SAKÉ MU.GEN

05/19/2026

IWC SAKE 2026 Hiroshima — Day 1 & 2 🍶

Record-breaking 1,738 entries this year.

Judges from around the world are carefully evaluating each sake with focus and respect.

Day 1 ended with the SSA/IWC Dinner,
followed by the Awasake Association Masterclass & Tasting Dinner on Day 2.

Deeply grateful to everyone whose hard work and dedication make this event possible.⁡

05/05/2026

Last night, we had the honor of attending a reception at the Residence of the Ambassador of Japan, held in conjunction with the SelectUSA Investment Summit 2026.

State leaders and representatives from across the United States—including Nebraska, North Carolina, Mississippi, Utah, Delaware, and Guam—along with federal officials, gathered to share their strong commitment to attracting Japanese investment. The level of energy and engagement in the room was truly impressive.

As a company working at the intersection of Japanese culture and the U.S. market, it was especially meaningful to be part of a dialogue that continues to strengthen the relationship between Japan and the United States.

There is always something uniquely valuable about connecting in person—an evening filled with insightful conversations and meaningful new connections.

Grateful to be part of it.

04/12/2026

Celebrating 25 years of the Japan Whisky Research Centre.
An inspiring moment with the pioneers of whisky.

Always learning, always moving forward.

11/27/2025

I attended the award ceremony for the 60th Tochigi Prefecture Sake Appraisal, hosted by the Tochigi Sake Brewers Association.

I had the honor of going on stage to receive the appointment certificate as the representative of all the continuing Sasara Ambassadors.

It was a wonderful opportunity to speak directly with brewery owners and toji from across the prefecture, and to learn about the current brewing conditions and this year’s evaluation trends.

Tochigi is home to many outstanding breweries—
including Tonoike Shuzoten (which we import to the U.S.), Kaika, Sohomare, Sawahime, Tentaka, Kyokko, Senkin, Hokkan, and more.
Seeing all of the award-winning bottles lined up together was truly impressive.

Among them, Tonoike Shuzoten achieved remarkable results:
three Governor’s Awards (1st place) and one President’s Award (2nd place).
Huge congratulations to the entire team!

As a Sasara Ambassador, I look forward to continuing to share the excellence of Tochigi sake with people in Japan and around the world. #とちぎ未来大使 #ささら大使

11/24/2025

I’m honored to share that I have been appointed as an official judge for the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026 in both the Western Spirits Division and the Shochu/Awamori Division.

It’s a responsibility I take seriously, and I will do my best to contribute to the judging process with sincerity.



#東京ウイスキーアンドスピリッツコンペティション

11/10/2025

09/18/2025

In the quiet resonance of beginnings — awaiting guests with a Red Shiso Umeshu aperitif, embraced in kimono elegance. 🍸✨
A prelude to an evening where sake culture meets global fine dining. 🍶🌍

08/24/2025

At yesterday’s in-store tasting, a line quickly formed and several of our sakes sold out.
We are truly grateful for everyone’s warm support.
With gratitude.

07/20/2025

The sake pairing event we recently hosted with Tonoike Shuzoten at the renowned Sushi Taro in Washington, DC, was a huge success, thanks to everyone who joined us! 🍶

From chilled sake to warm sake, and discovering how the choice of glass can completely change the experience, our guests had the chance to fully enjoy the diverse expressions of sake. As I passionately shared the depth and new ways of enjoying sake, I found myself talking so much I almost lost my voice! 😂

President Tonoike entertained everyone with his humorous speeches in English, while Chef Nobu explained the food pairings in a clear and engaging way. The room was constantly filled with smiles and laughter, making it a truly memorable evening. Huge thanks to the amazing Sushi Taro team for their incredible support.

Personally, it was such a joy to be able to reconnect with guests in person and share my passion for sake face-to-face.

On top of that, we received not only many orders for sake after the event but also a wonderful number of requests from guests saying, “I’d love to join the next one too!”—for which I’m deeply grateful.

This experience reminded me once again of the limitless potential of sake, and strengthened my commitment to continue spreading the joy of sake internationally.
#とちぎ未来大使 #栃木ささら大使

07/16/2025

【A Night of Sake and Stories from Tochigi – Coming to Washington DC】

A special sake pairing dinner featuring Tonoike Shuzoten from Mashiko Town will be held at Sushi Taro in Washington DC.

Tickets sold out immediately.
It will be the first time President Tonoike visits DC, and I’ll be joining him to share the story of the brewery and the depth of Japanese sake.
It’s sure to be an unforgettable night — I’m already looking forward to it.

#日本酒 #🇺🇸 #とちぎ未来大使 #栃木ささら大使