Sake On Air
A bi-weekly podcast exploring the stories of sake. Brought to you by experts on the front lines of the industry in Japan.
Episodes
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 ...
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 bri...
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...
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.
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 i...
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 wha...
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 ...
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 thi...
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.
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 ab...
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 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! Phi...
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 F...
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 ...
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
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 Resea...
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 Sa...
Join Miho Ota, Chris Hughes, and Chris Pellegrini as they catch up about what they have been doing recently.
Tune in to hear how Big Chris has started a new sake tasting experience, all about Little Chris’s business development, and Miho’s exciting sake travel plans.
You can sign up for the JSS sake and shochu tasting here: https://www.airbnb.com/experiences/6022742!
We are back! Sake on Air’s long summer hiatus is over and you can expect lots of new episodes in the coming weeks and months. Starting off is an interview of Xavier Thuizat, sommelier extraordinaire, about his new sake project with Daishichi Sake Brewery, how to pair sake, the emotional experience of drinking sake and many other interesting topics.
Frank Walter interviewed Xavier after an event explaining the creation of The...
This week on Sake On Air, host Cindy Bissig is joined by special guest host Julian Houseman to welcome back a familiar voice: Tom Wilson, co-founder and head brewer of Kanpai, the UK’s first sake brewery! They recorded their conversation at Julian’s sake bar, Sake House, in Umeda, Osaka.
Listeners may remember Tom from “Episode #73: Future of Sake with Les Larmes du Levant & Kanpai London
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