Sake Officially Enters UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage List

JAKARTA - A typical Japanese traditional drink, sake, was officially included in the UNESCO list of Intangible Cultural Heritage. This determination was made at a meeting of UNESCO committee members in Luque, Paraguay, as reported by Channel News Asia, on Thursday, December 5, 2024.

The agenda for the meeting was voting to recognize 45 practices and cultural products around the world. UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage is given to products and practices of various cultures that are considered worthy of recognition.

The Japanese delegation welcomed UNESCO's recognition of sake. It was stated that sake is a divine gift for the country of Japan.

"Sake is considered a divine and important gift for social and cultural events in Japan," said Japan's ambassador to UNESCO, Kano Takehiro.

Japanese officials also hope that the UNESCO appointment can restore the image of sake as Japan's main alcoholic drink. Especially now that young warrants in the country are turning to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey.

"This means a lot to Japan and the Japanese. It will help renew interest in traditional sake processing," said a Japanese official.

UNESCO's admission is not only about knowledge of high quality sake crafts. This recognition is also a form of respect for the traditions that have existed since about a thousand years ago.

At the meeting in Luque, the Japanese delegation was also said to be celebrating UNESCO's inauguration of sake with Japanese tradition. The delegation lifted a spruce box full of sake to break it together and drink it.