rich
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Suwa Izumi "Otori"
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Tottori
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Elegant and rich
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Kokushi Muso
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Hokkaido
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Dry and clean
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Sato no Homare
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Ibaraki
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Fragrant and fruity
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Chiyo no Sono
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Kumamoto
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Elegant and formal
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Gokyo
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Yamaguchi
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Structured and tasty
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Koubai
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Yamagata
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Unique, slightly rich
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Kahoritsuru
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Yamaguchi
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Solid, well constructed
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Note: These Lists are Subject to Updates!
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