Zenbird Editorial TeamNOTO Naorai Inc. is a venture dedicated to the revitalisation of Japanese sake breweries that has launched a circular economy project to upcycle surplus Omiki, or sacred sake, into a premium distilled spirit. This is a collaboration with Mekari Shrine in Kitakyushu, Fukuoka Prefecture, aiming to offer solutions to large voluems of ritual sake that is discarded annually across Japan.
Omiki is traditionally consumed by parishioners during Naorai feasts following Shinto rituals, but a substantial surplus often remains. Industry estimates suggest that approximately 500,000 litres of sacred sake are wasted each year, a volume nearly equivalent to a 25-metre swimming pool. This circular project by Naorai will collect surplus sake from shrines free of charge and subject it to a patented distillation process to create a new product branded as “JOCHU.”
The distillation process utilises Naorai’s proprietary “Low-Temperature Purification” technology. Unlike conventional distillation, this method avoids extreme heat, allowing the spirit to retain the delicate aromas and complex flavours inherent in the original junmai sake. The resulting spirit contains 41% alcohol by volume and possesses a mellow profile that deepens with age. This increased shelf life and alcohol content also make the product more suitable for long-term storage and international export compared to traditional sake.
Naorai plans to expand the initiative to shrines nationwide. Participating institutions can send their surplus sake to Naorai’s purification facility to be converted into JOCHU. A portion of the proceeds from JOCHU sales is donated to the Shrine Revitalisation Foundation, which supports the restoration of shrine facilities and the training of future Shinto priests.
[Reference] Naorai News (Japanese)
