On December 10, 2024, Asahi Shuzo, known for its outstanding Dassai sake, the alcoholic beverage obtained from the fermentation of rice, unveiled an innovative project: sake brewing in outer space . This experiment, which will take place in the second half of 2025, aims to demonstrate how the microgravity environment of the International Space Station (ISS) affects the sake fermentation process.
What will sake brewing be like in space?
The process will begin with key ingredients such as Yamada Nishiki rice, koji mold, yeast, and water being sent to the Japanese Kibo module of the ISS. Once in space, these elements will undergo controlled fermentation under microgravity conditions – a significant technical challenge due to the disruptions to biological processes that normally occur on Earth. The resulting moromi will then be returned to Earth in a frozen state to produce a bottle of refined sake .
This experiment is not only a technological achievement; it is also a step towards the future of space exploration . According to the Asahi Shuzo release, the company has plans to use lunar water and rice grown on the Moon to brew sake in future lunar colonies. The fermentation process in space could open the door to new methods of food and beverage production, which is key for future long-duration space missions .
An exclusive sake for charity
The resulting bottle of this space-based production, called “Dassai MOON – Space Brew” , will be a collector’s item. With just 100 ml of product, its price has been set at one hundred million yen (653,000 dollars) . What is more interesting is that Asahi Shuzo has decided to donate all the profits from this sale to support the development of future space research and projects, a gesture that reinforces the company’s commitment to the progress of space technology.
This project is a collaboration between Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Aichi Institute of Industrial Technology , as well as support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). With JAXA’s approval, the Kibo module will be the perfect setting for carrying out this unique experiment.
Watch this video to see the traditional process of making this liqueur.
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Source and photos: Asahi Shuzo