Sake makers have gathered at a shrine in Nikko, north of Tokyo, to pray for good, fragrant brews ahead of the winter production season.
The annual event, called “Kijo-sai,” takes place at Futarasan Shrine, a World Heritage Site in Tochigi Prefecture.
On Friday, more than 20 local sake brewers and others gathered at the shrine’s hall of worship. First, they prayed for the sake production process to be completed safely.
They then poured the shrine’s spring water into bottles.
The bottles of water will be placed on altars at the breweries, before they are used in sake production.
The sacred water is said to enhance the flavor of sake.
Morito Yasuo, a chief brewer representing the prefecture’s brewery union, said sake produced in Tochigi has won praise at tasting contests at home and abroad. He said the brewers will continue focusing on producing sake safely.