GITNUXREPORT 2026

Sake Industry Statistics

Sake production is declining, but premium varieties and exports are growing strongly.

Sarah Mitchell

Senior Researcher specializing in consumer behavior and market trends.

First published: Feb 13, 2026

Our Commitment to Accuracy

Rigorous fact-checking · Reputable sources · Regular updatesLearn more

Statistic 1

Japan's per capita sake consumption: 3.2 liters in 2022.

Statistic 2

US sake consumption volume: 8,500 kl in 2022.

Statistic 3

25% of Japanese adults consume sake monthly.

Statistic 4

Peak sake consumption age group: 40-49 years, 15% share.

Statistic 5

Female sake drinkers: 35% of total in urban Japan.

Statistic 6

Sake consumption at izakayas: 60% of servings.

Statistic 7

Annual household sake spend: ¥5,000 average.

Statistic 8

Summer sake (hiyaoroshi) sales peak Sep-Oct, 10% volume.

Statistic 9

Sake pairing with sushi: 70% preference.

Statistic 10

Non-Japanese sake consumption growth: 20% YoY.

Statistic 11

Tokyo annual sake events attendance: 500,000.

Statistic 12

Low-alcohol sake popularity: 25% market rise.

Statistic 13

Craft sake bar openings: 150 in Japan 2022.

Statistic 14

Sake in cocktails: 15% menu feature in mixology bars.

Statistic 15

Rural consumption decline: 30% since 2000.

Statistic 16

Premium sake home pour: 40% occasions.

Statistic 17

Sake festival visitors: 2 million annually.

Statistic 18

Gen Z sake trial rate: 12%.

Statistic 19

Hot sake winter consumption: 20% volume.

Statistic 20

Export market consumption leader: US 40% share.

Statistic 21

Sake sommelier-led tastings: 10,000 events/year.

Statistic 22

Sparkling sake servings up 18% in restaurants.

Statistic 23

Average pour size: 50ml per serving.

Statistic 24

Aged sake consumption: 5% niche.

Statistic 25

Sake exports to US reached 4,200 kl in 2022.

Statistic 26

Total sake exports volume: 14,000 kl in 2022.

Statistic 27

Top export destination: USA with ¥11.2 billion value.

Statistic 28

EU sake imports: 2,800 kl in 2022, up 10%.

Statistic 29

China sake imports value: ¥3.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 30

Export growth to Asia: 15% YoY 2022.

Statistic 31

Number of export countries: 80+ in 2023.

Statistic 32

UK sake imports: 450 kl annually.

Statistic 33

Australia market volume: 600 kl in 2022.

Statistic 34

Brazil imports doubled to 200 kl in 2022.

Statistic 35

Export packaging: 90% in 720ml bottles.

Statistic 36

Tariff-free exports to CPTPP countries: 20% boost.

Statistic 37

Singapore imports: 350 kl, 2.5% global share.

Statistic 38

Canada volume: 800 kl in 2022.

Statistic 39

Export certification breweries: 400.

Statistic 40

Korea imports value: ¥2.1 billion.

Statistic 41

France market: 300 kl premium focus.

Statistic 42

Logistics cost for exports: 15% of value.

Statistic 43

Taiwan imports: 1,200 kl in 2022.

Statistic 44

Germany volume: 250 kl, growth 12%.

Statistic 45

US West Coast imports: 60% of total US.

Statistic 46

Export via air freight: 5% for fresh sake.

Statistic 47

Hong Kong volume: 500 kl.

Statistic 48

Italy imports: 150 kl artisanal.

Statistic 49

Export promotion budget: ¥1 billion gov.

Statistic 50

Thailand market entry: 100 kl new.

Statistic 51

Mexico imports rising 25% to 80 kl.

Statistic 52

Sake industry adopts low-alcohol trend with 10% ABV products rising 20%.

Statistic 53

Sustainable rice farming for sake: 30% of acreage certified organic by 2023.

Statistic 54

AI temperature control in fermentation: used in 15% breweries.

Statistic 55

Women in sake brewing roles: 25% workforce increase since 2015.

Statistic 56

Fruit-infused sake launches: 50 new varieties 2022.

Statistic 57

Blockchain tracing for exports: 100 breweries piloting.

Statistic 58

Sake craft beer hybrids: 20 collaborations.

