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

Dec 9

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Jack Aylmer Anchor

By Jack Aylmer (Anchor), Evan Hummel (Producer), Ian Kennedy (Lead Video Editor)

Sake has been associated with Japanese culture for centuries. UNESCO internationally recognized the smooth rice wine on its “Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity” list on Wednesday, Dec. 4.

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The special designation is something Japan has been hoping for. The Japanese government pursued the designation by UNESCO amid domestic issues such as declining consumption and a need for more skilled artisans in the craft of sake brewing.

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Japan reportedly wanted to make the iconic rice-based alcoholic beverage more popular globally. Now may be the time to promote the cultural drink as tourists flock to Japan in record numbers spurred by post-pandemic travel.

The increase in travel has led to an overtourism problem. It has forced the country to move to protect cultural sites by charging visitors higher fees. Locals have complained about rude tourists. Tourists noted issues as well.

A recent survey revealed more than 30% of foreign visitors said they experienced problems linked to overtourism, and more than 60% of tourists acknowledged they would pay higher prices. The higher costs would help ease congestion and protect natural and cultural resources within the country.

Tags: Agriculture, Alcohol, Economy, food, Japan, Tokyo, Tourism, Travel

[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.