Sake Brewed in Space Sells for $2.2 Million, Manufacturer Eyes Moon Brewery

A small bottle of Japanese sake, fermented in space, recently sold for an astonishing 110 million yen (approximately NT$22 million). The Japanese manufacturer, Dassai, is exploring the possibility of brewing sake on the moon. Dassai collaborated with aerospace company Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to create specialized fermentation equipment and sent it, along with sake ingredients, to the International Space Station (ISS). The two companies announced today that the sake fermentation process took place in November last year aboard the ISS, simulating lunar gravity. The fermented mash was returned to Earth in February and refined into 116 ml of sake in March, then bottled in a 100 ml container. This space-brewed sake was ultimately sold to an anonymous buyer for 110 million yen. The remaining 16 ml of sake were kept by the company for testing. Regarding its flavor, a Dassai spokesperson told AFP, "It has a distinct acidity, balanced and rich flavor." The companies stated that the proceeds will be donated to support Japan's space development. They noted that the experimental results show that sake production is feasible even in a lunar gravity environment under conditions similar to Earth's brewing process. Dassai aims to establish a sake brewery on the moon by 2050, hoping to "enhance the quality of life for future lunar inhabitants."