Sake, Japan's iconic rice wine, has been accorded a prestigious honor by UNESCO, achieving recognition on its "intangible cultural heritage" list. Celebrated for its significance in Japanese dining and ceremonial customs, sake is noted for its integral role in festive occasions and everyday life. During a gathering in Luque, Paraguay, UNESCO acknowledged sake along with other global cultural treasures, highlighting its importance beyond culinary artistry.
Kano Takehiro, Japan's ambassador to UNESCO, emphasized sake's place as "a divine gift" essential to social and cultural festivities in Japan. The UNESCO designation not only recognizes the craft and heritage of sake production but also seeks to revitalize its status as Japan's quintessential alcoholic beverage. Sake is crafted through a demanding process involving rice, water, yeast, and koji—a fermenting agent essential to its production.
Japan's sake brewers are optimistic that this international acknowledgment might spur a resurgence in the drink's domestic popularity amid competition from imported wines and domestic beer. With exports to the US and China generating over $265 million annually, sake's global appeal continues to rise. The Japanese delegation marked the UNESCO listing with a traditional toast, underscoring the symbolic and economic significance of this centuries-old beverage. They hope the recognition will not only renew national interest in traditional sake but also bolster Japan's export economy. (This story was generated by Newser's AI chatbot. Source: the AP)
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