[Japan Sake Makers’ Association] UNESCO evaluation agency recommends registration of “traditional sake brewing” as an intangible cultural heritage ~ Significant progress towards formal decision at
Intergovernmental Committee held in December ~
Japan Sake Brewers Association Central Association Press release: November 5, 2024 UNESCO evaluation agency recommends “registration” of “traditional sake brewing” as an intangible cultural heritage – Significant progress towards formal decision at Intergovernmental Committee meeting in December – Based on the recommendations, a final decision is expected to be made at the 19th session of the Intergovernmental Commission to be held in Asunción (Paraguay) from December 2nd to 7th The Japan Sake Brewers Association (Central Association), which is the largest association in the Japanese sake industry to which approximately 1,600 alcoholic beverages (sake, authentic shochu/awamori, and hon mirin)
manufacturers belong, has announced that they are promoting the use of traditional Japanese Koji bacteria. In cooperation with the Society for the Preservation of Traditional Sake Brewing Techniques (an organization that preserves the techniques of traditional sake brewing, which is a registered intangible cultural property) and the Federation of Japanese Sake Brewers’ Associations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (hereinafter referred to as UNESCO) has collaborated with the Federation of Japanese Sake Brewers’ Associations. We have been making efforts to have it registered on the Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage. According to the Agency for Cultural Affairs, the evaluation agency of the Intergovernmental Committee for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage has recommended that “traditional sake brewing” be listed on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage official website ( http://www.unesco.org/culture
recommendations of this matter. If the decision to register is made, it will be the 23rd registration in Japan. (Reference: Agency for Cultural Affairs press release)
https://www.bunka.go.jp/koho_hodo_oshirase/hodohappyo/94127301.html ■ Comments from the Japan Sake Brewers Association regarding this announcement On November 5th, the Agency for Cultural Affairs announced that “traditional sake brewing,” which Japan proposed for registration on the UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage Representative List, was given a “description” by the evaluation agency of the Intergovernmental Committee of the Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage. It was announced that a recommendation had been made that it would be appropriate to register. Based on this recommendation, it is expected that a final decision will be made at the 19th Intergovernmental Commission to be held in Asunción (Paraguay) from December 2nd to December 7th of this year. We hope that “Traditional Sake Brewing” will be registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage following “Washoku: Traditional Japanese Food Culture” in 2013. We would like to firmly inherit the techniques and culture of sake, authentic shochu/awamori, and hon mirin, all of which are brewed using koji bacteria, and further spread their appeal at home and abroad. ■Future plans ・December 2nd – December 7th, 2020 A final decision regarding the inscription on the UNESCO Representative List of Intangible Cultural Heritage is scheduled to be made at the 19th Intergovernmental Committee (Asunción (Paraguay)).
https://prcdn.freetls.fastly.net/release_image/83559/68/83559-68-a57514d2e7e0b2e8d69d124ec44359d4-755×390.jpg The largest association in the Japanese sake industry, with
approximately 1,600 alcoholic beverage (sake, authentic
shochu/awamori, and hon mirin) manufacturers nationwide. Established in 1953 with the aim of stabilizing and healthy development of the alcoholic beverage industry. By disseminating information about Japanese sake, known as “national sake,” as well as authentic shochu and awamori, we are working to raise awareness both domestically and internationally. https://japansake.or.jp/common/about/