World Expositions and Sake

Hello! The Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan is finally ending on the 13th of this month. Have you already been there? In this article, we introduce about relationship between world expositions and sake.

First, let’s get organized about expositions. Since the first world exposition was held in London in 1851, they were held in rapid succession in the West. For example, England in 1851, New York in 1853, Paris in 1855, and London again in 1862. In the Second London exposition in 1862, saw the first Japanese participation, and in the second Paris Exposition in 1867, exhibits were presented by the shogunate, the Satsuma domain, and the Saga domain.

The first time the Japanese government exhibited was at the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873, which sake was exhibited for the first time. In the previous article, we stated the first time that sake was exhibited was at the 1878 Paris Exposition. This is because no sake was exhibited at the Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition in 1876. However, we researched historical documents again in conjunction with the current exhibition, we discovered that it was exhibited at the Vienna World’s Fair in 1873.

Moreover, the sake which was exhibited this exposition was made by sake breweries in Nishinomiya, where the Sake Museum is located. “History of Sake in Nada” describes many sake brewers were hesitant, concerned that the sake would spoil during the long-distance transport to Europe. However, one brewer stated that by reducing the amount of water used during preparation, employing high-quality casks, and performing heat sterilization, sake wouldn’t spoil during transport. It is recorded that by following this method, they produced and successfully exhibited their sake in Vienna. This sake was “Irozakari” brand, which was brewed by Izumi Mansuke, a sake brewer in Nishinomiya. The reception of it at the exposition is unknown, but it appears a medal was awarded.

In fact, shochu made its debut at world expositions earlier than sake, at the 1867 Paris Exposition, which the Tokugawa shogunate, the Satsuma domain and the Saga domain participated. At that time, a Japanese-style tea house was set up at the venue, where shochu, mirin, and hon-naoshi (also called Ryūin, a sweet sake made by adding shochu to mirin moromi) were likely served.

In this article, we introduced about the relationship between world expositions and sake. While visiting the Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan, be sure to check out the exhibition at the Sake Museum as well. We look forward to seeing you next month!