Chelsea Draws Huge Crowd for the 10th Annual CFCC International Tasting Event

25th September 2018

This year was the 10th annual International Tasting Event, jointly organised by the Council of Foreign Chambers of Commerce (CFCC). The event was held at Centenary Hall at Stamford Bridge, the home of Chelsea FC, on 25th September. Sixteen chambers of commerce took part and collectively filled the venue to capacity, with 450 guests attending in addition to more than 50 staff and suppliers.
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Saddle Up for Japan at Ascot

28th July 2018, Ascot Racecourse

Last year, thanks to the Japan Racing Association (JRA) http://japanracing.jp/en, sake finally came to be served at one of the most prestigious British events, the Ascot Racecourse.  And this year, once again, we were given another fantastic opportunity to meet Britain’s society at the King George VI and Queen Elisabeth Stake at Ascot.
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JET programme 2018 send-off party with ‘Kanpai’

20th July 2018, SOAS University of London

Sake Samurai UK has been supporting the Japan Exchange and Teaching (JET) programme for several years but this was the first time that we joined the kick-off party to meet young talented missionaries who are going to Japan as English teachers and researchers. I always feel so proud to support any occasions to bridge between UK and Japan, and in this case I was overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and inquiring spirit of the young people.
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IWC 2018 Award Winning Sake Tasting

9th July 2018, Embassy of Japan

Prior to the IWC Awards Dinner, where the Champion sake and top awards are to be announced, the Embassy of Japan and Sake Samurai Association hosted the celebration tasting for the finalist sake makers. This ‘Crème de la crème’ annual tasting was long awaited by sake lovers and the trade, and a staggering number of over 250 guests applied for entry to the special night.
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IWC 2018 Awards Dinner

10th July 2018, Grosvenor House Hotel

IWC announced the winner of its Champion Sake at the IWC 2018 Awards Dinner held on 10 July 2018 at the Grosvenor House Hotel in London. They saw a record 1,639 sake entries from 456 breweries from all over the world – from regions as diverse as USA to Switzerland, and they were judged in Yamagata, Japan in May.
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Sake Seminar & Tasting in Turkey

4th July 2018, Hilton Hotel Ankara in Turkey

On the second day of our visit to Ankara, I was welcomed to a gorgeous chamber in the Hilton Hotel to give a talk about sake, prior to the exciting sake matching lunch with local Turkish cuisine. Hosted by the Ambassador Miyajima and the CEO of the Hilton Hotel, duly selected local dignitaries and influencers in the food & drink trade assembled to catch a very rare opportunity to learn about the unique national drink of Japan.
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Sake goes to Turkey

3rd July 2018, Japanese Ambassador’s residence in Ankara, Turkey

The Japanese Ambassador Mr. Akio Miyajima in Turkey suggested an introduction to sake at the embassy’s official sake event, and I accepted his kind offer with a great enthusiasm. The trip to the country where ‘the West meets the East’ was eye-opening and gave me a great experience and courage to explore a new world for sake.
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Taste of London

13th - 17th  June 2018, Regent Park in London

JFOODO (Japan Food Product Overseas Promotion Centre)  https://www.jetro.go.jp/en/jfoodo/ entered the Taste of London, one of the world’s biggest restaurant and drink festivals, located in London's stunning Regent’s Park in the middle of summer with 50,000 food-loving visitors in attendance. It was an epoch-making appearance for sake to reach such a vast number of affluent consumers amongst the city's world-class restaurants and drink purveyors.
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Introducing sake to the wine society at Trinity College

11th June 2018, Trinity College, Cambridge University

Spreading the correct image of sake through the world’s future leaders at renowned universities has been one of the strongest credentials of Sake Samurai's activities in the UK, and tireless work has been given over last decade. For this event, The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association sponsored a sake tasting for the members of the wine society at Trinity college in Cambridge University.
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Annual Sake Event at Cambridge Judge Business School

8th June 2018, Judge Business School in Cambridge

On the 8th June 2018, an annual sake event took place at Judge Business School in Cambridge University for the fourth year running.  In collaboration with Rie Yoshitake and Sake Samurai UK, the event was organised by MBA and MFin (Masters in Finance) students from the Cambridge Asia Business Association, who wanted to create an opportunity for the rest of the students to learn about and enjoy Japanese culture and food.
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Oxford Meets Sake: The launch event of the Oxford Sake Society (OUSS)

3rd May 2018, Oriel College, Oxford University

We are very pleased to report that the Sake Society has been officially established in April this year as the home of sake related activities, and to support UK-Japan relations in Oxford University. The mission of the Oxford University Sake Society (OUSS) is to enlighten future leaders at University of Oxford on the culture of Japan through the national drink of sake, in the hope that they can become long term bridges between global society and Japan.
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Japanese Chamber of Commerce celebrates New Year with Sake

10th January 2018, Draper’s Hall, London

Opening the New Year with a toast of sake is Japan’s time-honoured custom, and it was our great pleasure to start 2018 supporting the annual reception at the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (JCCI) at the magnificent Draper’s Hall in the City of London. A record-breaking number of 470 members and friends attended to fill the grand hall to celebrate the new year.
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Sake Trade Tasting in India

24th November 2017
Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi

A “Sake Trade Tasting” event was held at the Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, in which five Sake Breweries from Japan participated, in cooperation with Sake Samurai Association UK and JETRO New Delhi Office.
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An Evening with Japanese Sake in India

