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
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
We’re back with another episode of Sake On Air, and this week we’re trying something a little different! A casual catch-up session with our regular hosts, so you can get to know them better!
In this episode, Cindy Bissig, Frank Walter, and Miho Ota talk about their recent experiences at the Tokyo Sake Challenge, their visit to Japan’s very first sake ice cream shop, and what exciting events and episodes are on the horizon. Plus, Ar...
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 passi...
We’re back with a brand-new episode of Sake On Air and this week, we’re bringing you behind the scenes of a special event – a sake-themed photo exhibition hosted by the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center.
For one week, starting February 12th, the Japan Sake and Shochu Information Center showcased the work of three international photographers: Anat Parnass, Anna Petek, and Cindy Bissig. Their stunning images highlighted ...
Our hosts, Sebastien Lemoine and Frank Walter made their way west to the little spot in Hachioji called Sake Dozo Kitchen. (Which is why the audio sounds a bit funky at times, apologies!) Started in February 2024 by fellow sake lovers David Cheek and Miwa Wag, the second floor restaurant is a delightful place to find your own sake language.
The conversation winds through Dave’s and Miwa’s personal sake histories and wha...
We’re back with a brand-new episode of Sake On Air, and this week, we’re doing things a little differently! Not an interview, not a deep dive into a trendy topic—just pure sake myth-busting.
In this episode, three of our regular hosts, Arline Lyons, Rebekah Wilson-Lye, and Sebastien Lemoin come together to tackle some of the most persistent misunderstandings surrounding sake. From the belief that sake is a distilled spirit to the c...
Hold your breath, Osaka—there’s a new sake bar in town!
After much anticipation, Julian Houseman has taken the leap and opened Sake House in Osaka!
For those unfamiliar with Julian, he is a long-time friend of the Sake On Air team – a voice behind the scenes, a sake industry journalist, and a brilliant musician among his many other talents. Now, he’s bringing his passion for sake to life with his very own venue, creating a sp...
For the final episode of our Sake 101 mini-series we dive into the 2,000 years of history of sake. Cindy Bissig and Chris Hughes explore the evolution of sake, not just as a beverage, but as a key part of Japanese culture. This is the perfect way to wrap up the season with a look at how sake became what it is today.
Sake is deeply woven into Japan’s history, and sake history is really Japanese history. It is hard to pack centuries ...
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