Statistic 59

Zero-waste brewing initiatives: 200 breweries.

Statistic 60

E-commerce platforms for sake: 300+ active.

Statistic 61

Robot moromi mixing: 10% large breweries.

Statistic 62

Climate-resilient sake rice breeding: 5 new strains.

Statistic 63

Sake NFT collections: 10 breweries issuing.

Statistic 64

Vegan-certified sake: all junmai, 70% market.

Statistic 65

AR labeling apps downloads: 500,000.

Statistic 66

Sake pop-up stores overseas: 50 events 2023.

Statistic 67

Lab-grown koji advancements: 5 research labs.

Statistic 68

Cloudy sake trend: 15% sales growth.

Statistic 69

Sake distillate innovations for spirits: 10 products.

Statistic 70

Metaverse sake tastings: 20 virtual events.

Statistic 71

Bio-plastic bottling trials: 50 tons used.

Statistic 72

Sake battery tech from lees: pilot 1MW.

Statistic 73

Multilingual sake labels: 40% exports.

Statistic 74

Drone rice field monitoring: 100 farms.

Statistic 75

Sake esports sponsorships: 5 breweries.

Statistic 76

Regenerative agriculture adoption: 15% rice growers.

Statistic 77

Sake 4.0 digital twins in breweries: 20 installs.

Statistic 78

Plant-based fining agents replace animal: 80% shift.

Statistic 79

Global sake market size reached $12.5 billion in 2022.

Statistic 80

Japan's domestic sake market revenue: ¥250 billion in 2022.

Statistic 81

Average retail price of premium sake: ¥3,500 per 720ml bottle in 2023.

Statistic 82

Sake export value hit ¥28.5 billion in 2022, up 12.4%.

Statistic 83

Number of sake brands: over 1,500 active in Japan.

Statistic 84

Sake industry employment: 15,000 direct jobs in Japan.

Statistic 85

Premium sake segment growth: 8% CAGR 2018-2022.

Statistic 86

US sake market size: $450 million in 2022.

Statistic 87

Average profit margin for sake breweries: 5-7% post-COVID.

Statistic 88

Sake vending machine installations: 1,200 nationwide.

Statistic 89

Investment in sake tourism: ¥10 billion annually.

Statistic 90

Online sake sales growth: 25% in 2022.

Statistic 91

Number of sake sommeliers certified: 2,500 globally.

Statistic 92

Corporate ownership of breweries: 20% of total.

Statistic 93

Sake R&D expenditure: ¥2 billion industry-wide.

Statistic 94

Average brewery revenue: ¥200 million per year.

Statistic 95

Luxury sake price range: ¥10,000-50,000 per bottle.

Statistic 96

Sake gift market: 40% of domestic sales.

Statistic 97

Brewery closures 2013-2022: 89.

Statistic 98

Sake IPOs: 3 breweries listed in 2022.

Statistic 99

Carbonated sake market: ¥5 billion in 2023.

Statistic 100

Female brewery owners: 5% increase to 120 in 2023.

Statistic 101

Sake branding budget average: ¥5 million per brewery.

Statistic 102

Domestic market share of junmai: 55%.

Statistic 103

Sake tax revenue: ¥45 billion to Japan gov in 2022.

Statistic 104

Crowdfunding success for sake: ¥1.2 billion raised 2022.

Statistic 105

Sake NFT sales: 500+ bottles tokenized.

Statistic 106

In fiscal year 2022, Japan's sake production totaled 366,122 kiloliters, marking a 15.3% decline from the previous year.

Statistic 107

As of 2023, there are 1,254 sake breweries operating in Japan, down from 1,343 in 2013.

Statistic 108

Niigata Prefecture produced 42,530 kiloliters of sake in 2022, accounting for 11.6% of national production.

Statistic 109

The average annual production per brewery in Japan was 292 kiloliters in 2022.

Statistic 110

Hyogo Prefecture leads in sake rice production with 28,000 tons harvested in 2022.

Statistic 111

Rice used for sake brewing in Japan reached 128,000 tons in 2022, a 5.2% decrease year-over-year.

Statistic 112

Premium daiginjo sake production was 12,450 kiloliters in 2022, up 2.1% from 2021.