23rd November 2017
Embassy of Japan in India, New Delhi

As part of the ongoing Japan Festival in Delhi, Amabssador Hiramatsu and Mrs Hiramatsu hosted an evening of Japanese culture for Indian guest from the fields of culture and business, paired with a scrumptious spread of Japanese cuisine.
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Sake’s Journey to the West

22nd November 2017
Taj Mahal Hotel, New Delhi, India

In November 2017, Sake Samurai UK took sake from Japan on a Journey to the West, to spread sake culture in the Indian capital of New Delhi.
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FPA (Foreign Press Association) Awards Dinner

20th November 2017, Sheraton Park Lane Hotel

Following the introduction event in March, The Foreign Press Association invited the Japan Sake and Shochu Maker’s Association to take part of their prestigious annual award giving dinner to sponsor and showcase a selection of sake to members of the world media.  This was held at the Sheraton Park Lane Hotel in Mayfair and about 300 world correspondents and their guests enjoyed the evening. 
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First official Japanese sake roundtable in London

20th November 2017, JETRO London

A roundtable was held to spark dialogue regarding the best way to promote sake in London, attended by the leading sake trade including importers, restaurant owners and sommeliers. The event was initiated by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) UK office and jointly organised with JETRO London. Twenty-two sake business related individuals and companies attended the meeting in the afternoon.
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Sake and the City

17th November 2017, London Capital Club

The Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) hosted a sake lecture and tasting event for finance professionals at the London Capital Club. The Club is a private members club based in the heart of London and provided a beautiful setting for sharing sake culture.
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The Japan Embassy praises the glory of Fukushima Sake

18th October 2017, Embassy of Japan in the UK

On the next day of the Parliament reception, the Fukushima Sake lecture and tasting took place at the Embassy of Japan, inviting a wider audience of trade, media and sake lovers. This was the first official Fukushima sake tasting hosted by the Embassy of Japan and Fukushima prefecture, and timely marked Fukushima's achievement of No 1 sake region at the Japan Sake Competition for the 5th year running.
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Fukushima Sake Fair, Houses of Parliament

17th October 2017, The Houses of Parliament

A reception to promote Fukushima sake was held at the Palace of Westminster, designed to also symbolise recovery from the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami. The British and Japanese Parliamentary Group hosted this meaningful event jointly with the Fukushima Local Government. Mr. Yoshio Mitsuyama, the president of Fukushima Association worldwide and Rie Yoshitake, the representative of Sake Samurai UK worked together to organise the reception.
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Sake Seminar at Nippon Club

5th and 26th October 2017

Sake Samurai UK was invited to host a sake seminar and tasting at the Nippon Club, one of the oldest Japanese institutions in London with a membership of 6,000 Japanese residents of the United Kingdom. It was the first time that the club organised a sake event, and the two series of events were fully booked with sake lovers and keen learners. The first session was held in the evening mainly for business people, and the second session was held at lunch time.
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Tosa Sake Fair 2017 ‘ NAKAMA’, Embassy of Japan in the U.K

29th September 2017

To continue the sake crusade, on the 19th September, seven sake makers from Kochi came back to London to promote Tosa sake with the flag of ‘ NAKAMA’ ; they were Bijofu, Tosatsuru, Akitora, Keigetsu, Toyonoume, Tsukasabotan and Mutemuka.  This was the third official event Kochi prefecture hosted at the Embassy of Japan showcasing the best of Tosa sake and food culture to London’s trade and sake lovers.
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Japan Cultural Awareness Day for Waterman Group

11th Sep 2017
Victorian Loft in Southwalk, London

Over many years, Sake Samurai UK (SSA) has been supporting British companies in building stronger relationships with Japan. Accordingly, SSA were delighted to be approached by a Japanese cultural consultant Ms Sarah Parsons to provide insights into Japanese culture to employees of the Waterman Group. Having been recently acquired by the Japanese company CTI Engineering, the Group were looking for a training day for their non-Japanese executives.
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Introducing Japanese Sake to European rugby players

25-27th Aug 2017, Piotrowice Nyskie, Poland

The Sake Samurai UK, this time introduced sake and the flavor of Japanese culture to the European grassroots rugby players at the Piotrowice Nyskie International Rugby Festival. The 7th edition of the annual 7s rugby tournament attracted 12 teams which included Women’s and Men’s teams from Poland, Czech Republic, Malta, Austria, and the Netherlands.
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Saddle up for Japan - the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Ascot

29 July 2017, Ascot Racecourse

Sake went to Ascot!! This was one of the most memorable day for sake promotion in the UK.

The Japan Racing Association (JRA) partnered with Ascot racecourse to promote Japan tourism at the ‘King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes’, which is Britain's most prestigious open-age flat race, and its roll of honour features some of the most highly acclaimed horses of the sport's recent history.
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Taste Washoku at Britain’s historic royal palace

17th July 2017, Hampton Court Palace

Accompanying the growing popularity of Japanese cuisine (washoku), sake had a great pleasure to enter the quintessential British historic scene at Hampton Court. This impressive Japanese food and sake promotion event was hosted by JA Group Kyoto and ZEN-NOH Group, through which, precious ingredients and sake from the Kyoto region were showcased.
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WABI: A Taste of Japan

7,8 July 2017, Lindley Hall in Westminster, London

After a decade of expertise on promoting sake through IWC sake competition, William Reed Business Media Ltd, the holding company of IWC, launched a long-waited brand new Japanese food, drink and culture show named WABI.  More than 20 well-known sake breweries came to exhibit from Japan. Featuring live product demonstrations, tastings and masterclasses, it aimed to allow both trade and consumers to experience the true essence of Japan in the centre of British capital.
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IWC 2017 Champion Sake Announcement

6th July 2017, Hilton Park Lane Hotel, London

The world’s biggest Sake competition, International Wine Challenge Sake, unveiled the 2017 Champion Sake lat its IWC Awards Dinner, known as the ‘Oscars of the Wine Industry’. The IWC Sake Champion 2017 prize went to Nanbu Bijin for its Tokubetsu Junmai 2017.

