Mission Statement
INTERNATIONAL SAKE SCHOOL 8/14/23
MISSION STATEMENT
INTERNATIONAL SAKE SCHOOL is an education and training center specializing in Sake, Shochu, and Japanese liquors, for Sake professionals and enthusiasts to expand their knowledge and to explore further enjoyment of the category.
INTERNATIONAL SAKE SCHOOL aims toward fostering higher appreciation for Japanese Sake and memorable drinking-dining experiences. We are fully committed to educating trade professionals and enthusiasts alike, to promote Sake in faraway countries at the same level of understanding and enjoyment as is in its homeland of Japan.
During the 1980s in Japan, Jizake, fine artisan Sake climbed to popularity as consumers discovered tantalizing flavors and aromas from microbrews crafted in remote breweries, some with legendary tales which date back centuries. When these best kept secrets arrived in the US during the 1990s, Americans too were quickly enamored and charmed by “the novel Jizake”.
As popular Sushi dining crossed the Atlantic, so did Jizake to European consumers, being served along wines. Nowadays, Jizake, Shochu, and Awamori appear at some of the most renowned wine & spirits competitions across Europe and elsewhere in the world.
These days, with a variety of specialized foods spanning from casual dining, to trendy Sushi bars, authentic Izakayas, and fancy Kaiseki, there’s a Jizake suitable for any dish. The world of Sake is a joyful exploration into Japanese culture, cuisine, and the brewing art, and it is our mission to spread this wonder of Japan to the people of the world.
Instructors
Executive Instructor: Toshio Ueno
校長 上野俊男
Vice President & Co-Founder, Sake School of America
Master Sake Sommelier, Sake Service Institute
Master of Sake, Sake Service Institute
2016 Sake Samurai, Japan Sake Brewer’s Association
DipWSET, Wine & Spirit Education Trust Diploma
Certified Sake Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Certified Spirits Educator Level 3, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Beer Adviser, Food & Beverage Organization Japan
Nanbu Toji Guild, Toji Candidate, Accredited Specialist,
2020 Awamori Jinbner, Okinawa Distillers Association,
2021 Japanese Cuisine Goodwill Ambassador, Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry
2022 Yamanashi Ambassador, Yamanashi Prefectural Government
2023 Foreign Minister’s Commendation, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan
Born in Yamanashi Prefecture in Japan where his family has grown wine grapes for generations, Toshio Ueno grew up helping the business from a young age. After college studies in America, he joined a pastry and wine company, where he was put in charge, overseeing the personal wine collection of the company’s president. It was at this point when intrigue set in for him to enter the world of wine stewardship and research.
Toshio Ueno is currently Director of Sake Specialist Department in marketing Japanese liquor to the mainstream American market. With his unique knowledge and expertise in both eastern and western liquors, Jizake and Shochu of the east, and wine and beer from the west, he aims to further promote Japanese food and liquor cultures to new, international audiences.
Senior Instructor: Tommy Lam
President, Asia Wine Institute
President, Academy of Wine Singapore
Master of Sake, Sake Service Institute
Japan Sake and Shochu Academy Diploma
Hautes Études du Goût (HEG):Le Cordon Bleu / Universite de Reims Champagne
Wine MBA, BeM Bordeaux
Certified Sherry Educator
Certified Madeira Educator
Certified Educator, L’Ecole du Vin de Bordeaux
Educated in Hong Kong, 16 years as owner of an Inbound Tourism Company, 8 years in Hotel Management Position, 17 years as owner of a French Bistro in Singapore.
1990, family moved to Singapore.
2005, founded The Sommelier Association of Singapore and National Sommelier Competition.
2007, introduced The Court of Master Sommelier Program to Asia.
2009, founded The Southeast Asia Sommelier Association Alliance.
2009, founded The China Sommelier Competition.
2009, founded AWSA – SOMM, Wine and Spirits Awards by SOMM.
2012, founded The China Wine Lists of The Year Awards.
2017, founded Sake Sommelier Competition and Sake Awards (AWSA).
2021, Introduced 【SOMM100】- a Sommelier Training Program, 485 students in as of April 2023.
Senior Instructor: Takao Matsukawa
Manager of International Sales Division, Mutual Trading Co., Inc.
