Japan's sake industry is looking for ways to get the drink flowing again. Domestic shipments of the traditional beverage are diminishing in an era when more people are drinking less, with the novel coronavirus pandemic accelerating that trend. But in a contrasting trend abroad, sake exports have been steadily increasing.
In fact, sake exports hit record highs for at least 11 consecutive years through 2020. There is also a growing movement to have sake registered on UNESCO's Intangible Cultural Heritage list.
