An advisory panel to UNESCO has said that registering Japan's traditional sake brewing skills as intangible cultural heritage is "appropriate."

The traditional skills to make sake, including shochu and awamori distilled spirits, have been developed differently across Japan in accordance with each region's climate and culture.

Brewers have developed and passed down fermentation skills that use grain.

The official registration is expected to take place during a UNESCO intergovernmental meeting in December. 

If registered, the skill will be the 23rd intangible cultural heritage for Japan.