OSAKA (Kyodo) Hakutsuru Sake Brewing Co. and 10 other long-established brewers in the sake-producing areas of Nada and Itami in Hyogo Prefecture and Fushimi, Kyoto Prefecture, said Wednesday they have launched a joint project to stimulate consumption of the drink.

The project includes the production of DVDs for use by restaurants, showing how to enjoy sake in each season, the group said.

The sake market has contracted to around 40 percent from its peak in the mid-1970s.