Popularity of Sake Bottles Changing the World of Sake (Story about Distribution)

Now it is quite natural that sake is contained in 1-sho (1.8 litter) or 4-go (720ml) bottles, but it was not until Meiji era (1868-1912) that 1-sho bottles were introduced. Before then, wooden casks had been commonly used and even when using bottles, they reused wine bottles that had been obtained by being brought from overseas or washed up on the shore. The convenience of bottles was well received and soon 1-sho bottles appeared. This had a huge impact on not just the reliability in maintaining quality of sake but also distribution and sales route.
Wooden containers such as wooden tanks and casks used to be mainly used, but it was difficult to carry them a long way. Except for famous sake production areas like Nada, Hyogo Prefecture, which used to gain popularity by shipping sake to Edo city, most sake were not shipped outside local production areas, but were produced locally for local consumption. However, when wooden containers were replaced by bottles, transportation became much easier, allowing liquor companies to expand their sales reach. At the same time, consumers were able to experience various flavors from various regions and have fun comparing sakes or finding their favorite flavors. In the world today, where the containers like bottles are required to be returnable and reusable, the standardized 1-sho bottles have served as an exemplary model as they have been washed thoroughly with a bottle washer for reuse. 1-sho bottles are contributing to sake culture from various angles.