APRIL 2025

The traditional Japanese alcoholic beverage, nihonshu called “sake” is known and appreciated throughout the world today. The volume of sake exports has reportedly been on the rise in the past few years. With the recent increase in the number of visitors to Japan and the registration of “traditional knowledge and skills of sake-making with koji mold in Japan” as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage, the number of people who are interested in and enjoy sake is expected to keep growing. The April issue of HIGHLIGHTING Japan features an interview with an expert who works for promoting the spread of sake around the world, as well as articles on how to enjoy sake in each season and how to pair it with various dishes. This issue also explores various ways to enjoy sake from perspectives that go beyond taste, such as appreciating the beauty of elegantly designed sake labels and the role of sake in traditional Japanese rituals.