LUQUE, Paraguay (AP) 鈥� Sake is perhaps more Japanese than the world-famous sushi. It's savored in the country鈥檚 pub-like izakayas, poured during weddings and served slightly chilled for special toasts.
The that plays a crucial role in Japan's culinary traditions was enshrined on Wednesday by on its list of the 鈥渋ntangible cultural heritage of humanity."
At a meeting in Luque, Paraguay, members of UNESCO鈥檚 committee for safeguarding humanity's cultural heritage voted to recognize 45 cultural practices and products around the world, including Brazilian white cheese, Caribbean cassava bread and Palestinian olive oil soap.
Unlike UNESCO鈥檚 World Heritage List, which includes sites considered important to humanity like the Pyramids of Giza in Egypt, the Intangible Cultural Heritage designation names products and practices of different cultures that are deserving of recognition.
A Japanese delegation welcomed the announcement in Luque.
鈥淪ake is considered a divine gift and is essential for social and cultural events in Japan,鈥� Kano Takehiro, the Japanese ambassador to UNESCO, told The Associated Press.
The basic ingredients of sake are few: rice, water, yeast and koji, a rice mold, which breaks down the starches into fermentable sugars like malting does in beer production. The whole two-monthlong process of steaming, stirring, fermenting and pressing can be grueling.
The rice 鈥� which wields tremendous marketing power as part of Japan's broader cultural identity 鈥� is key to the alcoholic brew.
For a product to be categorized Japanese sake, the rice must be Japanese.
The UNESCO recognition, the delegation said, captured more than the craft knowledge of making high-quality sake. It also honored a tradition dating back some 1,000 years 鈥� sake makes a cameo in Japan鈥檚 famous 11th century novel, 鈥淭he Tale of Genji,鈥� as the drink of choice in the refined Heian court.
Now, officials hope to restore sake's image as Japan's premier alcoholic drink even as the younger drinkers in the country switch to imported wine or domestic beer and whiskey.
鈥淚t means a lot to Japan and to the Japanese,鈥� Takehiro said of the UNESCO designation. "This will help to renew interest in traditional sake elaboration.鈥�
Also, that the listing could give a little lift to the country's export economy as the popularity of sake booms around the world and in the United States amid heightened interest in Japanese cuisine.
Sake exports, mostly to the U.S. and China, now rake in over $265 million a year, according to the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, a trade group.
Japan's delegation appeared ready to celebrate on Wednesday 鈥� in classic Japanese style.
After the announcement, Takehiro raised a cypress box full of sake to toast the alcoholic brew and cultural rite.
The Associated Press
