Funaba (pressing room)

A funaba (also given as "soba" in some sources) is a special area or set of equipment in a sake brewery used for joso, the pressing stage of sake making. Joso is the process of separating sake from the moromi (fermentation mash) once fermentation has finished, and the funaba is designed so that this important work can be carried out safely and efficiently. The area is usually equipped with a pressing machine, pressing bags and similar tools, which allow sake made with great care and effort to be pressed out gently. The funaba is one of the key steps in the making of delicious sake.