PODCAST · society
Sake On Air
by 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
-
Seeking Shizuoka Sake with Jacky Royer
In this episode Sebastien Lemoine, John Gauntner, and Chris Hughes (and Frank Walter) interview Jacky Royer about sake, food, and travel in Shizuoka. Jacky works at Shidaizumi and runs a land operator tour business for French-speaking visitors to Japan. We learn about his origins studying library...
-
A Traveler’s Guide to Awamori in Okinawa
Awamori is a traditional spirit from Okinawa with a history of over 500 years, yet it remains little known outside Japan. In this episode of Sake on Air, Miho interviews two Okinawa-based drinks professionals, Madoka Numata and Maurice Dudley. They talk about about places visitors can explore in...
-
Izakaya 102: Some of Our Recommendations for Good Sake, Good Food, and Good Company
Following up on our Izakaya 101 episode, Frank, Cindy, and Chris share some of their favorite sake focused restaurants and watering holes. Cindy took on Kyoto, Chris led the Tokyo discussion, and Frank filled in the gaps with off the wall picks from places in between. Our rollicking discussion...
-
Going to Sake Events and How to Find Them
Cindy leads a year-long discussion about sake events with fellow hosts Sebastien, Chris, and Frank. They talk about many of the main sake events that are happening or have happened this year. They talk about the large events like the Niigata Sake no Jin and small events like the various…
more -
Exploring Shiga: Breweries, Izakaya, and other Sake Travel Tips
This week, Cindy Bissig and Frank Walter sit down with Takashi Eguchi, better known in the sake world as Umio, to explore Shiga Prefecture’s vibrant sake scene and its potential as a sake tourism destination Together, they discuss breweries across the region that welcome visitors, from formal…
more -
Talking to Students of JSS Sake and Shochu Academy 2026
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...
-
A Sake on Air News Bulletin: The State of Sake Exports
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...
-
Songs of Sake for Koto and Shamisen with Bobby Griffin
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…
more -
The Hao and the Why of Tasting Sake
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...
-
A Sake on Air News Bulletin: All Aboard the GI train to Kanto Shinetsu
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...
-
Gekkeikan’s Past, Present, and Future with Okura Taiji-san
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...
-
Discovering Kochi Sake with Simone Maynard and Taichiro Ogi
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...
-
Visiting an Izakaya 101: Tips and Advice from Sake on Air
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…
more -
The Cloudy Origins of Sake and Other Sips of History
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...
-
Catching up on 5 years of Zenkuro with founder David Joll
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...
-
Koji & Casks: A Discussion about Shochu and Whisky with Liam McNulty
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...
-
Talking sake with Toji Philip Harper at Kinoshita Brewery
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...
-
Visiting Fukushima Sake Breweries with Miho and Elvira
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…
more -
The Changing of the Guard at Fujii Shuzo
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...
-
Happy Sake Day!
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...
-
On Location at the Kokushu Fair 2025 (Part 2)
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…
more -
On Location at the Kokushu Fair 2025 (Part 1)
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...
-
Chatting Sake Volume Two
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...
-
Opening THE GATE on Xavier Thuizat’s Recent Activities
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…
more -
Kanpai Revisited: Catching up with Tom Wilson
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.…
more -
Chatting Sake Volume One
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...
-
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…
more -
Capturing Sake: A Special Photo Exhibition in Tokyo
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...
-
Find your Sake Language at Sake Dozo Kitchen
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...
-
Busting Sake Myths
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...
-
Talking with the Houseman of Sake House: Julian Houseman
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...
-
Sake 101 – A Short History of Sake
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…
more -
Sake 101 – Hot vs. Cold Sake: The Great Debate!
As our Sake 101 miniseries continues, we’re diving into one of the most debated topics in the world of sake: hot vs. cold sake! Beyond just personal preference, the temperature at which sake is served can completely transform its flavor, aroma, and overall experience. But with so much conflicting...
-
Sake 101 – The Art of Pairing Sake
We are continuing our Sake 101 series with a dive into sake pairing. Cindy Bissig sits down with Chris Hughes to discuss why sake is one of the best beverages to pair with food. They examine just how versatile and exciting sake can be, and spoiler alert – Sake does not just pair wonderfully with...
-
Sake 101 – What is Premium Sake?
There is a lot of great sake out there, but how do you know what is “good” and what is not? There is no easy answer to that, because the answer is almost always, “it is personal”. However, you may have heard the term “Premium Sake”, which suggests that it is the good stuff. Which of course it is,...
-
Sake 101 – How is Sake Made?
This is the second episode our “Sake 101” mini-series! In our first episode we covered the most basic question “What is Sake?” and we hoped that this would help people new to the beverage get a basic understanding of what sake is, what it is not and also give a few hints on how sake tastes and of...
-
Sake 101 – What is Sake?
