The relationship between the protein composition of rice and nitrogen compounds (amino acids and oligo-peptides) in the produced sake were investigated using endosperm protein mutant rice (LGC-1, LGC-Jun, kx433, QA28), sake rice (Yamadanishiki) and cooking rice (Nipponbare, Nihonmasari, Koshihikari). The total nitrogen concentration, amino acid concentration and most peptide peak areas determined by RP-HPLC and gel filtration chromatography of the produced sake were lower when sake was made from a low glutelin content rice mutant compared with other rice varieties. The concentration of nitrogen compounds in the sake positively correlated with the glutelin content of the highly milled rice grains used for sake production. Sake produced using a low glutelin content rice mutant is generally evaluated as having a light taste. Our findings suggest that nitrogen compounds (oligo-peptides and amino acids) derived from rice glutelin significantly contribute to the taste of sake. (C) 2015 The Society for Biotechnology, Japan. All rights reserved.