IWC 2015 Awards Winning Sake Tasting at the Embassy of Japan in the UK
Following a grand Awards Ceremony the night before, the doors of the Japanese Embassy were opened on the 17th July to host the much anticipated tasting of the 2015 IWC Sake Competition’s Award winning sake.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
Sake evening at Oxford University Japan Society
Sake Samurai UK has been sponsoring the Oxford University and co-organising events to introduce Japanese culture and sake to their students. Charlotte Dodd, President of Oxford University Japan Society reports.
read more
read more
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’.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
International Wine Challenge (IWC) 2015 Medal Announcement
International Wine Challenge and Sake Samurai are pleased to announce the medal winners for the IWC 2015 Sake category. From a staggering 877 entries in the sake category this year, the best entries were awarded with Gold, Silver, Bronze and Commended medals.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
Exclusive sake dinner hosts the royal chef and world media
This spring, in an effort to raise the profile of sake internationally, the Japanese Sake and Shochu Association (JSS) and the Embassy of Japan co-hosted an exclusive sake and washoku dinner at the official residence of the Japanese ambassador in London.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
Rie Yoshitake receives Japanese Minister’s Award
With great pleasure, Sake Samurai UK would like to inform you that Rie Yoshitake has received the Minister's Award for Overseas Promotion of Japanese Food.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.’
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
Tonkotsu ramen specialist comes to London with fine sake
Alongside the increasing popularity of Japanese cuisine and sake, there is tonkotsu ramen. The pork-based soup noodle originating from Hakata in Fukuoka prefecture in southern Japan, has been taking London’s eating scene by storm.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more
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.
read more
read more