This time, we interviewed Ai Fukui, a taste specialist and winner of the individual division of the 44th National Sake Tasting Championship, about the taste of blended sake and her relationship with sake while experiencing blending at My Sake World Oike Bettei.

I spoke to this person

Ai Fukui

Profile

He currently resides in Kyoto City. After working in the hospitality and photography industries, he has experience working at Matsui Sake Brewery. He has participated in the Kyoto Prefecture preliminary round of the National Sake Tasting Championship for three consecutive years, and won the individual division of the 44th National Sake Tasting Championship held in November 2025.

A stick made of your favorite drink

-Please tell us how you got involved with sake.

Fukui (omitted): "My parents didn't drink alcohol at all, so we didn't have any alcohol at home. Even though I was not used to drinking alcohol at home, I remember that nigori sake was smooth and easy to drink. I think I was probably drinking Shirakawa-go."

"I don't like carbonated drinks, so I used to drink shochu or sake, but when I went to Kochi on a trip, I bought Kameizumi Sake Brewery's Cel-24 and when I tried it, it was amazing! It changed my concept of sake. From then on, I started looking for alcohol that I liked. To this day, Kameizumi Sake Brewery's Cel-24 is my favorite."

-This product uses Kochi Prefecture's signature sake yeast, CEL-24.

"On another occasion, I tried Takagi Shuzo's Itowokashi, which also uses the Kochi yeast CEL-24, and thought it was delicious! An acquaintance of mine told me that it was because I like yeast, so maybe I just like Kochi yeast CEL-24."

"After that, I held a sake tasting party at home, collecting only sake made with Kochi yeast CEL-24. The goal was not to guess the brand, but to find a sake I liked. In the end, I realized that I really liked Kameizumi."

-What made you decide to work at Matsui Sake Brewery?

"After buying a limited-edition New Year's bottle from Matsui Sake Brewery, I found an ad for a part-time job and applied. I had no experience working with alcohol, and my previous job was in the camera industry, so Matsui-san was surprised (laughs). I remember having a lot of fun putting labels on the bottles and serving customers at events."

I want to increase the number of people who like sake.

▲The moment they won

-In the midst of these activities, you won the individual division of the 44th National Sake Tasting Championship held in 2025. What prompted you to participate?

"I started competing in the Kyoto Prefecture qualifying rounds three years ago. A friend of mine's husband works at Shotoku Sake Brewery, and he told me about the championship. I actually got all the questions right three years in a row, but there are different criteria for selecting the representative each year, and I was chosen this time, my third year."

-Have you practiced sake tasting?

"In the Kyoto Prefecture preliminary competition, we tasted and matched five types of sake, and in the national competition, we tasted and matched seven types of sake, but in practice we practiced with 12 types of sake. Matsugasaki Shoten kindly allowed us to practice, and we got all the answers right! We also had the opportunity to practice with the Fushimi Sake Brewers Association."

"In my case, I have a unique method of tasting sake, and I judge it based on my favorite Kameizumi Cell-24. The sake brewers' association told me that there was no need to change Fukui's method, so I was able to compete in the competition as is."

-How do you feel now that you've won?

"I never expected to win, and ended up drinking too much at the social gathering before the announcement (laughs). It was just a surprise. My family and friends threw me a celebration party later, and I was happy to see that people around me were interested in alcohol. I've been getting messages saying they want to try sake tasting and asking me to hold a sake party, so I'd like to use this opportunity to increase the number of people who love sake."

-Please give a message to sake beginners.

"Some people may think that sake tasting is difficult, but even someone like me who enjoys drinking sake every day without any knowledge of it was able to win, so I recommend that you first try to find a sake that you like."

A free and fun world: "My Sake World"

-How was your blending experience at My Sake World today?

"It was so much fun! I've always wanted to try it, and I was just curious and interested in it."

"The first time, I used Matsui Shuzo's Shinzo as the main ingredient, and combined it with Ishizuchi Shuzo's Sakurahime and Hafuzetto. The second time, I increased the proportion of Matsui Shuzo's Shinzo and added a little Niidashi Zenshu. As expected, Shinzo is the most calming. I made something delicious!"

- The experience of blending sake to create the aroma and flavor you like is invaluable.

"Next time, I'd like to try a different combination, perhaps mixing in a drink I don't like, and see what happens. The taste changes depending on your physical condition and the season, so there are ways to enjoy it that are only possible with a blend."

"Some of my friends have asked me why we would mix sake that the brewers made because they thought it was delicious, but I was happy to hear that so many brewers were supporting My Sake World."

-I often talk to sake brewers about not wanting to restrict the freedom of drinkers.

"I'm grateful to hear that from a brewery. I think sake should be more free. There's a more fun world out there. And blended sake tastes better!"

-I'm happy to hear that from you, a taste specialist.

"People who love sake tend to talk a lot, but I want to value more 'free tastes'."

A journey to find your favorite drink

-Do you have a message for our readers?

"I want people to find sake that is delicious and to their liking, without trying to explain it in a complicated way."

-When would you like to drink the alcohol you have created this time?

"First, I want to drink it by myself (laughs). But drinking it by myself would be a waste, so I want to drink it with everyone. I tried this blend! What do you think? I'd love to hear your thoughts! I'm having a sake potluck soon, so I'll bring it then."

-What are your expectations for [My Sake World]?

"My Sake World allows me to take a journey to discover my tastes, something I treasure, so let's work together to increase the number of people who love sake."

Fukui is modest and says he has no knowledge of sake.
As a result of continuing to enjoy drinking his favorite alcohol every day, he has become a taste specialist.
When tasting sake, Fukui uses his favorite, Kameizumi Sake Brewery cel-24, as a benchmark, and then judges the aroma and flavor from there.
Finding a drink that suits your taste may be the quickest way to learn about sake and enjoy it.

My Sake World Oike Bettei
Book in Japanese

Click here for related articles

A new experience facility in Kyoto! Make your own original sake [My Sake World Oike Bettei]

#MySakeWorld

Text: Sake World Editorial Department