Sake: From Rice to Anime
In anime, we often see characters enjoying a bowl or cup of sake. Some characters that may come to mind include Tsunade-sama from Naruto (who is very bad at drinking), Gintoki Sakata from Gintama (that is, when he is not drinking his signature strawberry milk drink), the shinigami Shunsui Kyōraku from Bleach (even known to offer sake to his enemies while fighting) and the dimensional witch Yūko Ichihara from the anime xxxHolic, who loves drinking the beverage while watching the moon on her porch.
What is sake??
In Japan, the word sake can refer broadly to alcoholic drinks, while nihonshu specifically refers to Japanese sake. In the West, however, the word sake is generally used to mean the traditional Japanese rice-based alcoholic beverage, which is made during a brewing process by using fermented rice and water. During the process, starches are converted into sugars, which yeast then converts into alcohol. The whole process involves the milling, washing, and steaming of rice. Some of the steamed rice is used to make koji.
What is Koji?
Koji is steamed rice cultivated with koji-kin, a beneficial mould (Aspergillus oryzae). The enzymes produced by the koji break the rice starch into sugars, while yeast converts those sugars into alcohol. The koji is then mixed with the remaining steamed rice and water and allowed to ferment. Even more koji and rice are added to the mix and then it is filtered and bottled. The alcohol content of sake usually ranges from 14% to 16% except for ‘genshu’ sake in which the alcohol content range from 18% to 20%. n Japan, sake brewers are known as tōji.
The exact origins of sake brewing in Japan remain uncertain, although references to alcoholic beverages appear in some of Japan’s earliest historical records. In a 3rd-century text, the Book of Wei in the Records of the Three Kingdoms, Japanese drinking and dancing are mentioned. Alcoholic beverages are also mentioned in the Kojiki (712 AD), which was the first written history of Japan.
Am I drinking it right?
Many people think that this beverage is only served hot but actually it depends on the type of sake. It can be served chilled (reishu), at room temperature (jōon or hiya) or heated (atsukan). It all depends on its quality, the season or drinker’s preference! High-grade sake is actually not served hot as it will lose its flavours and aroma, while the beverage is served warm as a winter drink. So if you drink your ‘rice beverage’ cold and your friends look at you weirdly, you can tell them that you’re drinking it exactly right!
Thanks to new regulations, it’s easier than ever to enjoy sake, Japan’s traditional rice beverage. You can now buy sake in any bottle size in South Africa, and if it is being served for on-site consumption, such as in a restaurant or bar, it should be served in multiples of 25 ml. Sugoi, ne??
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