This week we kick off a brand-new mini-series in which we go back to the basics and focus on questions we all had at the start of our sake journey. Questions that may sound simple but may not be as easy to answer as they seem. Welcome to our “Sake 101’s”! Our host will take turns answering...
-
SAKE: The Art and Craft of Japan’s National Drink by Yoshiko UENO-Müller
There is a new sake book on the market: SAKE: The Art and Craft of Japan’s National Drink written by no other Yoshiko UENO-Müller, founder of Ueno Gourmet, Sake Samurai, and acclaimed Sake Educator (among her many other titles). Join hosts Cindy Bissig and Frank Walter as they chat with…
more -
Talking Koji with Higuchi Koichi
A few weeks ago we celebrated the exciting news of “Traditional Sake Brewing with Koji” being listed as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage (if you missed it you can find out more here) and in this episode, we decided to dive deeper into the world of koji as we had the immense pleasure of...
-
Traditional Sake Making is World Heritage!
Earlier this week the sake industry received some amazing news: “traditional sake brewing” was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. However, the term is rather vague on its own. So for this episode of Sake on Air, our hosts Arline Lyons and Frank Walter set out to clarify what...
-
Oh the Omachi! A Sake Rice Deep Dive
Japanese sake is made from water, rice, and koji. There are many specific rice varieties cultivated for brewing sake, all of which are lumped together as sakamai (酒米). Some are more prominent than others and one in particular has gotten itself a bit of a cult following. You may refer to it as the...
-
Slinging Sake with Sake Samurai Adrian Goh
In our latest Podcast Cindy Bissig and Frank Walter had the pleasure to welcome no other than Singapore’s first Sake Samurai – Adrian Goh, the director and chief educator at Inter Rice Asia, IWC judge and organizer of one of Singapore’s biggest Sake Matsuris! For anyone unfamiliar with what a…
more -
Koji Cocktails with Sam Boulton
Sebastien Lemoine, Chris Hughes, and Miho Ota sit down with Sam Boulton, author, mixologist and drinks consultant to talk about his new book, “The Art of Mixing Koji Cocktails.” Sam is based in Birmingham, and is one of handful of experts on Japanese booze in the UK. He was a participant in this...
-
What even is a Sake GI?
Many people will be familiar with the word GI (Geographical Indication), especially if they are familiar with wine. Famous GIs are known around the world like Champagne or Prosciutto. But what about sake? Does sake need a GI system? What does a GI actually mean? Where do we find these regions in...
-
Talking Spirits with the Advanced Shochu Academy 2024
As sake continues to gain popularity around the world, shochu is next in line. In August 2024, the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association (JSS) held its inaugural week-long Advanced Shochu Academy in Kagoshima. The event was designed to educate professionals in the global beverage industry…
more -
[Special Announcement] Sake & Shochu Events in October 2024
Happy Sake Day! Here is a list of events that are happening this month in Japan and around the world. Outside Japan (Sake Day Events) On October 1st in Melbourne, Australia. Tamura Sake Bar is celebrating World Sake Day 2024 from 6 to 9PM. https://www.tamurasakebar.com/ On October 4th from 4 to…
more -
Nada: The Sleeping Giant
Nada is a well-known name in the world of sake. Almost a brand, it is associated with the area whose sake dominated the Edo (Tokyo) market in the later part of the Edo period (1603-1868), and it is still the largest sake production area in Japan. Despite this track record, “Nada sake” can…
more -
Exploring Shochu in Kagoshima with Maya Aley
This week on our show, we’re heading to Kagoshima, the heart of Japan’s shochu production! Join us as one of our regular hosts, Chris Pellegrini, sits down with the incredible Maya Aley – a certified Shochu Meister and industry expert with over 6 years of experience. Maya is also the manager of…
more -
Natsuzake Revisited
Summer in Japan is hot! Too hot some might say. To help beat the heat, nihonshu producers sell a variety of sake called natsuzake or “summer sake.” But what is natsuzake really? It has no legal definition and no established taste or serving guidelines. Miho Ohta and John Gauntner have a...
-
Finding Sake Seeker: Thai food and Sake
This week we are excited to welcome not just one, but two amazing guests to our table Yu Nakamura and Nattinee Sirirattanapol, aka Pam, who are changing the face of sake in Thailand with an array of amazing projects and collaborations! So join us as one of our regular hosts Chris Hughes sat down...
We're indexing this podcast's transcripts for the first time — this can take a minute or two. We'll show results as soon as they're ready.
No matches for "" in this podcast's transcripts.
No topics indexed yet for this podcast.
Loading reviews...
Loading similar podcasts...
Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Sake On Air have?
Sake On Air currently has 190 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Sake On Air about?
A bi-weekly podcast exploring the stories of sake. Brought to you by experts on the front lines of the industry in Japan.
How often does Sake On Air release new episodes?
Sake On Air publishes regularly with 190 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Sake On Air?
You can listen to Sake On Air on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Sake On Air?
Sake On Air is created and hosted by Sake On Air.
URL copied to clipboard!