Sake, Japan's traditional brewed alcoholic drink, has been steadily trending overseas for some time. Sure, the painstakingly crafted rice wine gained a boost last year when the knowledge and skills required for traditional sake-making were recognized by UNESCO as an intangible world heritage asset. But even without the distinction, Japan had seen sake exports climbing steadily.
Tea Leaves
Sake segues into the 21st century
Women and foreign drinkers are lapping up Japan's traditional 'old man's' drink
Bottles of sake line the wall behind the counter of a bar in Niigata prefecture, where small, independent sake breweries abound. (Photo by Kaori Shoji)
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