Yokota Sake Brewery

The Wonderful Sake – Nihonshu

As you may know, sake is an alcoholic beverage made by fermenting rice. Legally, it is referred to as seishu under the Liquor Tax Act, but it is commonly known simply as sake. As seen in the famous texts Kojiki and Nihon Shoki, sake was considered a favorite of the gods, and there was a belief that by drinking sake, people could draw closer to the divine.

The Start of Sake Brewing in the Harsh Cold Season
In the freezing depths of winter, when the new brewing season begins, tōji (master brewers) and kurabito (brewery workers) begin their work before sunrise, in harmony (wa) with each other. This scene can inspire a sense of awe, even reverence. Indeed, one could say that sake brewing is a sacred craft.

In the Nihon Shoki, in the entry for the 12th month of the 8th year of Emperor Sujin’s reign (97–30 BCE), it is written:
“This sacred sake is not mine; it is the divine sake made by Ōmononushi, who created the land of Yamato. May it flourish forever and ever.”

In modern language:
“This sacred sake is not mine. It was made by the great god Ōmononushi, who formed the country of Yamato. May it prosper for eternity.”

Whether or not this is the origin of the idea that sake means “prosperity water” (sakae-mizu), one theory about the etymology of the word sake is that it evolved from sakae (prosperity) → sakee → sake.

Isn’t it a delightful thought to sip delicious sake while contemplating the ancient gods of Japan?