EXCLUSIVE: Rare sake to be offered at banquet for new emperor

May 3, 2019

Tokyo--A high-quality sake brand named "Junmai Ginjo Souhana," which was once considered extremely rare, will be offered at "Kyoen-no-Gi" banquets to celebrate the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito, slated for October, informed sources told Jiji Press Thursday.

The banquets will be attended by foreign heads of state and other guests. The government plans to hold four Kyoen-no-Gi banquets, on Oct. 22, 25, 29 and 31, with the number of guests totaling 2,600.

The sake is produced by Nihonsakari Co., a long-established sake maker based in the city of Nishinomiya in the western prefecture of Hyogo.

Souhana was offered at the time when Emperor Naruhito, then Crown Prince, and Empress Masako, then a commoner, got married.

The sake was approved by the predecessor of the Imperial Household Agency in 1899 as an official product to be supplied for the Imperial Family. It was the first sake to be given such an honor. Souhana, whose origin dates back to around 1845, has received awards at numerous competitions since the Meiji era (1868-1912).

Among four sake brands currently supplied to the agency, Souhana is supplied in the greatest numbers. The brand was used at the enthronement ceremonies for the Emperors of the three preceding eras--Taisho, Showa and Heisei.

The current Reiwa era started on Wednesday, replacing Heisei, in line with the enthronement of Emperor Naruhito.

During the Edo period (1603-1868), a custom to equally distribute congratulatory gifts to participants at a ceremony was called Souhana. Nihonsakari named the sake product Souhana with a meaning "to love widely," according to the sources.

The sake was supplied as a betrothal gift at the "Nosai-no-Gi" engagement ceremony for Emperor Emeritus Akihito, then Crown Prince, and Empress Emerita Michiko, then a commoner, and also when Crown Prince Akishino, then Prince, and Crown Princess Kiko, then a commoner, got married.

"At the Imperial Palace, only highest-quality foods are served. We've created a sake product that does not interfere with the tastes of foods and has the flavor that stimulates appetite," a Nihonsakari official said.

The sake maker produces only a limited number Souhana as the product uses a special type of yeast. The sake brand was once considered extremely rare, chiefly during wartime when products restrictions were imposed.

"It is an irreplaceable honor for us to supply our sake to the agency," the Nihonsakari official said. "We want to continue with production of the brand that would live up its name,"

The sake maker also sells a product that has a taste similar to Souhana, with a label different from the one supplied to the Imperial Palace. Jiji Press