Produced in Iwate prefecture, on the northeastern coast of Honshu, this sake beat stiff competition from thousands of other entries to claim the top prize. Rich, but refreshing, its floral character and velvety texture seduced the international panel of 62 judges. This victory will thrust this small brewery, which only brews around 200k litres of sake a year, into the global spotlight.
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IWC 2017 Award Winning Sake Tasting

5th July 2017, Embassy of Japan

Prior to announcing the IWC 2017 Champion Sake, the Sake Samurai Association hosted a sake tasting at the Embassy of Japan featuring the thirteen sakes shortlisted for this year’s champion sake. This annual event has become the most anticipated in the London Sake Calendar. Oversubscribed as usual, members of trade and sake lovers gathered to appreciate some of Japan’s finest sakes and to meet with the sake brewers themselves.
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Sake enters May Ball at Cambridge University

17th June 2017  Hughes Hall College

The Sake Samurai UK, administrated by Yoshitake & Associates, were delighted to return to Cambridge University to host a sake tasting at the Hughes Hall May Ball. This was the first time that sake had been served in the history of May Balls at Cambridge.
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Tutoring on Japanese food and sake marketing at the Japan Local Government Centre (CLAIR)

1st June 2017

As sake is an important way of promoting the local culture of Japanese prefectures, the representative team at the Japan Local Government Centre has become more involved in sake promotion over the years in partnership with Sake Samurai UK. On 1st June, Rie Yoshitake from Sake Samurai and Mr Kenichi Shimamoto from JETRO London held a seminar for new employees at the Local Government Centre.
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Rugby World Cup Japan 2019 Promotion Event

19th May, Embassy of Japan

On the day of the World Rugby Cup 2019 Draw in Japan, the Japan National Tourism Organisation (JNTO) hosted a Japan Tourism Evening at the Embassy of Japan to which local dignitaries, tour operators and luxury hotel business were invited to boost the inbound tourism to Japan during Rugby World cup and Tokyo Olympics.
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Sake and Networking at Japanese corporate

12th May 2017, Hitachi Consulting Limited London

Sake is becoming increasingly popular among Japanese corporates in the UK, as a means of building team spirit and a sense of shared heritage among employees who may come from international backgrounds. Hitachi Consulting is the strategy consulting arm of Hitachi Limited and on the 12th May, Mr Shinji Kamata initiated an evening of sake and networking at Hitachi’s London office.
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Sake Tasting at the International Financial Report Standard Foundation (IFRS)

5th May 2017

A successful sake introduction event at E&Y last year led to an introduction to the IFRS Foundation, the organisation established to develop a single set of globally accepted accounting standards.

Mr Takatsugu Ochi and Mr Kan Hara at the IFRS took the initiative to introduce their national drink to their international colleagues, and invited Rie Yoshitake and her team to provide an introduction to sake and Japanese culture.
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IWC Sake Judging

24-26th April 2017, The Oval London

In 2016, a memorable trip to Hyogo prefecture in Japan was organised to commemorate the 10th anniversary of IWC Sake Competition. This year, IWC sake judging returned to London with the highest number of sake entries on record. Over three days, 60 judges from 14 countries judged 1246 sakes to determine the medallists, trophy winners and of course the Grand Champion.
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Sake Outreach in Poland

Embassy of Japan in Warsaw, 27th March 2017

JETRO in Poland invited Rie Yoshitake to promote sake to the food and beverage industry at the Embassy of Japan in Warsaw. Local restaurants, bar owners and those in hospitality were invited to gain more insight into a drink that has been growing in popularity over the years, driven by the rising popularity of Japanese cuisine.
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Sake Tasting for the Foreign Press Association

22nd March, Minister’s Residence

The Foreign Press Association (FPA) is one of the oldest clubs for foreign correspondents, based in London. Members of the FPA in London were invited to a reception and sake lecture at the Japan Minister’s residence in London.
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Sake Celebrates JET 30th Anniversary

15th March 2017, UK Houses of Parliament

The British Japanese Parliamentary Group (BJPG) and JETAAUK hosted a beautiful reception to celebrate 30 years since British participants on the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET) Programme first returned to the UK from Japan, in 1987.
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Gateway to the West - Introducing sake from Kyushu Island

7th March, Morton’s Club Mayfair

On 7th March, Nishinoseki sake made its debut in the UK. Nishinoseki, meaning both “Gateway to the West” and “Champion of the West”, is one of the rare sake houses that faithfully conveys the long-loved and authentic taste of Kyushu and Southern Japan in its brews.
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Sake at Japan Week in Scotland

21st February 2017

Sake Samurai UK were proud to support the second sake event to take place in Scotland this February 21st.  Organised by the Consulate of Japan in Scotland, the event was held at the University of Stirling in order to introduce sake culture to academics and university students.
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Oxford Nippon Dining Black Tie Dinner

