8 fun and best ways for beginners to learn about sake
- kagecage
- Nov 7, 2024
- 5 min read
Updated: Nov 14, 2024
The more you know about sake, the deeper it becomes. And the more you know about it, the more knowledge and information you can gain to make drinking sake even more enjoyable. So, I would like to introduce some recommended ways to learn about sake for those who are starting to become interested in it, based on my own opinion and bias.
This list is a selection of methods that I or people I trust have used myself, and which are fun, easy to use, and easy to understand for beginners . I'm sure there are still many methods that I don't know about, so please let me know if you find any other good methods, and I'll keep updating the list!
Website
The easiest way to find information is to look it up on the Internet, and there are many good media sites. (There is already a lot of good information on the Internet. At Kaminosake, we try to only share information that makes the most of these great sites and has a unique perspective .)
When it comes to Japanese sake websites, SAKETIMES is the place to go. They teach sake beginners about technical terms and how to enjoy it through interviews and feature articles in an easy-to-understand way.
As it describes itself as "a sake media beloved by professionals," there are many articles that are more useful for intermediate and advanced sake drinkers than for beginners to deepen their knowledge and insight, and each article is of high quality and interesting.
As the name suggests, the site contains many easy-to-understand and entertaining articles.
Books and Magazines
I think that books are a fun way to learn, as they have well-crafted content and beautiful photographs.
If you want to know the basics of sake, this book is easy to understand as it doesn't simply explain the knowledge in a lecture-like format, but uses illustrations and perspectives.
As you would expect from a popular gourmet magazine, it provides a good understanding of current Japanese sake with beautiful and stylish photographs.
Tazaki has a deep knowledge of Japanese sake and has mastered wine pairing and tasting, so his words are persuasive. The content is not too technical, so even beginners can easily read it and enjoy the personality of Tazaki.
Manga
I recommend manga because it's fun and easy to read.
I haven't read it yet, but many people recommend this work when it comes to manga about sake.
Sake is made by the action of bacteria, and this is an interesting manga that focuses on those bacteria.
Personally, Oishinbo is my food bible, so even though it's a little old, let me introduce it to you lol. If you don't have a very good image of sake, I think you'll understand why.
Movies and TV shows
The video makes it easy to understand visually, so just enjoy it without thinking too deeply about it.
Ishi-chan's SAKE Journey (Amazon Prime Series)
Ishi-chan (Honjamaka's Ishizuka-san) is a program that visits sake breweries all over Japan. Above all, it's so much fun to see Ishi-chan drinking and the sake brewers drinking and talking about the pairings recommended by the breweries together with Ishi-chan! I highly recommend this program to Amazon Prime members!
This is an interesting movie that follows three people who work in the sake industry, and it will change the way you look at sake. I recommend this movie along with " Kanpai! Sake that the World Loves ."
Movie: The Birth of Sake This movie was shot by a Japanese-American and has beautiful images. It tells you what traditional sake brewing is like.
YouTube
There are more and more videos about sake, so just search and find one you like. Personally, I recommend Sake Taisho, who teaches you the best sake for various questions in short videos along with the reasons for his selection, which is very educational.
Podcasts
Podcasts are a medium I personally use often because you can listen to them while doing something, like your commute or exercising, so I recommend them.
Since it's an interview program with sake breweries, it's interesting because you can learn about their personalities and ways of thinking through their stories.
I'm sorry to advertise, but there are no podcasts about sake, so I started one myself haha. It's a show where various guests teach how to enjoy alcohol in general, including alcohol other than sake, so please give it a listen if you like.
Sake on Air (English)
The program is sponsored by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association and is very interesting as it provides a unique perspective from a foreigner in the sake and shochu industry. Unfortunately, it is in English, so you can listen to it as a way to practice your English when introducing sake to foreigners.
event
Due to the effects of COVID-19, offline events have decreased, but online events have become more abundant, so give one a try! Here are some useful websites for finding event information.
It covers all major events related to sake.
It's useful for finding events planned by sake breweries.
As the name suggests, it covers the event comprehensively.
This is a site where anyone can plan an event, so it's useful for finding small-scale events.
It covers all kinds of events, so you can also check out events that don't focus on sake.
Qualifications
A qualification allows you to communicate to the outside world that you know a lot about sake, and at the same time allows you to systematically and efficiently learn important knowledge while studying for the exam. However, it is a high hurdle in terms of money and time required, so it is only recommended for those who have the means and are passionate about sake. Speaking of sake qualifications, there are three main organizations that can give you the title "sake sommelier."
The qualification generally referred to as "sake sommelier" is held by this organization. Depending on the level and purpose, there are qualifications such as the Japanese Sake Examination, Sake Sommelier, and Sake Master. The sake sommelier exam is not difficult, and it is possible to obtain it in one day by participating in a course, but it is expensive.
It is a qualification called "SAKE DIPLOMA". As is typical of the sommelier association, tasting ability is required. The exam is held once a year.
It is a qualification called "SAKE DIPLOMA." It is a certification from a famous international organization for wine, and you cannot take the exam by itself; you must also take a course.
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