Omiki (sake offered to the kami)

Omiki (御神酒) is sake specially prepared as an offering to the kami (gods) in Shinto. It is used to express gratitude to the deities and to accompany prayers, and it plays an important role in festivals and ceremonies, particularly at shrines. Purity and cleanliness are emphasized in omiki, which is generally made with special brewing methods and regarded as sacred. The act of presenting omiki before the kami is called "honō" (御奉納, ohonō), and for worshippers this moment carries great significance. There is also a custom of drinking omiki after a Shinto ritual at a shrine, and doing so is said to be a way of receiving the blessings of the kami.