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Kuchikamizake (口噛み酒; mouth-chewedsake) orkuchikami no sake(口噛みの酒) is a type ofsake, rice-basedbrewedalcohol, produced by a process involving humansaliva as afermentation starter. Kuchikamizake was one of the earliest types of Japanese alcoholic drinks.Kuchi means "mouth",kami means "to chew" andzake is therendaku form of "sake" found in compound words.
Kuchikamizake is white in colour and has a sour taste. After two weeks of fermentation, it can achieve up to 7% ABV. It is made from chewed rice; the mixture of the enzymes from saliva and rice result in the fermentation process. Some islands inOkinawa Prefecture still held Shinto ceremonies involving chewed sake until the 1930s.[1][2]
Kuchikamizake is featured as a plot point inMakoto Shinkai's animated filmYour Name.[3][4]
In the 2024 video gameNine Sols byRed Candle Games, "Mouth-Chewing Wine" - likely a reference to Kuchikamizake - is mentioned by a character prominently known for their brewing abilities during a side quest.
