One of the many things that will never change about sake brewing is its deep roots and close tie with traditions. When you visit a brewery, you will find a wooden altar where they have ofuda, a paper or wooden tablet blessed by a shinto priest next to some of their sake.

I read this blog post from Rihaku about their ritual at the commencement of the brewing season in October. It shows some pictures where the shinto priest is purifying the kura for another safe and good brewing year.
http://rihakusyuzoh.blog.shinobi.jp/Entry/202/

That posting reminded me of when I visited Rihaku in Matsue, Shimane last March. During my visit, I spotted an ofuda in the altar from Matsuo Shrine. At first I thought it was from the famous sake shrine Matsuno-o Taisha or Matsuo-san in Kyoto. Tanaka-san explained that they have their own nearby shrine for sake brewing, Matsuo Jinja, between Matsue and Izumo. Other breweries in the area also said they pay a visit once a month to this Shimane Matsuo Jinja.

Japan Times article on Matsuo Jinja and Shimane.
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20030125b9.html

Odayaka in Fukushima also had their ritual at the beginning of October, inviting the priest from their area shrine. Here’s their blog post from October with pictures of offerings at the ritual and the brewing team with the priest.
http://www.kinpou.co.jp/blog/index.php?UID=1223341501

Matsuo Jinja in Shimane

Showcase of Sanin area sake breweries