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7 of 249 DOCUMENTS Copyright 2003 New Straits Times Press (Malaysia) Berhad New Straits Times (Malaysia) October 12, 2003, Sunday SECTION: Beauty; Pg. 12 LENGTH: 1815 words HEADLINE: Beauty secret in a sake brewery BYLINE: By Sunita Chhabra BODY: A LOOK at how sake was brewed is an eye-opener and just as interesting as traditional wine-making practices. A trip arranged by SK-II to Japan included a visit to the Hakutsuru Sake Brewery Museum which is actually housed in one of the sake company's old breweries. Like everything else in Japan, sake brewing has been modernised and old methods replaced by new. As a result, old materials and utensils are gradually disappearing. In this museum, the traditional methods for brewing sake still unfolds for the interested visitor and the spirit of old Japan comes to life again. Walk into the museum compound during Japan's summer time and suddenly the sound of cicadas fill the air. Pretty noisy they are and if you look closely at the branches of the trees in the area, you'll spot these insects happily "welcoming" you with their "song". Visitors watching a short "motivational" film on sake are informed that it clears the mind and induces creativity. All of a sudden, you too want to drink and taste sake even if you're a non-drinker. Its colourless clarity seems so pure and inspiring. The centuries-old method of sake brewing which originated in the early 17th Century is recreated at this museum. Walking amongst the aged, solid wood pillars and subdued atmosphere makes the experience quite real, even though the sake story is recreated with the use of models. The tools shown are real. Most of us know that traditionally, to make wine, people had to step on
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the grapes. To make sake, young men in short sleeves, short pants and headbands used to stand in a washing tub to tread the rice. Their movements were accompanied by a...