Statistic 113

Junmai sake accounted for 68.4% of total production volume in 2022.

Statistic 114

Water usage in sake brewing averages 25-30 liters per liter of sake produced.

Statistic 115

Koji mold production for sake reached 25,600 tons in 2022 across Japan.

Statistic 116

Number of toji (master brewers) certified in Japan stands at 1,200 as of 2023.

Statistic 117

Average fermentation period for ginjo sake is 25-30 days at 8-15°C.

Statistic 118

Prefecture with most breweries: Kyoto with 54 active in 2023.

Statistic 119

Sake lees (kasu) byproduct totals 80,000 tons annually from brewing.

Statistic 120

Polishing ratio for daiginjo must be under 50% of rice grain.

Statistic 121

Annual production of honjozo sake was 85,200 kiloliters in 2022.

Statistic 122

Yamagata Prefecture's sake rice acreage is 4,500 hectares in 2022.

Statistic 123

Electricity consumption per kiloliter of sake is 1,200 kWh on average.

Statistic 124

Number of new sake breweries opened in 2022: 5.

Statistic 125

Fukui Prefecture produced 18,400 kiloliters, 5% of national total in 2022.

Statistic 126

Sake brewing season typically runs from October to March, 6 months.

Statistic 127

Average rice polishing rate for premium sake: 40-50%.

Statistic 128

Total sake rice varieties registered: 100+, with Yamada Nishiki dominant at 30% usage.

Statistic 129

Annual output of namazake (unpasteurized sake) is 15,000 kl.

Statistic 130

Hiroshima Prefecture's brewery count: 42 in 2023.

Statistic 131

Yeast strains used: over 700 registered with Brewing Society.

Statistic 132

Average bottling size for sake: 720ml (1.8L also common).

Statistic 133

Tottori Prefecture production: 12,100 kl in 2022.

Statistic 134

Pressing method: Yabuta used in 40% of breweries.

Statistic 135

Total production facilities: 1,254 breweries with 5,200 tanks average.

1/135

Sources

Trusted by 500+ publications

+497

As Japan's storied sake industry sees both significant consolidation—with brewery numbers falling by 89 over a decade—and dynamic evolution, the recent data reveals a fascinating portrait of resilience and refined focus amidst changing tastes and global markets.

Key Takeaways

In fiscal year 2022, Japan's sake production totaled 366,122 kiloliters, marking a 15.3% decline from the previous year.
As of 2023, there are 1,254 sake breweries operating in Japan, down from 1,343 in 2013.
Niigata Prefecture produced 42,530 kiloliters of sake in 2022, accounting for 11.6% of national production.
Global sake market size reached $12.5 billion in 2022.
Japan's domestic sake market revenue: ¥250 billion in 2022.
Average retail price of premium sake: ¥3,500 per 720ml bottle in 2023.
Japan's per capita sake consumption: 3.2 liters in 2022.
US sake consumption volume: 8,500 kl in 2022.
25% of Japanese adults consume sake monthly.
Sake exports to US reached 4,200 kl in 2022.
Total sake exports volume: 14,000 kl in 2022.
Top export destination: USA with ¥11.2 billion value.
Sake industry adopts low-alcohol trend with 10% ABV products rising 20%.
Sustainable rice farming for sake: 30% of acreage certified organic by 2023.
AI temperature control in fermentation: used in 15% breweries.

Sake production is declining, but premium varieties and exports are growing strongly.

Consumption Patterns

Japan's per capita sake consumption: 3.2 liters in 2022.
US sake consumption volume: 8,500 kl in 2022.
25% of Japanese adults consume sake monthly.
Peak sake consumption age group: 40-49 years, 15% share.
Female sake drinkers: 35% of total in urban Japan.
Sake consumption at izakayas: 60% of servings.
Annual household sake spend: ¥5,000 average.
Summer sake (hiyaoroshi) sales peak Sep-Oct, 10% volume.
Sake pairing with sushi: 70% preference.
Non-Japanese sake consumption growth: 20% YoY.
Tokyo annual sake events attendance: 500,000.
Low-alcohol sake popularity: 25% market rise.
Craft sake bar openings: 150 in Japan 2022.
Sake in cocktails: 15% menu feature in mixology bars.
Rural consumption decline: 30% since 2000.
Premium sake home pour: 40% occasions.
Sake festival visitors: 2 million annually.
Gen Z sake trial rate: 12%.
Hot sake winter consumption: 20% volume.
Export market consumption leader: US 40% share.
Sake sommelier-led tastings: 10,000 events/year.
Sparkling sake servings up 18% in restaurants.
Average pour size: 50ml per serving.
Aged sake consumption: 5% niche.

