There is a indispensable condiment Mirin in Japan. This is a kind of strange liquid condiment contains alcohol and sugar.

If I say simply, this is immature SAKE. It has lower proof and remains sugar. It sweetness is kind of strong.

This Mirin is basic condiment as same as Soy source, Miso paste. However, foreign Japanese restaurant does not use Mirin 100%. In unfair restaurant uses brandy or whisky added sugar of sugar cane instead of Mirin. Actually, saccharinity is different and % of alcohol is too high so it never work as same as Mirin.