Description

Shochu Adviser

Prepare yourself for a career in the restaurant, beverage, or food industry with our Certified Shochu Adviser course. This course provides the fundamental background knowledge on shochu ingredients, history, and production. Students will gain the ability to speak about varieties of shochu. This interactive course features shochu tasting and discussion, so you can develop your knowledge about shochu with first-hand experience.

Course Date and Time

Monday, June 23, 2025:

• 9:00am – 4:00pm PT | 12:00pm – 7:00pm ET

Monday, June 30, 2025:

• Online Exam: 1:00pm – 2:00pm PT | 4:00pm – 5:00pm ET

Please adjust accordingly for your own timezone.

Along with the online shochu lecture and instructions, students will experience shochu samples guided by the instructor to illustrate the variety of key shochu styles.

If you are nearby Los Angeles, you can pick up your shochu samples in person at:
Los Angeles Mutual Trading
4200 Shirley Avenue
El Monte, CA 91731
(213) 830-9557

If you are outside of the Metropolitan Los Angeles area, the shochu tasting can be shipped to you.

After your registration is completed, be sure to be in contact with Sake School of America administration to arrange your shochu sample delivery.

Prerequisites

There are no entry requirements for this qualification.

Important Notice

• You must be age 21 or over to take this course and exam.
• Registration will close when the course reaches capacity or the enrollment deadline (June 9, 2025) has passed. Please be advised, late registration may incur additional charges for textbook rush order shipment fees.
• Students will receive ZOOM information after registration.

Exam

Monday, June 30, 2025

• Online Exam: 1:00pm – 2:00pm PT | 4:00pm – 5:00pm ET

The 1-hour written exam is comprised of 100 multiple choice questions covering the textbook and lecture content. Blind tasting exam is not included at the Shochu Adviser level.

Note: The examination requires a minimum mark of 75% to pass.

Main Concepts

• • The history of shochu in Japan
  • Shochu ingredients and production methods
  • Shochu terminology and reading shochu labels
  • The principles behind the storage, selection, and service of shochu
  • Overview of shochu tasting and analysis

Study Support

• All students will receive a review guide for course preparation support. We encourage students to contact us in advance of the course if they have questions about their course materials.

Instructor: Toshio Ueno

Vice President & Co-Founder, Sake School of America
Master Sake Sommelier, Sake Service Institute
Master of Sake, Sake Service Institute
2016 Sake Samurai, Japan Sake Brewer’s Association
DipWSET, Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma
Certified Shochu Meister, Kagoshima University
Certified Sake Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust 
Certified Spirits Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust 
Beer Adviser, Food & Beverage Organization Japan
Nanbu Toji Guild, Toji Candidate, Accredited Specialist,
2020 Awamori Jinbner, Okinawa Distillers Association,
2021 Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
2022 Yamanashi Ambassador, Yamanashi Prefectural Government
2023 Foreign Minister’s Commendation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan

Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan where his family has grown wine grapes for generations, Toshio Ueno grew up helping the business from a young age. After college studies in America, he joined a pastry and wine company, where he was put in charge, overseeing the personal wine collection of the company’s president. It was at this point when intrigue set in for him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research.

Toshio Ueno is currently Director of Sake Education Resources in marketing Japanese liquor to the mainstream American market. With his unique knowledge and expertise in both eastern and western liquors, Jizake and Shochu of the east, and wine and beer from the west, he aims to further promote Japanese food and liquor cultures to new, international audiences.