INTRODUCTION. 



It is probably impossible now to aScL'itain wbcn tlie art of bicwing first 

 Ijecanie known to tlie Japanese. Tradition ascribes its introibiction to some 

 emigrants from Korea about tlie end of tlie third centiuy, who doubtless 

 obtained the knowledge from China where it had long been practised. How 

 improvements were introduced we can oidy surmise, but it is known that abunt 

 the end of the XVth century, the two districts of Itami ami Ikeda had 

 established their superiority over all others, a position which, together with 

 Ni.^hinomiya, they liold to this day. About 300 years ago a very important 

 improvement was effected relating to the preservation of the sake which, in the 

 hot jnonths of summer very quickly became undrinkable. This consisted in heating 

 the sake to such a temperature that the hand could not bear it, but, although 

 answeiini^ the iiurjiose for a time, it did not suffice in the manner in wliich the 

 heating was carried out to pennit the liquid to be kept for any lengthened period. 

 Nor has any important alteration in the process of manufacture been introduced 

 since that time notwithstanding the trouble entailed upon the brewer by the 

 re[>eated heating of tlie sake whicli is necessary, but it is Loped that the suggestions 

 made in this memoir may have the. effect of directing attention to the important 

 and efficient process introduced liy M. Pasteiu' for preserving wine. 



] am indubteil to Mr. Shigetoshi Yoshiwani, Yice-]\Iinister of Finance, for 

 the following statement of tlie quantity of the various kinds of alcoholic liquids 

 [iroduced in the j'ear ending September 30th, 18S0. 





■J'ax No. of 



Revenue 





por kuku koku 



in yen 



Ordinary 8ak6 (seishQ) 



1 yen5,ül5,U8'l 



5.015,084 



Turbid 8ak6 (nigorizake) 



0.3 „ 



65,494 



19,048 



White sak6 (sliiro-zuke) 



2 



1..WU 



3,000 



Sweet sake used for cooking (niirin) 



2 



S.-^.öÖU 



77,138 



Liqueur (meishQ) 



3 



3,ül5 



10,845 



Spirit (shöchQ) 



1.5 „ 



83.708 



125,502 







5.2Ü7,'J70 



5,251,277 



Fee» from nale of licfncos to bri'wor» n 



nil rotnil dealers. • 



1,208.293 





Ii(|iiiirK. 





(i,459,57U ven 









