Hello, my name is Rice Wine, and I’m the tenth-generation head of a Japanese sake brewery.
Our brewery has a long history, spanning over 200 years since the Edo period.
For generations, we’ve poured our passion into delivering the finest sake to you, all while preserving the traditions and techniques passed down through our family.
It’s a great source of pride for us to see the global sake boom, with enthusiasts growing around the world.
But behind this positive trend, the sake industry is facing a quiet and serious crisis.
According to data from Japan’s National Tax Agency, the number of sake breweries has plummeted from a peak of over 4,000 to roughly 1,500 today.
In just the past half-century, more than 60% of breweries have been forced to close.
Why are so many breweries disappearing?
And will this essential part of Japanese tradition truly vanish?
As a tenth-generation brewer and a lover of sake myself, I want to explore this urgent issue with you.
