Sake means liquor in Japanese. Whether it’s birru, nihon-shu rice wine that you might refer to in the US as "sake", shou-chu higher proof clear liquor, or ume shu sweet plum wine, Japanese brews are characteristically excellent. If you’re looking for a bottle or two to bring home, you can try some of the stores listed below, including the Japanese Sake Industry Information Center, retail outlets of the Hasegawa wholesaler, the upscale Fukumitsuya sake store in Ginza, and even the Yebisu Beer Brewery after which the Ebisu station area is named. If the timing is right, the best way to learn about sake is to drink a lot of it with "The Sake Guy" John Gauntner, one of the most influential and well respected sake experts worldwide at his monthly dinner seminars. See his website for details about upcoming events.