♦ Eligibility ♦

Applicants MUST possess at least one of the below certifications.

• Sake Service Institute (SSI) Sake Sommelier
• Sake Service Institute (SSI) Shochu Kikisake-shi

*You MUST be age 21 or over to participate in the competition*

*You are allowed to enter ONLY once throughout the entire competition from your respective country. Entries from multiple countries is strictly forbidden and subject to automatic disqualification.*

♦ Schedule ♦

☙  Application Process  ❧

Please choose one of the following categories to enter

1. Food and Beverage Service Category – Demonstrating role play scenarios in restaurant settings.
2. Retail Service Category – Roleplaying scenarios in liquor stores or similar caliber.

Resume and essay submission guidelines

• Please submit both resume and essays before the application deadline (9/10/2024) at 5 PM PST. Any submission after the deadline will not be considered.

Resume Requirements

• Resume should not be longer than 1 page. It is highly recommended to include your present employer and current position (if applicable).

Essay Requirements

• Essay must meet the minimum requirement of 500 words, but no longer than 1,000 words.

• Must address the following essay question: “What inspired to challenge myself in the World Kikisake shi Competition?”

• Due Date
  • September 10, 2024 at 5 PM (PST)
  • *You must submit both Resume and Essay. Failure to submit both is grounds for automatic disqualification from pre-selection.*
  • The fee is free of charge for application.

Click here for Registration

☙  Preliminary Processes ❧

• 1st Round: Document Screening
  • Application – Due 9/10/2024 – Resume and Essay *Please include all conditions/rules for both documents*.
  • Winner is announced 9/16/2024.
• 2nd Round: End of October in LA (10/21) or NY (10/28)
  • Role play demonstration (choice of your category; Restaurant or Retail shop), more details will be revealed through direct email if selected for the next round.

☙  Winner Announcement Process  ❧

• One winner will be selected from two locations respectively: Los Angeles & New York
• Once selected, the two winners will be competing in the semi-final round at World Sake Sommelier Competition in Tokyo, Japan.
• A compensation of $1000 USD will be awarded to cover for Air Flight round trip expenses to Japan. Hotel accommodations, and meals will be provided and covered for 2 days only during the competition.

☙  Semi-Final and Final Round Process  ❧

• Customer Service Roleplay Scenario
  • Participants in the “Food and Beverage Service Division” will partake in a customer service roleplay simulation. The setting will be in a restaurant interior as a waiter/waitress.
  • Those in the “Retail Service Division” will participate in a similar fashion, though it will take place in a liquor store as a sales associate.
• Assigned Alcohol for the Semi-Final
  
  • A certain selection of Sake and Shochu will be used for 2 purposes.
    
    • 1. Contestants are required to create an original cocktail recipe with the assigned products selected in advance.
    • 2. Presentation, and overall taste will be the main factors, as Cocktail creation techniques will not be included for judging criteria.
    • 3. The products will be served during role play scenarios.
    • The list of the products will be located here. *Please read thoroughly as the possible chance of any of the products will not be selected for the round.*
• Overall content review
  • Customer service roleplay assuming a restaurant or liquor store
  • Cocktail suggestions* (Semi-finalists only).
    • You will be tasked with creating a cocktail based on sake, authentic shochu, or awamori that is planned in advance. (Creation techniques are not included in judging criteria.)
• Judging Criteria
  • Customer Service Roleplay guidelines
    • Contestant must be capable to answer questions appropriately from guests.
    • Ability to create appropriate suggestions to customers (depending on context).
    • Suggestions with flavor characteristics, logic, and originality as inclusive.
    • Providing appropriate customer service.
    • Part of the judging criteria requires communication, where speaking in a selected second language is mandatory. Contestants have the option to choose a preferred second language other than your native language. (Second language options include English, French, Chinese, Korean, or Japanese).