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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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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