Introduction

Sake has played a central role in the life and caluture of the Japanese people for about two thousand years during which time the knowledge and skills required for sake producton have spread to every region of the country. Today, some 2,000 breweries of all sizes are engaged in the prodution of sake. Together, they produce more than 10,000 brands of Japan’s national beverage.

The purpose of this web is to inform people from other countries about the characteristics and varieties of sake and to give them some insight into the methods employed in its production. The history and traditions of sake brewing and consumption are so closely bound up with other aspects of life in Japan that some knowlege of sake can also contribute to a better understanding of Japan’s history, culture, and social and physical environment.