10th February 2017, Oxford University

Every year, the Oxford Nippon Dining Club hosts a much anticipated black-tie dinner at the University. Members belonging or related to the Japanese Faculty gather for supper and a few drinks, putting work aside to enjoy a relaxing evening with members of the faculty.
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Japanese Film and Sake Roadshow UK

February and March 2017

Taking inspiration from Charlie Chaplin’s famous quote “Life is a desire, not a meaning”, the Japan Foundation Touring Film Programme 2017 featured an all-encompassing introduction to Japanese cinema through the prism of “desires, hopes and impulses”. Presenting films by established and up-and-coming directors, animation, documentary and classics, this year’s programme provided a vivid insight into what drives human action.
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Wentworth Golf Club Hosts First Sake Dinner

4th and 18th February 2017

Over the years, Sake Samurai UK has worked to spread Sake culture through different fields, including the City, the Diplomatic Services, the Arts, academic institutions and sporting circles.
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Gekkeikan Master Cooking Competition 2017

29th January 2017, London

After its debut in 2016, Japan Centre hosted its second sake themed “Gekkeikan Master Cooking Competition”, which is designed to promote the concept of “Sake to Eat”.
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Sake educator award at the Wine and Spirit Education Trust

23rd January, The Guild Hall

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust is undoubtedly the world largest wine, spirit and sake education body spreading across 73 countries. In 2016 over 72.000 candidates took WSET qualifications and the award giving ceremony took place in the flagship city, London at the Guild Hall. It was encouraging for the sake industry to witness several awards went to sake related organization and personalities.
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Sake and Washoku Promotion Dinner at Cambridge University

21st January 2017, Corpus Christi College Cambridge University

After two years of planning, Sake Samurai UK held a long-awaited and hugely successful Sake and Washoku cuisine dinner at Cambridge University. This was made possible by Dr Barak Kushner, Reader in Japanese history, who helped to orchestrate and host the event at his college. Without his efforts the event would not have been possible, Sincere thanks also to the Japan Embassy in London, Mr Hiranaka, Mr Karasawa and Minister Iida, who sponsored the evening’s splendid dinner.
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Japanese Chamber of Commerce and Industry New Year Party

8th January, Drapers Hall in the City

Japanese people traditionally celebrate the new year by sipping sacred sake which has been offered to the gods at local shrines, known as omiki. Sake was originally used purely as a libation, but over time came to be enjoyed by ordinary people, in the course of day to day life.
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Cambridge University Anglo-Japanese Society introduces sake to members

3rd Jan 2017, Cambridge

Sake Samurai UK, administrated by Yoshitake & Associates, is pleased to enter into a working partnership with the Cambridge University Anglo-Japanese Society (CUAJS) to develop UK-Japan relations and mutual understanding. For the launch event, a jointly organised sake tasting evening was held.
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Emperor’s Birthday Celebration

13th Dec 2016, Embassy of Japan in the UK

The celebration of Emperor Akihito’s birthday is always the most well attended event at the Japanese embassy in London. This year, over three hundred guests came together to celebrate His Imperial Majesty’s 83rd year.
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Exploring new market for sake in Latvia

15th November 2016

While the Japanese Embassy in the UK has been working hard to promote Sake and Japanese culture for many years, Japanese embassies across the world are beginning to follow its example.
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Sake Experience at Posterscope

3rd November 2016

Sake Samurai in the UK has been supporting Japanese-UK related organisations since 2004 by hosting sake tasting opportunities across the country and across different academic (Sake Academy) and professional institutions (Sake and the City). This event was hosted by Metro Ad Agency of Japan for Posterscope in London (the Out of Home specialist brand of Dentsu Aegis Network group), an authentic taste of Japanese culture.
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Woman in Business Seminar

2nd November 2016

Helen Akiyama the founder of Akiyama Connects was delighted to facilitate an event at Stanton House Hotel (close to Swindon) on Wednesday 2nd November with guest speaker Rie Yoshitake from Yoshitake & Associates and Sake Samurai. The event was well attended with members of the Japanese community as well as supporters from the local community.
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Sake - lifting the spirit of UK-Japan relations post-Brexit

31st October 2016

To strengthen Japan-UK collaboration and investment ties before, during and after Brexit, the Embassy of Japan and The British Japanese Parliamentary Group jointly hosted a reception at the Portcullis House, inviting MP’s and Peers, the FCO and representatives of Japanese and UK companies and media. Sake Samurai UK was invited to support the reception and took the opportunity to introduce sake and Japanese culture to guests.
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Sake Experience at Ernst and Young

24th October 2016

One of the major activities of Sake Samurai UK is to introduce sake and Japanese culture to multinational companies in the City of London. On 24th Oct, Sake Samurai UK held a Sake tasting experience at Ernst and Young’s (E&Y) Japan-UK Trade Event. The evening was run by the award winning Far East Network, which aims to encourage diversity within E&Y and the Japan Business Services team. Rose Telyczka, who worked with Sake Samurai at Oxford University initiated the event to continue her support for Japanese culture in a professional context.
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The return of Tosa sake  - Tosa Sake Fair 2016

Following a successful first expedition to London last year, the Tosa sake delegation wowed UK trade and sake lovers again with a selection of nihonshu from the “Land of Sake”. Six sake makers lead by Mr Akihiko Takemura from Tsukasabotan and much respected Father of Kochi Yeast, Dr Haruhiko Uehigashi attended a three-day Tosa Sake Fair in London. On the 10th October, the Embassy of Japan hosted the Tosa sake Seminar and Tasting for trade and press.
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Sake Academy at the London Business School

The Sake Academy initiative was launched in 2014 at St John’s College, Oxford.