Vice President, Super Nikkei S.A.C. (Peru).
International Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute International
Advanced Sake Professional, Sake Education Council
Born in Peru, Takao Matsukawa is a third-generation Japanese from Okinawa Prefecture. Takao joined Mutual Trading Company’s sales team (1998) and became attracted to the idea of expanding the Sake sales business and culture in Latin countries. Over the year, he has covered more than one thousand Sake Education Training sessions for professionals in the field; Chef, Wine Sommeliers, Restaurant Managers, and Servers in many countries of LatAm. In an effort to reach a large audience and new Sake followers, he’s done many Sake Seminars open to the General Public at Expositions and Events in countries like Mexico, Costa Rica, Peru, El Salvador, and Argentina.
Senior Instructor: Marie Cheong-Thong
Executive Director, British Sake Association
Council Member, Association of Wine Educators
Member, Circle of Wine Writers
Spirits Judging Committee, International Wine and Spirits Competiton (IWSC)
Competition Committee and Technical Director for Asian Spirits, CINVE (Spain)
Panel Chair Asian Spirits, International Spirits Challenge (ISC)
WSET Certified Sake Educator Level 3 (trained in Japan). JSS Certified Sake & Shochu, Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association. Sake School of America Certified Shochu Advisor and Sake Advisor. BNIA Armagnac Diploma. WSET Diploma in Wine and Spirits. Le Cordon Bleu London Diploma with Distinction. Diplomain
Marketing, Chartered Institute of Marketing (UK). Diploma in Market Research, Market Research Society (UK). BSc.(Hons), ARCS Imperial College London. Awarded a competitive scholarship in 2015 to research washoku, sake making and related culture in Mie Prefecture, Japan.
Born in Malaysia, Marie spent her formative years in UK, at boarding school then Imperial College London. After a mispent few years working in the City of London she took a tangent and did her Cordon Bleu and WSET Diplomas. Moving to Boston, Mass. she discovered her true love for food & beverage, and continuing into her fourth decade visiting, interviewing producers and researching indigenous dishes, ingredients and drinks in over thirty countries on six continents. Marie has also presented on both sake and food to hundreds of people at major Food and Drink Festivals over the years. For over 15 years she has been on the Competitive Judging circuit including International Wine Challenge (UK/global, Japan). Le Mondial des vins blancs Strasbourg (France). Berliner Wein Trophy (Germany). Mondial des Pinots and Mondial des Chesselas (Switzerland). Marie currently spends her days writing, presenting and teaching.
Instructor: Atsuko Glick
Master Sake Sommelier, Sake Service Institute
Certified WSET L1 and L3 Award in Sake Educator, Wine & Spirit Education Trust
Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute International
International Sake Lecturer, Sake Service Institute International
International Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi), Sake Service Institute International
Sake Adviser, Sake School of America
Certified Sake Professional, Sake Education Council
Shochu Adviser, Sake School of America
Atsuko Glick is a Japanese native who found herself in California teaching others how to bake bread and brew kombucha. Her love for fermentation led her to the world of alcohol. She enjoys every single step of the fermentation process. Being able to see one thing transform into another is a truly magical thing to Atsuko. Having worked in travel industry, Atsuko learned to make the impossible possible just like the magic of fermentation.
Instructor: Patsy Lu
JSA Sake Diploma International, Japan Sommelier Association
International Master Sake Sommelier (Sakasho 国際酒匠), Sake Service Institute International
International Sake Lecturer (国際日本酒講師), Sake Service Institute International
International Sake Sommelier (Kikisake-shi 国際唎酒師), Sake Service Institute International
Sake Adviser, Sake School of America
Shochu Adviser, Sake School of America
Patsy Lu was born in Taiwan and raised in California, United States. She came across sakes unlike anything she’s ever tasted while working in Asia. Inspired by the rice kernels’ transcendence – from something so humble into a beverage of unparalleled history, tradition, art, and character – it prompted new perspectives and led to a road of discoveries, including ones of herself.
With a Marketing Communications background in hospitality and tech innovations, Patsy currently promotes and does Sales & Marketing under the Sake Development Division at Mutual Trading Company, where she enjoys exposing people to unexpected pairings and seeing them make their own revelations through fun and educational events.