Consumption Patterns Interpretation

Japan is experiencing a sake renaissance, transforming from a fading domestic staple into a sophisticated global trend fueled by craft bars and cocktails, yet still anchored by its timeless pairing with sushi and the comforting warmth of a winter pour.

Export and Import Figures

Sake exports to US reached 4,200 kl in 2022.
Total sake exports volume: 14,000 kl in 2022.
Top export destination: USA with ¥11.2 billion value.
EU sake imports: 2,800 kl in 2022, up 10%.
China sake imports value: ¥3.5 billion in 2022.
Export growth to Asia: 15% YoY 2022.
Number of export countries: 80+ in 2023.
UK sake imports: 450 kl annually.
Australia market volume: 600 kl in 2022.
Brazil imports doubled to 200 kl in 2022.
Export packaging: 90% in 720ml bottles.
Tariff-free exports to CPTPP countries: 20% boost.
Singapore imports: 350 kl, 2.5% global share.
Canada volume: 800 kl in 2022.
Export certification breweries: 400.
Korea imports value: ¥2.1 billion.
France market: 300 kl premium focus.
Logistics cost for exports: 15% of value.
Taiwan imports: 1,200 kl in 2022.
Germany volume: 250 kl, growth 12%.
US West Coast imports: 60% of total US.
Export via air freight: 5% for fresh sake.
Hong Kong volume: 500 kl.
Italy imports: 150 kl artisanal.
Export promotion budget: ¥1 billion gov.
Thailand market entry: 100 kl new.
Mexico imports rising 25% to 80 kl.

Export and Import Figures Interpretation

Japan’s sake industry is pouring its heart out, with the US guzzling nearly a third of global exports and the world following suit—though they’ll pay a 15% premium just to ship 90% of it in the same 720ml bottle.

Industry Trends and Innovations

Sake industry adopts low-alcohol trend with 10% ABV products rising 20%.
Sustainable rice farming for sake: 30% of acreage certified organic by 2023.
AI temperature control in fermentation: used in 15% breweries.
Women in sake brewing roles: 25% workforce increase since 2015.
Fruit-infused sake launches: 50 new varieties 2022.
Blockchain tracing for exports: 100 breweries piloting.
Sake craft beer hybrids: 20 collaborations.
Zero-waste brewing initiatives: 200 breweries.
E-commerce platforms for sake: 300+ active.
Robot moromi mixing: 10% large breweries.
Climate-resilient sake rice breeding: 5 new strains.
Sake NFT collections: 10 breweries issuing.
Vegan-certified sake: all junmai, 70% market.
AR labeling apps downloads: 500,000.
Sake pop-up stores overseas: 50 events 2023.
Lab-grown koji advancements: 5 research labs.
Cloudy sake trend: 15% sales growth.
Sake distillate innovations for spirits: 10 products.
Metaverse sake tastings: 20 virtual events.
Bio-plastic bottling trials: 50 tons used.
Sake battery tech from lees: pilot 1MW.
Multilingual sake labels: 40% exports.
Drone rice field monitoring: 100 farms.
Sake esports sponsorships: 5 breweries.
Regenerative agriculture adoption: 15% rice growers.
Sake 4.0 digital twins in breweries: 20 installs.
Plant-based fining agents replace animal: 80% shift.

Industry Trends and Innovations Interpretation

The sake industry is undergoing a quiet revolution, where tradition is being shaken (not stirred) by a wave of tech-savvy sustainability, from blockchain-backed bottles and AI-fermented brews to women-led innovation and rice fields monitored by drones, all while ensuring your junmai is vegan and your hangover might one day power a lightbulb.

