Sake brewing tradition revived after 17 yrs in Niigata

NIIGATA, Japan - The sake brewing tradition of "koshiki-daoshi" (literally pulling down a rice-steaming pot) is held in Nagaoka, Niigata Prefecture, central Japan, on Feb. 22, 2014, for the first time in 17 years. In the rite, rice wine makers dress up with equipment used for producing sake and report to brewery owners the completion of brewing preparations. The tradition was resumed 10 years after a major earthquake in the area caused extensive damage including to sake breweries.