Spearheaded by Sake Expert Rie Yoshitake, Sake Academy aimed to introduce Japan’s national beverage and culture to bright young minds, who would go on to become future world leaders.

Since then, Rie Yoshitake and her team at Yoshitake & Associates have expanded the Sake Academy initiative across academic institutions both in the UK and abroad including the London Business School, Cambridge Judge Business School, Edinburgh University, IESE…and its geographic reach only continues to grow.
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Sake Tasting at The Holburne Museum in Bath

1st October 2016

On World Sake Day, the Bath and Beppu Friendship Association in collaboration with Sake Samurai organised a unique and groundbreaking sake tasting in the elegant setting of Bath’s Holburne Museum. This was also the headline event for The Great Bath Feast. Nishinoseki, the household sake brand from Oita prefecture in Kyushu, generously sponsored sake for this event, offering a heartwarming, quintessential taste of Kyushu.
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World Sake Day

1st October 2016

The 1st October was World Sake Day. Watch this video to learn more about Japan's national drink and how to celebrate with Sake!
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IWC Award Winning Sake Seminar & Tasting

8th July 2016 Embassy of Japan

Following the excitement of the awards dinner, the proud champion and shortlisted trophy sake makers gathered at the embassy of Japan to showcase a selection of premium sake to trade, media and friends of Sake Samurai. The afternoon began with a seminar section, followed by brief presentations from nine of the award winning sake makers. Each sake maker passionately and charmingly introduced their sake brewery and philosophy, as well as the story of the winning sake itself.
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IWC 2016 Champion Sake Announcement

7th July at IWC Awards Dinner

‘To protect sake culture and to promote sake internationally’ … in order to realise this mission, the Sake Samurai Association collaborated with the International Wine Challenge (IWC) ten years ago, and has since grown to become the world’s largest and most prestigious sake competition.
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Sake Academy at Oxford University - Educating Future Global Leaders

It goes without saying that future global leaders require a world class education. At Oxford, the cradle of many of the world’s visionaries past and present, this “world class education” evolved in 2014 to include Sake 101, with the launch of the Sake Academy initiative. Led by Sake Expert Rie Yoshitake, Sake Academy aimed to introduce Japan’s national beverage to bright young minds at university campuses across the world. The Oxford chapter was launched at the St John’s College Triennial May Ball, in true Oxford style.
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Japan Day at Cambridge University

Cambridge Japan Day was started in 2015 by a team of Japanese MBA students studying at Judge Business School, with the purpose of promoting Japanese culture ("Cool Japan") to students from all over the world. With the support of Sake Samurai UK and Tazaki Foods UK, they were able to host their second Japan Day this year with great success.
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IWC 2016 Sake judging and award announcement in Hyogo

The 2016 International Wine Challenge sake competition celebrates its 10-year collaboration between the Sake Samurai Association and the IWC. This robust and fruitful relationship has supported the global expansion of sake, by both boosting international awareness and exports, as well as increasing the popularity of sake within Japan itself.
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“Sake no Tomo”, Friend of Sake

For years, sake has been casting its spell far beyond the borders of its homeland. More and more, epicures from across Europe are expressing a curiousity to learn more about a drink they had always associated with hangovers. In an effort to nurture Europe’s developing sake market, the Sake Samurai Association (SSA) launched a Sake Roadshow initiative across the UK and mainland Europe, in order to educate and spread the passion for Nihonshu. On 13th April 2015, the IESE Business School in Barcelona in partnership with the Japanese Consulate, Sake Samurai UK, and Comerjapones.com hosted the Spanish chapter of the Sake event which Academy initiative.
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Fukushima: Sake Wonderland

As Fukushima Sake swept the board at the 2015 IWC Sake Championships, it became evident that something extraordinary was afoot. Just how was it possible for a single prefecture to produce such a variety of world class Sake? Rie Yoshitake, UK Sake Samurai Representative and Hitomi Kumasaka, Social Media Specialist, made a pilgrimage to the prefecture and visited four of the most prestigious breweries, Daishichi, Yamatogawa, Suehiro and Aizu Homare, to uncover the “Fukushima Formula” for trophy sake.
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Hyogo hosts IWC 10th anniversary sake tasting

The Sake Samurai Association (SSA), longstanding partner of the International Wine Challenge (IWC), is happy to announce that this year’s world-largest sake competition will be hosted in Kobe, Hyogo Prefecture in May.
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Fukushima Meets Oxford

In conjunction with Oxford University’s Japan Society (OUJS), Yoshitake and Associates and the Sake Samurai Organisation hosted students and residents of Oxford for an evening of dance, music and commemoration, on 10th March, 2016.
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Gekkeikan Masters of Sake Competition 2016 – “Sake to Eat”

It’s dinnertime; you are enjoying the company of some close friends in your local haunt. Habitually, you reach for the wine list to scout out the perfect liquid companion to your evening meal. Shall you have white tonight, or will it be red? Or will you, like the growing numbers of culturally curious diners across the world opt for something else entirely?
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Scotland Meets Sake

Ceaseless in the search for new markets for sake, a team of brewers and Rie Yoshitake arrived in the very heart of Scotland this November 2015. At an event organised by the Consulate General of Japan in Edinburg, the University of Edinburg and Yoshitake & Associates, our trailblazing team met with sake lovers and distributors alike.
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Fukuoka Evening

