UNESCO gives sake special status as Japan seeks to expand global market

[JACK AYLMER]

SAKE HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH JAPANESE CULTURE FOR CENTURIES.

NOW, IT’S BEING INTERNATIONALLY RECOGNIZED BY UNESCO.

THE ORGANIZATION PUTTING THE FAMOUS BEVERAGE ON ITS “INTANGIBLE CULTURAL HERITAGE OF HUMANITY” LIST.

THE SPECIAL DESIGNATION IS SOMETHING JAPAN HAS BEEN HOPING FOR.

THE JAPANESE GOVERNMENT BEGAN PURSUING THE UNESCO” DESIGNATION AMID DOMESTIC ISSUES LIKE DECLINING CONSUMPTION AND LACK OF SKILLED ARTISANS.

THE COUNTRY ALSO WANTS TO MAKE THE ICONIC RICE-BASED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE MORE POPULAR GLOBALLY.

NOW MAY BE THE TIME TO PROMOTE THE CULTURAL DRINK AS TOURISTS ARE FLOCKING TO JAPAN IN RECORD NUMBERS SPURRED BY A POST-COVID-19 TRAVEL.

THE NUMBER OF FOREIGNERS VISITING IS SO ENORMOUS IT’S LEADING TO AN OVERTOURISM PROBLEM.

FORCING THE COUNTRY TO MOVE TO PROTECT CULTURAL SITES BY CHARGING FOREIGNERS’ HIGHER FEES AND LOCALS COMPLAINING ABOUT RUDE VISITORS.

TOURISTS ALSO NOTE ISSUES, WITH A RECENT SURVEY REVEALING MORE THAN 30 PERCENT OF FOREIGN VISITORS SAYING THEY EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS LINKED TO OVERTOURISM.

AND MORE THAN 60 PERCENT SAYING THEY WOULD PAY HIGHER PRICES AS A WAY TO EASE CONGESTION AND PROTECT NATURAL AND CULTURAL RESOURCES.

THE SECOND COMPLAINT TOURISTS LISTED WAS LITTERING AND BAD BEHAVIOR AMONG OTHER VISITORS- SOMETHING LOCALS REPORTEDLY HAVE A GRIPE WITH AS WELL.

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FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS– I’M JACK AYLMER.