On December 2024, 12, the Intergovernmental Committee of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) unanimously decided to register Japan's proposal for "traditional sake brewing" as an intangible cultural heritage.

What is traditional sake brewing?

"Traditional sake brewing" refers to the sake brewing techniques that the master brewers and sake brewers have developed using koji mold based on years of experience, and the original form is said to have been established over 500 years ago. It has developed according to the climate and geography of various parts of Japan, and has been passed down to the production of sake, shochu, awamori, mirin, etc. Sake also plays an essential role in Japanese socio-cultural events such as festivals and weddings, and traditional sake brewing is considered to be the technique that supports these.

Commemorating UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage registration, "Traditional Sake Brewing Symposium: Spinning off the Craftsmanship and Japanese Culture into the Future" to be held

To commemorate the registration of Japan's "traditional sake brewing" as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the Agency for Cultural Affairs will hold the "Traditional Sake Brewing Symposium: Passing on the Craftsmanship and Japanese Culture to the Future" for two days on January 2024th (Sat) and 1th (Sun), 9 at the Kanazawa Port Cruise Terminal in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, with the hope of providing support to sake breweries affected by the Noto Peninsula earthquake in January 2025 and the Noto Peninsula heavy rains in September.

The symposium will allow participants to experience the techniques, history and culture of traditional sake brewing from the perspectives of "learning," "tasting," "connecting" and "spreading." In addition, they will be able to experience the cultural charm of Ishikawa Prefecture through the viewing of the host city's traditional performing arts and experiences making food and crafts.

Details URL:https://www.bunka.go.jp/traditional_sake_making_symposium/

UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Registration Gives Boost to Sake

Yukihiro Kitagawa, who became the chairman of the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association in November 2024, commented on the association's future prospects as follows:

"Since washoku (traditional Japanese cuisine) was registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO in 2013, the industry as a whole has been working on it, with the idea that 'sake is next.' People in the Kansai region are aware that Fushimi is a famous sake-producing region, but in eastern Japan, awareness is still low. With the UNESCO registration as an opportunity, we would like to promote efforts to make Fushimi sake known and enjoyed by people all over the country."

"Assemblage Club"Master Blender Tsuki no Katsura 14th Generation Tokubei Masuda

"In France, the acts of eating and drinking have been registered as intangible cultural heritage as part of gastronomy (the relationship between food and culture). It is rare worldwide for alcohol to be registered on its own."

The fact that sake has been recognized worldwide will be a powerful boost for sake breweries throughout Japan. The day is fast approaching when tourists from all over the country, and indeed from all over the world, will seek out Japanese sake.

Text by Sake World Editorial Department