Episodes

If you’ve listened to Sake on Air before, you know every single episode kicks off with Chris saying, “…all the culture and history and…” That line was actually born in our very first recording session, cut from an explanation about exactly what hooked him into sake. It’s a philosophy we live by on the show, but today, we’re exploring it in a remarkably unique way. We’re reporting on an event held earlier this year at the JSS Information Center that viewed sake culture through the vibrant, witty...

Shuki, or sake vessels, are more than just cups for serving sake. They add another layer of enjoyment to the drinking experience, and come in a remarkable variety of sizes, shapes, and materials. As you use them they come to have their own meaning and special value as well. In this episode of Sake on Air, Miho explores the fascinating world of sake cups with Japanese pottery expert Robert Yellin, from everyday drinking vessels to those used in special rituals. From his pottery gallery in Kyoto,...

In this episode Sebastien Lemoine, John Gauntner, and Chris Hughes (and Frank Walter) interview Jacky Royer about sake, food, and travel in Shizuoka. Jacky works at Shidaizumi and runs a land operator tour business for French-speaking visitors to Japan. We learn about his origins studying library science in Tokyo, how he came to brew sake, and much much more. As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share them with us at questions@sakeonair.com or send us a message on our Instagr...

Awamori is a traditional spirit from Okinawa with a history of over 500 years, yet it remains little known outside Japan. In this episode of Sake on Air, Miho interviews two Okinawa-based drinks professionals, Madoka Numata and Maurice Dudley. They talk about about places visitors can explore in Okinawa—particularly in the capital city of Naha—to taste, learn about, and experience awamori, along with its rich culture and history. As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share the...

Following up on our Izakaya 101 episode, Frank, Cindy, and Chris share some of their favorite sake focused restaurants and watering holes. Cindy took on Kyoto, Chris led the Tokyo discussion, and Frank filled in the gaps with off the wall picks from places in between. Our rollicking discussion bounces around all of the archipelago, and it’s hard to imagine someone who has visited every place on our list. Here are all the izakaya talked about on the show. https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/1/edit?m...

Cindy leads a year-long discussion about sake events with fellow hosts Sebastien, Chris, and Frank. They talk about many of the main sake events that are happening or have happened this year. They talk about the large events like the Niigata Sake no Jin and small events like the various Kurabiraki that are held throughout the country. (Kurabiraki are when a sake brewery or group of breweries opens their doors to show people inside the brewery and sell the first sakes of the year.) Their conversa...

This week, Cindy Bissig and Frank Walter sit down with Takashi Eguchi, better known in the sake world as Umio, to explore Shiga Prefecture’s vibrant sake scene and its potential as a sake tourism destination Together, they discuss breweries across the region that welcome visitors, from formal tours to shops and lively brewery festivals, along with practical tips on how to visit. Umio shares some of his favorite breweries to visit, including ​​Uehara Shuzo in Takashima City, along with two izaka...

Every February, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association holds the Sake and Shochu Academy, a week-long course that teaches students everything they need to know about Japan’s national beverages. Think Hogwarts for sake. The teachers are not wizards in a literal sense, but are top representatives from various official sake industry and research bodies, the equivalent of wizards in the sake world perhaps. The students are an elite group of professionals from different corners of the alcoholic...

In the second of our new format “Bulletin” episodes, Chris reports back from the JSS’s annual press conference, sharing current export figures, and strategies to increase exports further. The press conference was held at the JSS headquarters in February 2026, and presented by our very own Shuso Imada and Hitoshi Utsunomiya. With domestic consumption flailing, all eyes are on the rest of the world. Is the future for sake exports bright and rosy? Were there any surprises? Which new export country ...

Frank visited the multi-instrumentalist Bobby Griffin at his home and studio to talk about how sake is treated in traditional Japanese music. In particular they talked about Sasa no Tsuyu, a piece for shamisen, koto, and voice. It was arranged in the 1800s and the lyrics are all about the power and pleasure of sake. We also filmed our visit, and you can check out the video here on youtube: https://youtu.be/8anultw4rFY If you are in Japan and want to learn how to play Sasa no Tsuyu, check out Bo...

This week, Frank is joined by Aaron Hao, the founder of Sake Studio, to talk all things sake tasting. Aaron drinks sake every day. He basically has to, since he is a triple-certified Sommelier, Executive Director of Sake Base, and the owner of a sake focused izakaya. Their conversation covers, of course how to taste sake, but also what got Aaron into the world of sake and what excites him about being a sake professional. You can find out more about Aaron’s activities at Sake Base on Instagram o...

In this special episode we are trying out a new format we are dubbing the “Sake on Air Bulletin.” One or more of our hosts will report back on an event or experience they tried recently in the form of a short audio bulletin. This time it’s the turn of Chris to don his journalist hat. He recently attended a panel discussion and seminar on GIs. It’s read ‘Gee Eye’ not G1, and stands for Geographical Indication and is used on everything from French wine to Italian ham. This GI seminar was held by ...

