In this Christmas season, when Christian celebrations mark the birth of Jesus Christ, we decided to take a look at traditional Japanese beliefs and how they might relate to sake. Just as wine takes on a symbolic dimension in Eastern liturgy, Nihonshu is omnipresent in the practice of Shinto rites, much less so in Buddhism.


Beliefs in Japan
The Japanese practice a religious syncretism that combines Shinto and Buddhism. Shinto, literally “the way of the Gods”, is the oldest of these two faiths, dating back to the end of the Jômon period, around 1000 BC. It developed during the Yayoi period (300 BC - 300 AD). This rite, centered on the worship of kamis and nature spirits, is symbolized by the sanctuaries and torii that mark the boundary between the sacred and profane worlds.
Miyajima Shrine in Hiroshima


Buddhism was founded in India in the Vᵉ century BC and imported to Japan in the 6th century AD from a continental region corresponding to present-day Korea. It mainly teaches the path to spiritual awakening and is symbolized by temples that often include pagodas and Romon, gates marking the boundary with the sacred world.Sensoji Temple Asakusa Tokyo


Through this inclusive approach known as “Shinbutsu shūgō”, the Japanese respect various spiritual practices in their daily lives, without exclusivity. Shinto is integrated into everyday events such as births and weddings, while Buddhism is essentially linked to funeral rites and meditation. In addition to these two predominant cults, there is a small fraction of Christians (2%) and a further fraction of various religions (7%).

It's in the Shinto cult that we find the most striking interactions with sake, and it's this angle that we've chosen to develop through a few examples. It's true that the links are less present in Buddhist writings, since the consumption of alcohol is strictly forbidden for religious people, whereas lay people are encouraged to avoid excess, or even to renounce it altogether in order to free themselves from earthly desires.


Nihonshu, the sacred drink of Shintoism
Since ancient times, sake has played a central role in Shinto rituals. In temple ceremonies, it is offered to the deities as a symbol of purity, divine blessing and communion with the spirits. These traditional offerings are mainly accompanied by white rice in grain form or mochi (rice flour paste).Miko at a Shinto shrine


Sake has long been produced within shrines, long before the notion of Kura came into being. The role of the Miko (the priests' young assistants) in making kuchikami no sake was considered divine intervention. Literally translated as “chewed in the mouth”, this sake was obtained by chewing the rice to release the enzymes needed to transform the starch into sugar, before spitting it into a container and allowing the rest of the process to unfold naturally.Sake barrels at Mieji Jingu temple


The professionalization of the brewing trade has not broken the ties, and it is traditional for the Kura to offer bottles and barrels of sake to their local shrines to ensure the protection of the deities. The best-known image is certainly that of the Meiji Jingu, with its stack of sake barrels donated by breweries all over the country to express the people's gratitude to Emperor Meiji, Japan's great modernizer. They wish to protect and prosper the country's traditional industries.


Omiki, purifying sake
Sake at the shrine is considered sacred and may be served during “omiki”, a tradition of drinking it at ceremonies such as weddings and other important religious events. It is first offered to the deities as a mark of respect, and then shared by the participants. The sake then brings its purifying and beneficial properties, giving energy, good luck and protection to the participants.Okimi Shinto ceremony


From shrine to brewery
If sake can be found at the shrine, the corollary is obvious with the presence of Kumidana in breweries. These small domestic shelves are dedicated to the veneration of kami.Kumidana or miniature shrine


Placed high up, they contain sacred objects such as ofuda (charms) and offerings (rice, water, salt) to honor the deities and hope for successful production. It's not unusual to come across the Shinto priest from the local shrine at the beginning of the year at the brewery for a blessing.

Shinto is also at the origin of another tradition that can be observed in breweries: the “sugidama”, a large sphere made of compacted cedar branches that hangs at the brewery entrance.Sugidama brewery in Fujinishiki


Its completion marks the start of the production season. Over time, the sugidama's green color turns to brown, indicating that the sake is ready for consumption. Originally, sugidama branches came from cedar trees in the Ohmiwa-jinja shrine, dedicated to the sake god Miwa-Myojin. Another way to honor these deities.


Otoso, New Year's sake
Otoso sake (or tōsō) is a ceremonial sake, a medicinal drink prepared by infusing certain herbs in sake. It is traditionally consumed in Japan on the morning of the first day of the year. Each member of the family takes a sip, from the youngest to the oldest, to bring good luck and health.Otoso, New Year sake


Interestingly, the characters used to write “tōsō” could be translated as “slay evil spirits” and “revive”, i.e. eliminate bad omens and revitalize good energies!

Hoping that this information has enabled you to learn a little more about this particular aspect of Japanese traditions, we wish you an excellent end to the year, a good rest if you're lucky enough to take it, and we'll see you again soon!