Where does the rice powder from milling go?

The super-premium Dai-ginjo Sake is made from rice milled down to 50% or more of the original weight. You might wonder where the powder from milling goes. The powder is not really bran; it's too good to be classified so. But don't worry; not a bit is wasted but it's fully used for other purposes such as making cooking oil, vinegar, fish feed, and sweets. 


Here's the picture from one of the breweries nestling in the Saijo Sake Brewery Street area.


The powder is divided into four levels of quality. The very best is pure white and used for making Japanese sweets like crackers and rice cake. A gentleman at the brewery keeps these bags for children who come to the brewery on a school field trip  to be able to know that breweries including his are taking great care about the rice they use. 


He also let the children know that the water used at his brewery is filtered before discharge. The discharged water does not go our right away; instead it is brought out by a tank truck to be treated at a public water treatment facility.


Like their Sake, what they do is pure, clear, and environmentally friendly.