Frank got to sit down with Okura Taiji of Gekkeikan Sake to talk about the whole swath of Gekkeikan’s existance. Our conversation covers its rise to prominence in the late 1800s to its creation of a brewery in America to what’s going on in Gekkeikan Studio, the experimental arm of the brewery. We ae trying out a new video format which you can find on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgCm-m_-1_I. Let us know what you think! As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share t...

In this episode of Sake on Air, we’re heading off the tourist path to Kochi Prefecture! Tune in to learn more about this little-known yet deeply compelling region, and why it deserves a spot on your sake travel list. In September 2025, Cindy Bissig; Simone Maynard, creator of Taste with the Toji (check out episode 92!), a Sake Samurai, and a sake educator; and Taichiro Ogi, certified Tosa Sake Advisor and manager of Shikoku Travel Solutions, visited 6 breweries in Kochi together. Their trip was...

Join Imada-san and Sebastien (and a late arriving guest) as they talk all things Izakaya. These Japanese drinking and eating establishments are the foundation of sake culture and the trio has a lot to say about where to go, what to order, and how to have a good time. They talk about which foods go well with sake and many of the unwritten rules of dining out in Japan. When JSS’s map of recommended izakaya is released later this year we will link it here: We’d love to hear your experiences at iz...

Frank and Eric C Rath, Professor at University of Kansas and author of multiple books on Japanese food culture, dive deep into his new book, Kanpai: The History of Sake. We talk about samurai drinking games, the origins of sake as a beverage, sake’s effects on the Japanese economy, and many other topics. We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know at questions@sakeonair.com or send us a message on our Instagram, Facebook, or Substack! We’ll be back very soon with plenty m...

Sebastien and Marie catch up with friend of the show, David Joll! Their conversation with the founder of Zenkuro Sake covers both the tribulations of making sake abroad while using Japanese rice, koji, and yeast along with the changes in the New Zealand sake market. We also talked about future plans for the brewery and much more. It’s been 5 years since we first had David on the show, Episode 35, and there is a lot to talk about! We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know...

Liam McNulty, the man behind nomunication.jp and a standing member of the Tokyo Whisky and Spirits Competition (TWSC) managing committee, joins Frank to talk all things shochu. Our discussion covers how shochu is defined, how shochu is judged at TWSC, and what the future looks like for this remarkable spirit. We also touch on koji-based whiskies, shochu-based gins, and the blending of ideas from both the spirits and shochu world. We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know...

We are thrilled to be able to interview the one and only Philip Harper at the brewery where he works as toji, or master brewer. Philip is first non-Japanese person to become a toji at a brewery in Japan, and his impact on the world of sake cannot be overstated. Our hosts, Cindy Bissig, Chris Pellegrini, and Frank Walter, made the trek to the tippy top of Kyoto Prefecture to visit the brewery and Philip, and what a visit it was! Philip opened up about his beginnings in the sake world, how he cam...

Miho Ota is joined on this episode of Sake on Air by Spanish sake educator and promoter Elvira Aldaz to talk about their three-day sake trip to Fukushima in July. They visited 9 breweries in under 72 hours including travel to and from Tokyo! The two friends share their impressions from talking with local brewers, tasting many different styles of sake, and experiencing how the region’s climate, culture, and brewing traditions make Fukushima sake what it is. Fukushima Trip Itinerary DAY 1 Niida H...

Sebastien and Chris had a lovely time talking to Norihiro Fujii of Fujji Shuzo, makers of Ryusei. Their conversation was wide ranging: covering the history of the brewery, the change to all kimoto brewing, and the ongoing move to all wild fermentation. We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know at questions@sakeonair.com or send us a message on our Instagram, Facebook, or Substack! We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air. Until then, kampai! Sake On Air is...

Marie, Miho, and Frank have a sit down and try three hiyaoroshi sake with various pairings in this laid back episode of Sake on Air. We hope that as you give it a listen you pour yourself a glass and taste along with us. The sakes we had are all available at the info center: Joku Junmai from Hachinohe Shurui in Aomori Mongai Fushutsu Junmai Ginjio from Nishibori Shuzo in Tochigi Takaji Yamahai Junmai from Juhachi Zakari in Okayama A reminder that you can find out about sake events going on thr...

Frank Walter and Chris Hughes spent the first day of the biggest event of the sake calendar, JAPAN SAKE & SHOCHU FAIR 2025, talking to old and new friends about the world of sake and shochu. It was held in Osaka for the first time on June 14th and 15th of 2025. Oliver Chan, founder of Sake Moto HK and recent author; Keith Norum, of Masumi Sake; Chris’s former student, who is involved in the Taiwan Sake & Shochu Research Association; and Mika Eoka, who has been pioneering sake imports and educat...

The biggest event of the sake calendar, JAPAN SAKE & SHOCHU FAIR 2025 was held in Osaka for the first time on June 14th and 15th of this year! Chris Hughes became our roving reporter on the fair floor and interviewed a variety of characters sipping a variety of beverages. He spoke to Tomomi Duquette, founder of Niigata Sake Lovers; representatives from the Zenkoku Chori Shokuhin Kogyo Kyodo Kumiai; Takeshi Itani, founder of Sake Experience; and Shun Kosaka, bartender at Quarter Room. Join us ne...