The Sake Samurai Association

The Sake Samurai Association was established in 2004 as a junior council for the Japan Sake Brewers Association to protect sake and Japanese traditions at home and to promote them internationally. It has contributed to the increased popularity of sake and Japanese food overseas in recent years.

In ancient times, Japan was known as “the land of abundant reed plains and fresh ears of rice.” Water and rice are at the very heart of Japanese culture. Nurtured over a long history in a beautiful land, Japanese sake, made from these simple ingredients, merges timeless wisdom with sophisticated craft.

In the modern era however, social changes pushed sake, together with other traditional cuisine and customs, toward the periphery of Japanese lifestyle. Sake brewers fear that the pride of the Japanese people is being lost from Japan.

Meanwhile, Japanese food and sake have made remarkable inroads overseas, growing in estimation with each passing year. Japanese food and sake convey the beauty of Japanese culture to the world with the wisdom and knowledge of the Japanese people, and the world in turn has appreciated Japan’s culture.

Activities

Since 2006 Sake Samurai has awarded annual ‘Samurai’ titles to individuals for their outstanding contribution to the understanding, appreciation or promotion of sake. The recipients of these titles commit to the upholding of three tenets:

• Love both sake and the beautiful culture of Japan.
• Strive to gain a deeper understanding of sake culture and work on behalf of its further development.
• Spread the word about Japanese sake around the world with pride and passion.

Sake Samurai has also enhanced the international reputation of sake through its association with the International Wine Challenge in London, introducing sake as a category alongside fine wines since 2007.