Origin of Japanese Sake
There is a theory that Japanese sake is originated in western Japan such as Kyushu and Kinki area. Researchers think that the oldest sake made from rice is kuchikami-no-sake.
Kuchikami-no-sake is made by chewing rice in the mouth well and saccharify with enzymes contained in saliva and fermented with wild yeast. If you watch Japanese movie “Your Name.”, you can watch that scene.
The person who can do this work was limited. Only shrine maidens could do.
It is said that sake began to be made for the god. Considering that, the sake that shrine maiden brewed in her mouth must have been very sacred.
If you have not tired Japanese sake yet, please try it!
Thank you.