A wall of Sake Barrels
A great wall of colourful Saké Barrels can be seen along the path to Meiji Jingu, the main Shinto Shrine in Tokyo. The barrels are wrapped in straw and have wonderful unique graphics. However, as an article in the Japan Times website states:-
“they are not full of rice wine. When displayed near a Shinto shrine, such barrels are called kazaridaru, which means “decoration barrels.” As you surmised, the barrels on display are empty, at least in physical terms. Spiritually, they’re chock full of significance.”
“In Japan, saké has always been a way of bringing our gods and people together,” Tetsuo Hasuo of the Japan Sake Brewers Association explained …. “In some of this country’s oldest texts the word used for sake is miki, written with the characters for ‘god’ and ‘wine.’ People would go a shrine festival and be given rice wine to drink, and they would feel happy and closer to the gods.”
Saké vs Nihon Shu
To non-Japanese the word “Saké” is a particular alcoholic beverage made from rice. In reality, the word is more generic, and means either alcohol or salmon. The more accurate name is “Nihon Shu” or Japanese wine.
Like wine, there is a rich variety of flavours in this usually clear drink. Sake can have many flavor notes, such as fruits, flowers, herbs, and spices.
Reference
Japan Times answer to reader’s question.
Photograph – taken on a Jim’s Japan tour by Jim Stephenson