{
  "id": 16275870,
  "title": "93-year-old master sake brewer Noguchi recommended as living national treasure in Japan",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/24/93-year-old-master-sake-brewer-noguchi-recommended-as-living-national",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-24T04:00:16.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Mainichi",
    "slug": "the-mainichi",
    "url": "https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20261022/p2a/00m/0et/015000c"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Japanese Council for Cultural Affairs has recommended master brewer Naohiko Noguchi, aged 93, from Noto in Ishikawa Prefecture, as a living national treasure. Noguchi holds the distinction of being the first recipient in the newly recognized category of ginjo sake brewing. The master brewer revealed his delight at the recognition, stating, \"I have worked harder than anyone else.\" Noguchi commenced his career at the age of 16. Rather than relying solely on instinct, he diligently gathered data on elements such as rice-polishing ratios and koji temperatures, eventually earning the moniker \"the god of sake brewing.\" Noguchi was born into a family of Noto toji, or master sake brewers. He began his apprenticeship at Yamanaka Shokichi Shoten (now Fuji Takasago Sake Brewery) in Shizuoka Prefecture. Despite facing bullying and hardships, Noguchi persevered, honing his skills at various breweries and eventually becoming a toji, or master brewer, at Kikuhime Co. in Hakusan, Ishikawa Prefecture. His lifelong goal was to create delicious sake that would win over the hearts of consumers. In 1967, Noguchi secured his first gold prize at the Annual Japan Sake Awards, a total of 26 gold prizes later. His meticulous data collection, meticulously documenting factors such as rice types, soaking times, and water temperatures, played a crucial role in his exceptional sake brewing. Noguchi has not only created outstanding sake but has also passed down his knowledge, training numerous successors. For his contributions, he was also certified as a holder of Ishikawa Prefecture's intangible cultural property, sake toji. Noguchi remains active in his 90s, working at the Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Inc. in Komatsu, Ishikawa Prefecture, where he serves as toji. The recommendation for national designation has been hailed as a source of pride for the prefecture's residents, with Ishikawa Governor Yukiyoshi Yamano expressing his anticipation for Noguchi's future achievements.",
  "summary": "KOMATSU, Ishikawa -- The Japanese Council for Cultural Affairs has recommended that master brewer Naohiko Noguchi, 93, of Noto, Ishikawa Prefecture, b",
  "key_points": [
    "93-year-old master brewer Naohiko Noguchi recommended as living national treasure in Japan.",
    "First recipient in new ginjo sake brewing category.",
    "Honored for meticulous data collection and training successors."
  ],
  "editors_take": "Recognizing Noguchi in this new category validates a data-driven approach to ginjo sake brewing and honors a lifetime of technical mastery and mentorship within the traditional toji profession.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}