Japanese Wine Labeling Law (2018)
The NTA standard that finally distinguished "Japanese Wine" from "Made in Japan"
What the Law Does
Before 2018, the term "Japanese wine" had no legal definition in Japan. Wines made in Japan from imported bulk wine, concentrate, or foreign grapes could be sold as "domestic wine" (国産ワイン, kokusan wine) with no clear distinction from wines actually made entirely from Japanese-grown grapes. For consumers, this was opaque; for serious Japanese-grape producers, it was a marketing problem.
The National Tax Agency’s Notification No. 18 of 30 October 2015 — effective 30 October 2018 after a three-year transition — established the term 日本ワイン ("Nihon Wine," officially translated as "Japanese Wine") as a regulated label.
The Definition
To be labeled "Japanese Wine," a product must:
1. Be made from grapes grown in Japan, and 2. Be vinified in Japan.
The label may additionally state a region, vintage, or grape variety — but only if 85% of the grapes meet that specification.
If either of these conditions fails, the wine cannot use "Japanese Wine" on its label. Wines made in Japan from imported bulk wine or foreign grapes must instead use 国内製造ワイン ("Domestically Manufactured Wine") with mandatory disclosure of foreign origin on the label.
Why It Matters
Before 2018, "Japanese wine" was a marketing claim. After 2018, it is a regulated, verifiable fact. This is the single most important development in Japanese wine since the Wine Special District deregulation of 2003. It allows serious Japanese-grape producers to differentiate themselves cleanly in the market, supports the Geographical Indication system (which builds on the same legal foundation), and gives consumers in Japan and abroad a meaningful way to identify what they are buying.
Cross-references
- Builds on — Wine Tokku-ku (Wine Special District, 2003)
- Enables — GI Yamanashi (2013, predates the labeling law), GI Hokkaido (2018), GI Nagano / Yamagata / Osaka (2021)
- Distinguishes from — Kokunai-seizō wine (国内製造ワイン) which is wine bottled in Japan from imported juice or grapes
Practical Buyer’s Note
When importing or selling Japanese wine, the back label discloses everything. If it says 日本ワイン (Nihon Wine / Japanese Wine), the wine is fully Japanese. If it says 国内製造ワイン (Kokunai-seizō Wine / Domestically Manufactured Wine), look for the country-of-origin disclosure that follows.
Details
- Law: National Tax Agency Notification No. 18 of 2015
- Effective: 30 October 2018
- Regulator: National Tax Agency (国税庁), Liquor Tax Division
- Related: Wine GI standards, Wine Tokku-ku 2003 deregulation