Amid the excitement of this year’s Rugby World Cup celebrations in the UK, festivities of a different kind were also taking place. In a bid to showcase Fukuoka prefecture’s regional charm and delights abroad, Governor Hiroshi Ogawa hosted an evening of warm and vibrant hospitality at the Intercontinental Hotel, Park Lane.
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Presenting Japan

A seven-day extravaganza of lively art, Japanese cuisine and sake was held at the Japan Pavilion at the Queen Elisabeth II Centre, timed carefully to coincide with the most climactic week of the 2015 Rugby World Cup.
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European Sake Summit at the Salon du Sake in Paris

The Salon du Sake 2015, brainchild of Sylvain Huet (Sake Samurai and the founder of L’Academie du Sake), took place this October, building on the success of the first Salon in 2013. Over the course of two days, more than 40 sake artisans flew their flags under one roof at the Centre du Congress in Paris, attracting sake lovers from throughout Europe.
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Ken Ohashi, the First Master of Wine and Sake

The Sake Samurai Association and the International Wine Challenge (IWC) are very proud to announce that the IWC Co-chairman of Sake has been newly conferred with the title of Master of Wine (MW). The MW is the most acclaimed title in the wine world, issued by the Institute of Masters of Wines.
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Sake Samurai Inauguration 2015

The Sake Samurai Association has commemorated its 10th anniversary this year; with 7 individuals who have dedicated themselves in promoting the tradition and culture of Sake across the world, selected as Sake Samurai. The inauguration ceremony took place at the Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on the 16th October.
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International Sake Day Celebrations

Japan is a nation that understands the art of celebration. Countless festivals, or 'Matsuri', are held throughout the year, featuring music, traditional garb and taiko drumming. With the rice harvest comes the start of the Sake brewing season. This day is now known as 'Nihonshu no hi', or International Sake Day.
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Tosa Sake Fair

On the 17th September, Kochi prefecture hosted a grand sake event at the Embassy of Japan, showcasing the best of Tosa sake and food culture to London’s trade and sake lovers. Nine sake makers out of Kochi’s 18 came to London to promote the region’s sake.
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The Oku Memorial Trophy 2015

In this memorable year of England hosting the Rugby World Cup 2015, the 11th Oku Memorial Rugby Tournament took place at Oxford University in memory of Ambassador Katsuhiko Oku. The ambassador was a passionate diplomat and devoted his energy to the reconstruction of Iraq, but was tragically killed while on tour in November 2003.
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IWC visits Fukushima governor and the champion sake

Two months after the memorable announcement of the IWC 2015 champion sake, Chris Ashton, the COO of IWC and Rie Yoshitake flew to Japan and visited Fukushima with IWC ambassador Toshie Hiraide. The IWC team received a heartfelt welcome from the Governor, Mr Masao Uchihori.
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International Sake Day 1st October

The 1st October is one of the most significant days in the Sake calendar, and indeed, the Japanese calendar. Otherwise known as Sake Day, or "Nihonshu no hi", it marks the first day of the sake-making season. The 1st October, in other words, is sake's 'New Year's Day'.
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Arts and Sake: START at Saatchi Gallery

Sake is a two thousand year old tradition, whilst the START Art Fair at Saatchi is two years old this year. Sake is an ancient art, whilst START is all about the contemporary. On Wednesday 9th September, the two were combined to present a new interpretation on the theme of ‘Sake: Tradition Meets Innovation’ at London’s renowned Saatchi Gallery to the global art community.
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IWC 2015 Champion Sake announced

The International Wine Challenge (IWC) in partnership with The Sake Samurai Association announced the IWC 2015 Champion Sake on the 16th July at the awards diner in London. The Champion Sake was awarded by Homare Sake Brewery from the previously devastated area of Fukushima in Tohoku region. The brewery’s Aizu Homare Banshu Yamadanishiki Junmai Daiginjo fought off competition from 876 entries to scoop the prestigious title sponsored by Japan Airlines.
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Tradition Meets Innovation: The Story of the First Non-Japanese Sake Master Brewer

On the 6th July 2015, following the well-received sake evening last year, the Japan Foundation in partnership with Sake Samurai UK extended another unique and joyful sake event to their members and friends. This time, we invited British master sake brewer, Philip Harper to tell his story. The grand Conway Hall in London was filled with over 250 enthusiastic sake lovers who did not want to miss this rare opportunity.
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The First Japanese Cultural Event at Cambridge Judge Business School

On June 28th, 2015, Cambridge Japan Day 2015 was successfully held at Cambridge Judge Business School (JBS) with more than 60 participants. The event was the first Japan Day at JBS and was arranged by a team of Japanese MBA students: Masayoshi Yoshihara, Shingo Matsuba, and Tomoaki Goeku, aiming to promote “Cool Japan” in cooperation with Sake Samurai UK and Tazaki Foods UK.
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Red Cross Charity Event

The Sake Samurai and Yoshitake & Associates were proud to sponsor the inaugural British Red Cross Good Look Fashion Show on Friday, 5th June. This sell out event brought guests together in support of ‘Good’ causes, through the medium of stunning catwalk ‘Looks’.
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IWC 2015 Sake Trophy, and Great Value Sake Announcement

Following the Medal announcement last week, The International Wine Challenge and Sake Samurai have publicised the IWC 2015 Sake Trophies. Much-coveted Trophies were awarded to 7 category winners who will be shortlisted for the IWC 2015 Champion Sake on the 16th July.
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IESE Hanami Event, Barcelona

