Women in Sake
Historically speaking, female influence in the world of sake has been a bit of a rollercoaster. As a very brief crash course, here is a summary of women in sake production:
Dating back to around the Jomon period (14,000 BCE to 300 BCE), a substance known as kuchikamizake (translating to mouth-chewed-sake) was predominantly made by women. Young women would chew rice and nuts, spit the mixture into wooden tubs, and let it ferment for a few days. This was sometimes referred to as bijin-shu (beautiful-woman-sake). This thick fermented mixture was used for religious and ceremonious occasions, though not necessarily something we are keen to start selling at Mai.
Further down the line, women continued brewing sake – in the Heian period (794-1185) there was even a sake brewery on the emperor's estate where only women worked! The dynamic between women and sake was thriving, offering them financial power and success.
However, fast forward to the Edo period (1603 - 1868), and women found themselves unceremoniously tossed from the professional sake scene. Superstition led people to believe that menstruation would sour the brew, so powerfully in fact that an entire season of produce would spoil lest a woman set foot in the brewery! This prejudice against women even extended into the sushi-sphere, as 'imbalanced hormones' could tarnish the fish, and 'naturally warmer hands' would ruin the rice.
Talk about dramatic.
Unfortunately, this gender discrimination lasted a long time, and it wasn't until after World War II that women were gradually allowed involvement. Though female representation is still relatively scarce in sake breweries, there are some fantastic female influences that we are proud to personally work with at Mai today:
Rumiko Obata – Obata Brewery
Fifth-generation of the Obata Brewing family, Rumiko Obata took over the business on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, in 1995. Under her leadership, the brewery’s influence expanded internationally, now exporting to 15 countries. In 2014, she established Gakkogura (translating to school brewery) in a closed elementary school building, offering an immersive brewing experience to visitors from around the world! She has been deeply involved in women's empowerment and business innovation, participating in the Japanese Women Empowerment Project, winning the Niigata Women's Achievement Awards, and being named one of Forbes Japan's 55 Local Innovators. Rumiko Obata is truly a female pioneer in a male-dominated industry and continues to promote Sado Island's rich sake culture globally.
Shop our range of sakes from Obata Brewery here.
Aki Ikeda – Shodoshima Brewery
Aki Ikeda serves as the fourth-generation owner of Shodoshima Brewery, the sole sake brewery on Shodoshima Island in Kagawa Prefecture, Japan. This brewery demonstrates Ikeda's commitment to preserving and revitalising the local sake-brewing practices. She commissioned 'Sanuki Olive Yeast 23' which was derived from the famous olives of the island, now used in the brewery's innovative 'Hachi Hachi' – successfully harmonising the famous greenery of the island with the locally produced sake! The 'waste products' of rice flour and sake lees from the brewery have also been upcycled into fresh pastries and dishes from their on-site bakery, truly demonstrating modern, environmental practices with a commitment to the local environment. Ikeda's efforts have diversified the sake variety of the island, helping showcase Shodoshima's rich culinary culture, including its famous soy sauce, to both domestic and international visitors.
Shop our range of sakes from Shodoshima Brewery here.
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We thoroughly endorse female influence at Mai, from our founder, social team, and brewery connections - the sake industry is expanding, and the role of women is growing within it!
If you wish to read more about the history of women and sake, check out these fabulous articles below:
https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15550503
