The Deep Relationship Between Wine and Shinto Shrines

The Shibuya district of Tokyo is known as Japan’s Mecca for youth fashion trends. The Meiji Jingu shrine, located nearby, is where three million people converge each New Year to offer prayers. Within the shrine’s main complex, where the Emperor Meiji and Empress Shoken used to pay ceremonial visits, stand this array of 60 wine barrels from France’s Bourgogne region. Emperor Meiji, who reigned from 1867 to 1912, enjoyed Japanese sake and other alcoholic beverages. After being diagnosed with diabetes, he switched to wine on the recommendation of his physician, because wine was believed to be less taxing on his physique. The Tokyo representative office of Bourgogne began to offer the barrels to the shrine from 2006. Of course they are empty.