Dassai Sake: The Story Behind Japan’s Global Junmai Daiginjo Brand

Bottles with a bold “23” on the label appear on sake lists in Japan and overseas. The figure is easy to mistake for alcohol strength, but it means something else. Dassai sake is a Junmai Daiginjo brand from Iwakuni in Yamaguchi Prefecture, in western Japan, and the number is a rice polishing ratio. This guide looks past the fame. It covers the name, the history, the rice, the data-led brewery, the three core bottles and the New York offshoot, Dassai Blue. Along the way, it separates what the company says from what outside sources confirm. TOCWhat Is Dassai Sake? Dassai (獺祭) is a brand name, not a type of sake. Its maker, DASSAI Inc., brews in Osogoe, a mountain district of Iwakuni. Until June 1, 2025, the company traded as Asahi Shuzo, so older articles and company materials still use that name. Quick Facts BrandDassai (獺祭) ProducerDASSAI Inc. (Asahi Shuzo until June 1, 2025) HomeOsogoe, Shuto-cho, Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture Founded1948, according to the company profile Brand launch1990, according to a Yamaguchi Prefecture listing StyleJunmai Daiginjo RiceYamada Nishiki Core bottlesDassai 45, Dassai 39, Dassai 23 Overseas breweryDassai Blue, Hyde Park, New York So what sits insi...