Presence of Sake Grows in Diplomacy

Sake is gradually increasing its presence at banquets where Japanese government leaders play host to foreign dignitaries.The Foreign Ministry has mainly used wine at such banquets because it is easy to handle and goes well with any dish.

However, sake has begun to be included among other beverages at dinners and receptions amid growing calls from within the ministry to actively push sake in the field of diplomacy.

In inviting foreign VIPs, the ministry checks on their likes and dislikes and whether they are allergic to any foods in deciding on menus and drinks.

A senior ministry official said, "In entertaining (someone) we have to be attentive, and we won't go wrong if we choose wine, which is consumed throughout the world."

A dinner hosted by Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in honor of his Chilean counterpart, Alfredo Moreno, in April centered on Japanese food and red wine made from grapes grown in Yamanashi Prefecture along with white wine from France.

The ministry purchased 2,500 bottles of wine worth about ￥13.67 million from fiscal 2005 to 2009. The figures for sake during the same period were 737 bottles valued at about ￥1.91 million.

Sake received its first major diplomatic exposure at the Group of Eight summit in July 2008 at the Lake Toya resort in Hokkaido. The G8 leaders and their wives toasted the summit with sake served in lacquerware cups at a dinner hosted by then Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda and his wife.

Since then the custom of making a toast with sake at diplomatic banquets and receptions has been gaining ground.