On 14th of April 2015, Japan Business Club(JBC) at IESE Business School, held Hanami Event at Barcelona Campus for the first time in IESE’s history, with the support of Sake Samurai UK. Japan Business Club organized the event to introduce Japan's Hanami culture and to offer the world's future leaders an opportunity to enjoy Japanese food, sake and hospitality.
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IWC 2015 Sake Judging

Since it started in 2007 in partnership with the Sake Samurai Association, the sake competition at the International Wine Challenge has been playing an indispensable role in promoting Japan’s national drink to a worldwide audience.
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Sake exports reach a record high

Sake Samurai is excited to report that sake is becoming increasingly popular outside Japan, and the export of sake has reached a record high in its history. Boosted by the popularity of Japanese cuisine, sake exports have increased in each of the last five years.
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London Sake Symposium and Trade Tasting

In an effort to build a platform for the UK sake trade, the first London Sake Symposium and Trade Tasting was successfully attended by UK sake professionals and future sake business seekers on the 5th March at the Embassy of Japan in the UK.
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Ramen-Sake event at Cambridge University

Barak Kushner, who teaches modern Japanese history at the Faculty of the Oriental Study at the University of Cambridge and also known as the author of ‘ SLURP’, a culinary and social history of Ramen, organised ‘Ramen and sake evening’ at his college. Sake Samurai has supported the event. Barak kindly reported people’s conception on sake before and after the event.
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Sake Samurai UK Unites With Oxford University Japan Society

We are pleased to announce that Sake Samurai UK is officially collaborating with the Oxford University Japanese Society (OUJS) and will be supporting various activities to promote Japanese culture and sake. Miss Rose Telyczka of OUJS has agreed to bridge Sake Samurai UK and OUJS, and here is her first report.
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Ambassador OKU Memorial Rugby Cup

It has been 11 years since the tragic death of Mr Katsuhiko Oku in Iraq during his mission. Once again his friends gathered near the anniversary to honour his memory by playing the game he loved. The 10th memorial rugby cup was organised by Mr Reg Clerk, the CEO of Rhino Group, who recalls Ambassador Oku as ‘A truly remarkable man. He brightened the lives of those who entered in all walks of his life. His assassination was the most awful shock to his family and friends.’
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Itadakimasu Day by MAFF

‘Itadakimasu’ is the phrase used in Japan before eating meals to thank nature and people who brought food to the table for us. An event for the further understanding of philosophy of authentic Japanese cuisine took place in London on the 29th November and successfully attended by food critics, journalists and food lovers. To complement the food, a selection of sake was organised by Sake Samurai UK with a kind sponsorship of Tazaki Foods.
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Oxford MBA Team Undertakes Sake Marketing Research

This summer, the first academic research on the UK sake market was conducted by a strategic consulting team lead by Mr Takeshi Chino, from Said Business School, University of Oxford. The research has been successfully completed and the project outcome was presented at the Embassy of Japan in early September, to the Japanese authorities and the UK sake trade representatives. The report will be available for the trade and public in the near future.
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Sake Samurai Inauguration 2014

The 9th SAKE SAMURAI has been announced. An official ceremony was held to inaugurate 6 new Sake Samurais at the Shimogamo shrine in Kyoto on the 17th October.
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Japan 400 celebrates in Plymouth

To commemorate the historic return of the East India Company’s ship to Sutton Harbour in Plymouth 400 years ago, an official ceremony was attended by senior dignitaries including ministerial representatives from the UK and Japan on the 27th September. A tall ship came into the port as a climax of the UK-Japan 400-year relations through a series of Japanese events which took in the city for a week.
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Enjoy International Sake Day events in London!

1st October is Sake Day (Nihonshu no hi) in Japan. It marks the first day of the sake-making season, and the month of October is significant. The tenth year, hour and month are represented in the Chinese zodiac system by the ancient character that is also a symbol for sake, and sake brewing begins in the autumn, usually in October. So the first day of the tenth month, October 1st, is known as “Nihonshu no hi” or “Sake Day” in Japan.
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Introduction to Sake at the Japan Foundation London

The Japan Foundation London is Japan’s principal organisation to promote Japanese culture exchange. On the 16th September, 'Introduction to Sake' lecture was held and well received by a full audience of those who already love Sake and others who wanted to learn more about this drink, which is enjoying increasing popularity in the UK, indeed, worldwide.
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IWC 2014 Champion sake

Sake Samurai UK would like to send heartfelt congratulations to Mr Atsushi Hirata from Hirata Brewery, who won the IWC 2014 Champion Sake Award with a 1995 Jukusei Koshu Hidanohana Suiou. The award was presented at the IWC Awards Dinner held in London on 16th July. It was a sensational win for this small family-run sake brewery with only 5 employees, which fought off stiff competition from over 700 other entries to scoop the prestigious title.
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Fukuoka showcases sake in Paris

A delegation from Fukuoka prefecture led by the Governor Mr Hiroshi Ogawa delighted the palates of gastronomic Parisians with a selection of finest sake, shochu and local specialities. The reception took place in Paris at the residence of the Japanese Ambassador to France, Mr Yoichi Suzuki, on the 2nd July, with invitations extended to opinion leaders, press and the trade in Paris.
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Oxford meets Japanese Sake Makers

On 28th June at the Saïd College Business School in Oxford, a delegation representing Japanese sake makers gave a talk on sake followed by a tasting reception. This prestigious and popular event offered students a rare opportunity to meet sake makers in person.
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Japanese hospitality at Oxford University Ball

