Tokyo Z1 Sake

Agency: Pemberton & Whitefoord (P&W)
Partner & Creative Director: Adrian Whitefoord
Location: United Kingdom
Project Type: Produced
Client: ZEN-NOH International Corporation
Product Launch Location: United Kingdom
Packaging Contents: Sake (Japanese Rice Wine)
Packaging Substrate / Materials: Glass Bottle
Printing Process: Litho with foil blocking

Sake is a Japanese rice wine that most people in the UK will know of, but surprisingly few will have tried. It remains rather mysterious and enigmatic which ultimately means that it rarely appears on restaurant tables as a food companion and is even more rarely found in a British consumer shopping basket. However, Japanese food is more popular than ever, and becoming far more accessible via high street eateries such as Wagamama, Itsu and Yo!Sushi. Furthermore, there is great interest in trendy pubs, bars and cafes for drink experiences that are out of the ordinary and offer interesting alternatives to predictable beverage choices.

Working in collaboration, two Japanese companies spotted a niché in the market. They decided that it was an optimum time to launch a sake product that was specifically targeted to the UK consumer. The project was commissioned by ZENNOH International and Nihon Shurui Hanbai Co Ltd. P&W was asked to use its experience to produce brand principles and ultimately a creative solution. The design was expected to project overt Japanese stylistic cues and heritage, yet appear: contemporary, enticing, accessible and perhaps most importantly, have a clearly understood proposition.

The brand name came about based on the client’s wish to inspire consumers who had never tasted sake to discover something new – his expression was “zero to one”. This was shortened to Z1 and finally became Tokyo Z1 in order to exude provenance. The product is brewed in Ome City in Western Tokyo by The Ozawa Brewery which has perfected its trade since 1702.

The design, inspired by Japanese calligraphy, was crafted by P&W using shuji (習字) brush and ink techniques. The colours used pay homage to conventional sake labels, but a modern twist was introduced by utilising Western sans serif typography. The paper specification and foil blocking finish make the design both tactile and impactful.

The product will be available in 180ml bottles, retailing around £8.50 – £10. Whether the restaurant represents the ultimate in fine dining such as Tokimeite Mayfair or the Eat Tokyo in Golders Green we are sure that Z1 will be enjoyed equally by all. A traditional drink for modern tastes.

What’s Unique?
This is the first sake specifically designed for the UK market. To make sake more accessible and to be consumed on a more casual basis, the design fuses Japanese tradition with a contemporary Western style.