Market and Economic Data

Global sake market size reached $12.5 billion in 2022.
Japan's domestic sake market revenue: ¥250 billion in 2022.
Average retail price of premium sake: ¥3,500 per 720ml bottle in 2023.
Sake export value hit ¥28.5 billion in 2022, up 12.4%.
Number of sake brands: over 1,500 active in Japan.
Sake industry employment: 15,000 direct jobs in Japan.
Premium sake segment growth: 8% CAGR 2018-2022.
US sake market size: $450 million in 2022.
Average profit margin for sake breweries: 5-7% post-COVID.
Sake vending machine installations: 1,200 nationwide.
Investment in sake tourism: ¥10 billion annually.
Online sake sales growth: 25% in 2022.
Number of sake sommeliers certified: 2,500 globally.
Corporate ownership of breweries: 20% of total.
Sake R&D expenditure: ¥2 billion industry-wide.
Average brewery revenue: ¥200 million per year.
Luxury sake price range: ¥10,000-50,000 per bottle.
Sake gift market: 40% of domestic sales.
Brewery closures 2013-2022: 89.
Sake IPOs: 3 breweries listed in 2022.
Carbonated sake market: ¥5 billion in 2023.
Female brewery owners: 5% increase to 120 in 2023.
Sake branding budget average: ¥5 million per brewery.
Domestic market share of junmai: 55%.
Sake tax revenue: ¥45 billion to Japan gov in 2022.
Crowdfunding success for sake: ¥1.2 billion raised 2022.
Sake NFT sales: 500+ bottles tokenized.

Market and Economic Data Interpretation

The world is finally catching on to what Japan has always known, as a fiercely traditional industry—where breweries operate on razor-thin margins and a ¥250 billion domestic gift market fuels over 1,500 brands—now cleverly courts global palates with booming exports, carbonated innovations, and even tokenized bottles, proving that sake's future is being poured from a very old bottle into some very new glasses.

Production Statistics

In fiscal year 2022, Japan's sake production totaled 366,122 kiloliters, marking a 15.3% decline from the previous year.
As of 2023, there are 1,254 sake breweries operating in Japan, down from 1,343 in 2013.
Niigata Prefecture produced 42,530 kiloliters of sake in 2022, accounting for 11.6% of national production.
The average annual production per brewery in Japan was 292 kiloliters in 2022.
Hyogo Prefecture leads in sake rice production with 28,000 tons harvested in 2022.
Rice used for sake brewing in Japan reached 128,000 tons in 2022, a 5.2% decrease year-over-year.
Premium daiginjo sake production was 12,450 kiloliters in 2022, up 2.1% from 2021.
Junmai sake accounted for 68.4% of total production volume in 2022.
Water usage in sake brewing averages 25-30 liters per liter of sake produced.
Koji mold production for sake reached 25,600 tons in 2022 across Japan.
Number of toji (master brewers) certified in Japan stands at 1,200 as of 2023.
Average fermentation period for ginjo sake is 25-30 days at 8-15°C.
Prefecture with most breweries: Kyoto with 54 active in 2023.
Sake lees (kasu) byproduct totals 80,000 tons annually from brewing.
Polishing ratio for daiginjo must be under 50% of rice grain.
Annual production of honjozo sake was 85,200 kiloliters in 2022.
Yamagata Prefecture's sake rice acreage is 4,500 hectares in 2022.
Electricity consumption per kiloliter of sake is 1,200 kWh on average.
Number of new sake breweries opened in 2022: 5.
Fukui Prefecture produced 18,400 kiloliters, 5% of national total in 2022.
Sake brewing season typically runs from October to March, 6 months.
Average rice polishing rate for premium sake: 40-50%.
Total sake rice varieties registered: 100+, with Yamada Nishiki dominant at 30% usage.
Annual output of namazake (unpasteurized sake) is 15,000 kl.
Hiroshima Prefecture's brewery count: 42 in 2023.
Yeast strains used: over 700 registered with Brewing Society.
Average bottling size for sake: 720ml (1.8L also common).
Tottori Prefecture production: 12,100 kl in 2022.
Pressing method: Yabuta used in 40% of breweries.
Total production facilities: 1,254 breweries with 5,200 tanks average.

Production Statistics Interpretation

In the face of a consolidating industry with fewer breweries and less overall production, Japan's sake masters are doubling down on quality, as evidenced by the rising output of premium daiginjo and the dominance of junmai styles, proving they are wisely focusing on crafting exquisite sips over sheer volume.

Sources & References

Logos provided by Logo.dev