Description
The Sake Sommelier Forum 2026 is a special event hosted by Sake Service Institute (SSI Japan) where participants can enjoy learning more about Sake in conjunction. The special two-day program where Kikisake-shi from around the world gather to learn through unique experiences. Held in conjunction with “Echigo Nagaoka Sake no Jin,” this forum offers a special opportunity to learn about, taste, and enjoy Niigata sake.
Event Details:
Dates:
Friday, September 18 – Saturday, September 19, 2026 (JST)
Location:
Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, Japan Ao-re Nagaoka (1-4-10 Otedori, Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture)
Application Deadline:
Monday, July 27, 2026
Eligibility:
- International Kikisake-shi
- International Shochu Kikisake-shi
- International Sake Lecturer
- International Saka-sho
Participation Benefits:
- Certificate of Completion (A4 size)
- Pin badge (2.5 cm diameter)
- Ochoko sake cup and ochoko strap
- SSI Special Snack Set (to be handed out when leaving on Day 1)
Program:
September 18 (Fri) [Day 1]
| Time | Content |
| 9:30– | Opening Ceremony Greetings from the organizers and guests, together with a video introducing Nagaoka City. |
| 10:00–12:00 (120 min.) | Tasting / Workshop Instructor: Taku Osada (SSI Board Member / Head of Research Office / Director of Sake Academy) Participants will taste approximately 20 designated-grade Niigata sake products, create tasting comments, practice four-type classification based on aroma and flavor characteristics, and challenge themselves to prepare a positioning map used in the advanced Saka-sho qualification. After the tasting, ideal positioning and suitable serving examples (temperature, sake vessel, pairing, etc.) will be explained. |
| 13:00–15:00 (120 min.) | Keynote Lecture: “Characteristics, Current Status, and Future of Niigata Sake” Speaker: Toshio Aoki, Director of the Niigata Prefectural Sake Brewing Experimental Station The lecture will address the characteristics, current status, and future prospects of Niigata sake from a technical perspective. |
| 15:00–17:00 (120 min.) | Panel Discussion: “Considering Effective Sales Promotion for Niigata Sake” Experts from brewing, sales/service, and regional cultural promotion will discuss current challenges and future possibilities for communicating the appeal of Niigata sake and connecting it to sales promotion. |
| 17:30–19:15 (105 min.) | Final Party: “Completion Ceremony” & “Niigata Sake and Food Pairing Experience” After the completion ceremony, participants will enjoy tastings from approximately 90 breweries across Niigata Prefecture, paired with a snack bento centered on local specialties. Other dishes unique to Niigata will also be prepared. Certificates of completion and the SSI Special Snack Set will be distributed when leaving. |
Speaker Profile
- March 1992: Graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture, Niigata University • April 1992: Joined the Niigata Prefectural Government and was assigned to the Brewing Experimental Station
- April 2023: Appointed Director of the Niigata Prefectural Sake Brewing Experimental Station
- Since assuming his current post, he has been engaged in technical guidance for breweries in Niigata, the establishment of next-generation sake brewing technology, the training of young master brewers, and strengthening the technical foundation for the global expansion of “Niigata sake.”
Main Panel Discussion Themes
- Organizing the appeal factors unique to Niigata sake (geographical, historical, and cultural background, etc.)
- Reconsidering the value of the style known as “tanrei karakuchi / alcohol-added sake”
- Current initiatives by people involved in Niigata sake and future prospects • Analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of Niigata sake from the market (consumer) perspective
September 19 (Sat) [Day 2]
| Time | Content |
| 11:00–13:00 | Participation in “Echigo Nagaoka Sake no Jin” – Part 1 |
| 14:30–16:30 (planned) | Optional Tour: Yoshinogawa Brewery Visit [Limited to the first 30 applicants] Visit Yoshinogawa, one of Nagaoka’s representative breweries, founded in 1548. Meeting and dismissal will be on-site. From Ao-re Nagaoka, access is approximately 20 minutes by train and on foot. |
Panel Discussion Speakers
- Masayuki Mine (President & CEO, Yoshinogawa / Vice Chairman, Niigata Sake Brewers Association)
- Shuntaro Saito (President & CEO, Kirinzan Shuzo / Chair, Demand Promotion Committee, Niigata Sake Brewers Association)
- Naoki Yamaguchi (President & CEO, fermata / Washoku Biyori Osaketo / Takarayama Jozo / Sake Studies Lecturer)
- Yuichi Yamagishi (Representative, Sake no Yado Tamakiya / Kamosu Mori / Ponshu Hotel Suimu / Sake Studies Lecturer)
- Taku Osada (SSI Board Member / Head of Research Office / Director of Sake Academy)
Facilitator: - Hideo Watanabe (Niigata University Sakeology Center, Social and Cultural Unit / Assistant, Faculty of Economics / Sake Studies Lecturer)
Cancellation Policy
- Any cancellations made before Monday, July 27 , 2026 will be charged a 10% cancellation fee.
- Cancellations on or after Tuesday, July 28, 2026 will NOT be issued a refund.
What Is Included / Notes Included in the participation fee
- Lunch on Day 1 • Networking party fee (including tasting/workshop sake)
- Admission ticket for “Echigo Nagaoka Sake no Jin – Part 1” on Day 2
- Certificate of completion, pin badge, and souvenirs Notes
- Round-trip transportation and accommodation must be arranged individually.
- During the “Echigo Nagaoka Sake no Jin” period, hotel reservations may be difficult to secure, so early booking is recommended.
- For overseas participants, interpretation support for the keynote lecture and symposium is planned to be provided through the translation app prepared by our association.
- If participants do not use our app, we plan to recommend translation apps such as Google Translate, ChatGPT, and Gemini, or the use of devices equipped with Apple Intelligence (iPhone 16 or later) together with audio support functions such as AirPods Pro 2.
- Detailed usage instructions and recommended operating environments will be provided separately in the final participant guide.
