Sake Brewers Make Sales Pitches in Australia

June 22, 2018

Sydney- Japanese sake brewers made sales pitches at an event in Sydney on Thursday, touting chemistry between their products and Japanese beef, which will return to the Australian market soon.

The event brought together 17 brewers, including Kobe Shushinkan Breweries Ltd. from the western Japan city of Kobe, which started selling its products in Australia recently.

"When we explain Kobe overseas, the word, Kobe beef, is understood well," said Hironobu Kubota, 42, vice president of the company.

"It's a good opportunity to showcase our sake that goes well (with beef), he added.

Japan's agriculture ministry last month said the country will resume beef exports to Australia as early as July after a 17-year break.

Australia has decided to lift its import ban on Japanese beef introduced following the outbreak of mad cow disease, formally called bovine spongiform encephalopathy, or BSE, in the Asian country.

Hiroyuki Nakazato, head of the Sydney office of the Japan External Trade Organization, said that alcohol goes well with meals and that a synergy effect is expected. Jiji Press