Food · Sweeteners

Honnaoshi (Yanagikage Sweet Sake)

本直し (Honnaoshi)

Also known as: Honnaoshi, Yanagikage, Sweet sake liqueur, 本直し, やなぎかげ

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At a glance

CategoryFood
Japanese labeling name本直し
Common Japanese notations本直し, やなぎかげ, ヤナギカゲ
OriginHonnaoshi (also known as yanagikage) is sweet sake-mirin blended liqueur, traditionally consumed as a chilled summer drink and used as cooking sake/mirin alternative; alcohol content typically 22%; principal modern producers Hakkaisan, Yamato Shuzo, traditional sake breweries
Typical functionsTraditional chilled summer drinking liqueur, Cooking sake/mirin alternative — distinctive sweet flavor profile, Heritage cuisine ingredient
Regulatory status in JapanStandard food labeling. Alcohol-tax registration applies (alcoholic beverage classification at 22% alcohol). Not a designated allergen.

Honnaoshi (本直し / やなぎかげ) is sweet sake-mirin blended liqueur — traditionally a chilled summer drink and cooking sake/mirin alternative. Premium specialty positioning.

Classification

Tags below link to other ingredients sharing the same attribute, so you can pivot from one ingredient to its peers.

Product applications

Functions

Regulatory tags

Used in (typical product categories)

Finished-product categories that commonly include this ingredient in Japanese-market formulations.

  • Bottled honnaoshi/yanagikage retail (premium specialty)

What it is

Sake-mirin blended sweet liqueur (~22% alcohol).

Typical uses in Japanese products

Chilled summer drinking liqueur.

Cooking sake/mirin alternative.

Heritage cuisine.

For OEM: premium specialty bottle retail OEM.

Regulatory classification in Japan

Standard food labeling. Alcoholic beverage classification (22% alcohol). Not a designated allergen.

Regulatory classification in other markets

EUNiche specialty positioning.
USANiche specialty in Japanese specialty channels.
ChinaNiche specialty positioning.
KoreaNiche specialty positioning.

Example products

Example finished products will be added after verification.

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Related ingredients

References

  1. MEXT Standard Tables of Food Composition — 本直し やなぎかげ

Last updated: 2026-04-28. Ingredient entries are reviewed at least annually against current regulatory listings.

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