"sake" as it is used in english refers to the rice alcohol made in japan. in japanese this is usually called "nihonshu": "japanese sake" (sake and shu are the same thing). "sake" by itself tends to mean alcohol in general, as in "sake ni you" (get drunk), "sakezuki" (someone who loves drinking) "izakaya" - sake changes to "zaka" - (drinking restaurant).
when compared with other drinks, however it can sometimes mean nihonshu.
there is also "osake" which is the respectful title, used mostly by women, and which never means nihonshu (as far as i know).
lusy, i never drank before a performance, but looking back it might have been better if i did!
what's the show?