What is monitored collaboratively across Tosa breweries under the 'Kochi System'?
Data on yeast, *koji*, and *moromi*
The collaboration among sake brewers in Kochi Prefecture is formalized through the unique 'Kochi System,' demonstrating a collective commitment to quality control that is reportedly unique among Japanese prefectures. This system involves the local industry group commissioning the Prefectural Industrial Technology Center to rigorously monitor quality standards across all participating breweries. The specific inputs and intermediary stages under scrutiny include crucial components like the yeast strains used, the quality of the *koji* mold development, and the state of the *moromi* (the mash during fermentation). Sharing this data collectively ensures that, irrespective of the individual brewery, any Tosa sake is reliably of high quality and adheres to a shared benchmark of excellence.
