Introducing Iberkanpai: A Conversation with Mayuko Sasayama

We’re back with another episode of Sake On Air, and this week we’re headed to Spain - where sake is making some exciting moves! In this episode, our hosts Cindy Bissig and Sebastien Lemoine sit down with Mayuko Sasayama, sake educator, author, and the driving force behind Iberkanpai, the first sake and Japanese gastronomy fair on the Iberian Peninsula. We talk about how Mayuko’s journey into the world of sake began, her passion for connecting Japanese food and beverage culture with new audiences in Spain, and what inspired her to create Iberkanpai. With the inaugural event just around the corner in Madrid (held on the 12th and 13th of May 2025), she shares with us what to expect and why this moment is so meaningful for the future of sake in Spain and beyond. Whether you’re curious about sake’s presence in Europe, passionate about cultural exchange, or just love hearing from people doing bold things in the sake world, this one’s for you. We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know at [e-mail] 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 made possible with the generous support of the Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association and is broadcast from the Japan Sake & Shochu Information Center in Tokyo. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow” was composed by forSomethingNew for Sake On Air.