Nomiana (tank tap hole)

Nomiana (呑穴) is the tap hole of a sake brewing tank, and it plays an important role in the sake-making process. It is located near the bottom of the tank and consists of two openings used to draw liquid in and out. The upper opening is called the agaki-nomi (上呑, "upper nomi"), through which the sake in the tank can be taken out from the upper part. The lower opening is called the shitanomi (下呑, "lower nomi"), and it is used when drawing sake from a position close to the bottom of the tank. The presence of the nomiana allows sake to be managed and handled efficiently, which contributes to consistent quality.