Japan seeks Geographical Indication tag for nihonshu, an alcoholic beverage

Source: The post is based on the article “Japan seeks Geographical Indication tag for nihonshu, an alcoholic beverage” published in The Hindu on 19th October 2022.

What is the News?

The Embassy of Japan, New Delhi has filed an application seeking a Geographical Indication(GI) tag for nihonshu/Japanese sake, an alcoholic beverage. 

This is the first time a product from Japan has filed for a tag at the Geographical Indication Registry in India.

What is Nihonshu/Japanese sake?

Nihonshu is an alcoholic beverage. It is regarded as a special and valuable beverage made from fermenting rice. 

People traditionally drink nihonshu on special occasions, such as festivals, weddings or funerals, but it is also consumed on a daily basis. Thus, it is an integral part of the lifestyle and culture in Japan. 

For making nihonshu three main raw materials – rice, koji-kin (a type of fungal spore) and water – are required. 

The production of nihonshu follows an alcoholic fermentation method called parallel multiple fermentation and involves the raw material treatment, koji making, starter culture-making, mash making, pressing, heat sterilization and bottling.