Passing on Japanese sake brewing to the future! "Commemorating the registration of UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage" Series Part 1
On December 12th, Japan's "traditional sake brewing" was registered as an intangible cultural heritage by UNESCO. The sake brewing culture, which is rooted in the local climate and lifestyle, is about to move forward to create even more value.

INDEX
- Intangible cultural heritage is a system for passing on living culture to the future
- The history of Japan's intangible cultural heritage registration
- Reasons for aiming to register "traditional sake brewing" as an intangible cultural heritage
- Intangible Cultural Heritage registration expands the future of tradition and innovation
Intangible cultural heritage is a system for passing on living culture to the future
It has been decided that "traditional sake brewing" will be registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage on December 2024, 12.
Intangible Cultural HeritageUnlike cultural heritage that remains as buildings such as Horyuji Temple or Itsukushima Shrine, these are intangible cultural assets that have been passed down through the activities of the people. They are living cultural heritage that have been nurtured in the daily lives of the local community, such as festivals, traditional performing arts, artisanal skills, and food culture, and continue to develop even today, changing little by little with the times.
In 2003, UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) established the International Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage in order to protect and pass on intangible cultural heritage to future generations. Based on this convention, efforts are being made to raise awareness of intangible cultural heritage and deepen mutual understanding of cultures, such as by registering representative cultures of each country on a list.
There are evaluation criteria for registration,The awards are judged on the importance of the culture to the local community, its contribution to cultural diversity and a sustainable society, and whether or not there are measures in place to protect and pass on the culture.Registration does not simply mean the preservation of tradition, but also carries with it a responsibility to protect and nurture it as a living culture in modern society.
The history of Japan's intangible cultural heritage registration
Japan's history of registering intangible cultural heritage began in 2008 with the registration of Noh, Bunraku puppet theater, and Kabuki, and as of 2024, 23 items have been registered, including traditional sake brewing.
Among these, "Washoku: Traditional Japanese Food Culture," which was registered in 2013, attracted particular attention. This was in recognition of the fact that the Japanese spirit of "respecting nature" is expressed throughout the food culture, and it was a groundbreaking event that Japanese food culture, including social customs, was recognized as an intangible cultural heritage.
With its registration as an intangible cultural heritage, washoku has received worldwide recognition for its distinctive features, such as its respect for diverse and fresh ingredients, its nutritional balance that supports a healthy diet, its expression of the beauty of nature and the changing of the seasons, and its close connection to annual events such as New Year's.
This has led to an increase in the number of Japanese restaurants overseas, as well as the value of agricultural, forestry, and fishery products and food exports, and has also led to an increase in the number of foreign tourists visiting Japan and the amount of travel spending. Furthermore, the value of washoku has been rediscovered within Japan, and efforts are being made to protect and pass it on.
In this way, the increase in the number of intangible cultural heritage sites registered not only communicates Japan's cultural value to the world, but also serves as an opportunity to advance efforts to protect and pass on these cultural assets domestically. It can be said that the registration of intangible cultural heritage sites plays an important role in passing on Japan's rich culture to the next generation.
Reference: Cultural Heritage Online "Washoku: traditional Japanese food culture"
Reference: Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries "5th anniversary of "washoku" being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage!"
Reasons for aiming to register "traditional sake brewing" as an intangible cultural heritage
Japan's traditional alcohol brewing (sake, shochu, awamori, mirin, etc.) is a culture that goes beyond manufacturing.
Over a history of more than 500 years, local brewers and brewers have adapted to the local climate and environment, honing and passing down their skills in using koji. The distinctive flavors of the sake brewed in this way have also played a role in strengthening the bonds between local people at festivals, religious ceremonies, weddings, funerals, and other important occasions in daily life, as well as in places of interaction.

Scenes from the Fushimi Sake Festival in Kyoto
Furthermore, sake brewing is a sustainable industry that values harmony with the natural environment, supporting local rice cultivation and protecting high-quality water sources, and has enriched local society and culture.
The inclusion of this tradition in the list of intangible cultural heritage will be an opportunity to convey to the world the value of the "ties" fostered by the local community. Furthermore, through exchanges with brewing cultures around the world, it will be an opportunity to reexamine the value of the cultural heritage shared by all of humanity and foster an awareness of passing it on to future generations.
Intangible Cultural Heritage registration expands the future of tradition and innovation
The significance of traditional sake brewing being registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage is that protecting and passing on this technique is recognized as an international responsibility.
Such international recognition will have a further ripple effect. Within Japan, new interest in sake will spread, and generations that have not been familiar with sake until now will have more opportunities to experience its charms. Interestingly, there are already an increasing number of young sake brewers who continue to take on innovative challenges while respecting tradition, and this registration will surely accelerate their passionate efforts.
Furthermore, the spread of tourism, including tours of sake breweries and experience programs, will no doubt contribute to the revitalization of the region. This will not just be a tourist attraction, but will develop into regional revitalization centered on sake brewing.
Looking overseas, the appeal of sake is steadily spreading along with the boom in Japanese food. This registration is expected to further disseminate its cultural value, improving the brand's value, cultivating new markets, and strengthening its competitiveness as a premium product.
This synergy both at home and abroad will ensure that Japan's traditional sake brewing continues to move forward into a new era. The intangible cultural heritage designation will be a major step towards the further development of Japan's sake brewing culture.
next timeSeries 2: "Traditional sake brewing"followed by
Text by Yoko Ishikawa
Freelance writer / Japanese Sake Adviser (SSI) / WSET Level 1 / Born in Tokyo / Living in Las Vegas, USA.
After discovering delicious sake here, he opened his eyes to Japanese sake. Recently, he not only enjoys drinking sake, but also brewing it at home.
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