On a mid-summer’s night of the 27th June at the St John’s College Commemoration Ball in Oxford, Japanese ‘omotenashi’ hospitality was extended to a distinguished party of guests. Founded in 1555, St John’s College is one of the oldest and most prestigious colleges of the University, with notable alumni including Japan’s own Prince Fumihito.
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IWC 2014 Sake Trophy

IWC 2014 Sake Trophies have been announced on the 14th May. The best sake of each category is awarded the Category Trophy. The runner-up sake are awarded the regional trophies with the name of prefecture or city. The overall Champion of IWC Sake 2014 will be announced on the 16th July at the IWC Awards dinner.
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IWC 2014 Sake Judging

In London, on the 14th and 15th April, IWC 2014 sake judging was undertaken with a staggering new record of 725 entries in 7 categories. This year, two new categories of sparkling sake and ordinary sake were added to the original repertoire of Junmai, Junmai Gijo/Daiginjo, Honjozo, Ginjo/Daiginjo and Koshu.
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Sake evening at the Sainsbury Institute, Norwich

As a part of the Friends of the Sainsbury Institute programme, a Sake Tasting and Talk event was held on 8 April, giving the Institute’s supporters an opportunity to learn about sake from an expert in an informal and friendly atmosphere, and to enjoy tasting different kinds of sake, which is becoming increasingly popular in the UK.
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IWC 2014 Sake Competition

In partnership with International Wine Challenge (IWC), the Sake Samurai Association is pleased to announce the IWC 2014 sake competition schedule.
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Sake Seminar gives brewers’ insights to local staff

Following the Sake Evening at the Houses of Parliament on March 26th, the Embassy of Japan in the UK hosted a sake seminar for key Japanese expat staff working in the London branches of Japanese government agencies. The aim of the seminar was to provide up-to-date information and brewery-perspective insight to staff tasked with support the import and marketing of sake to British audiences.
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Sake Flows at the Palace of Westminster

Sake Samurai UK is pleased to report that on March 26th five of Japan’s most commercially and critically successful sake makers presented a selection of their most exceptional sake at a special Sake Evening hosted by the British-Japanese Parliamentary Group in association with the Sake Samurai Association.
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Top Chefs and Restaurants Celebrate UNESCO Inscription of Washoku

The Embassy of Japan in the UK hosted three-star Michelin chef Yoshihiro Murata from Japan and the UK’s very own Heston Blumenthal, as well as nine outstanding restaurants and culinary associations, to celebrate the inscription of washoku on the UNESCO list of intangible cultural heritage. A selection of sake was showcased as a unique national drink and an important ingredient in Japanese culinary culture.
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WSET Prepares to Launch New Qualification in Sake

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), in anticipation of the launch of a new sake qualification in August 2014 has run a series of sake seminars for sommeliers and distributors, supported by the Japanese Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries to educate WSET sake instructors.
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Discovering Sake at BlackRock

In collaboration with the Japan Society and BlackRock, Sake Samurai hosted a screening of Discovering Sake, the MAFF-sponsored series of films introducing sake, following by a tasting.
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Dassai to Open Retail Outlet, Restaurant in France

Award-winning brewery Asahi Shuzo will be opening its first overseas retail outlet, in Paris, France, in spring 2014. The outlet will also feature an outlet. The brewery established an overseas office, Dassai France, in August 2013 and having selected a location is now conducting training for local staff.
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UK's Largest Japanese Food Distributor Purchased by Takara Shuzo

Japanese brewery Takara Shuzo announced on 19th September that it had purchased Tazaki Foods, the UK's largest distributor of Japanese food and drink, on 24 September. Tazaki Foods has been supplying authentic Japanese ingredients, including rice, sake, and mirin, to Japanese restaurants and other trade customers since 1978.
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Kitaya Win Brings Joy to Fukuoka, Kyushu

Daiginjo Gokujo Kitaya was crowned 2013 IWC Champion Sake at the IWC Awards Dinner this July, and the Kitaya brewery has been celebrating its success and enjoying the enhanced media profile befitting of the winners of the most prestigious sake competition outside of Japan ever since.
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BlackRock Sushi and Sake evening

For the second consecutive year, the Sake Samurai Association UK team lead by Rie Yoshitake and sake experts supported the multicultural network evening at global investment manager BlackRock's headquarters in London.
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Susanne Rost-Aoki, IWC 2013 Sake Contributor Award Winner

Susanne was born in Giessen, in Hesse state, Germany. She first discovered sake during a trip to Japan in 2004, when she was shown her first glass of daiginjo. In October of the same year, she launched Sake Kontor, a German-based company involved in the import, wholesale, online sales and consulting of premium sake.
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Kuramoto Dinner at UMU

The annual Kuramoto Dinner, in partnership with the Sake Samurai and the IWC, was hosted by Michelin-starred restaurant UMU. It was attended by trophy winning sake brewers in London to attend the IWC Awards Dinner.
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IWC 2013 Award Winning Sake Tasting

An exclusive tasting was held at the Embassy of Japan in the UK on Tuesday 16th July, 2013, showcasing the finalists for the 2013 IWC Champion Sake as well as sake from previous IWC award winners and the Sake Samurai.
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IWC 2013 sake medals and trophies

Gold medals have been awarded to 25 outstanding sake at the 30th International Wine Challenge in London. The 7th year of sake's inclusion in this prestigeous competition attracted 583 entries that reflect a continuous surge in popularity in Europe.
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