Have you ever felt like, "I'm interested in sake, but I don't know where to start?" The world of sake is actually deeper and more fun to explore the more you learn about it. In this article, we will introduce qualifications, courses, and learning opportunities that even beginners can learn about with confidence.

Learn at seminars and online

If you want to learn about sake, we recommend that you first attend a seminar or course. In many cases, you can experience sake tasting along with the lecture content, making it easy to learn. Recently, you can also watch various videos online, but it is safer to choose official ones from sake breweries or related organizations.

●Culture Center Courses
Sake-related courses are held from time to time in department stores and seminar rooms across the country, organized by various culture centers (Asahi Culture Center, Yomiuri Culture, NHK Culture, etc.). If you are searching online for courses that are currently accepting applications, you should be able to easily find them by entering search terms such as "sake seminar (your area name)."

●Japanese Sake Online Course
The Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association has set up a free video course. There are courses on sake basics and sake culture, and courses by trusted instructors can be viewed online. Each video is short, about 10 minutes long, so you can learn easily.
Link:https://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/learn/

Tour the brewery and participate in events
If you take a tour of a sake brewery, you can hear from the brewer right in front of the sake brewing process. There are also study sessions at izakayas and events run by sake lovers groups. For example, "Sake Match," held in Kyoto, has lectures and tasting sessions on a different theme each time.

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You can also deepen your knowledge at My Sake World Oike Bettei, an experience facility where you can create your own original blend of sake created by Sake World, receive explanations about the history and culture of sake, and experience tasting 12 types of sake.

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Various qualifications and tests for beginners

Test your knowledge and skills by taking tests. Once you have passed the beginner's test, you can then aim for higher qualifications such as sake sommelier, sake expert, or SAKE DIPLOMA.

●Sake Certification Level 5 and 4
This is a test conducted by the Sake Service Institute (SSI), which certifies sake sommeliers, with the aim of helping consumers "enjoy sake even more." The beginner-level 5 and 4 levels can be taken 24 hours a day online, and those who pass will be issued a digital certificate. The course fee is also reasonable at 1,100 yen.
Link:https://ssi-sake.jp/nihonsyu-kentei/

●Sake Navigator
This is also an introductory qualification offered by SSI. You can obtain it by attending the "Sake Navigator Certification Seminar" hosted by an SSI-certified sake studies instructor. You will receive a card-type certificate. A certification registration fee of 2,640 yen is required in addition to the seminar fee (which varies depending on the instructor).
Link:https://ssi-sake.jp/sake-navigator/

●Local Sake Breweries Association Examination
This is an information site for local sake breweries across Japan. You can try out 5 levels of problems, from basic to professional level. Membership registration is required, but you can enjoy the basic level without registering. Free.
Link:https://www.kuramotokai.com/kentei/

The more you know, the tastier it becomes

Sake has a long history with the Japanese people, and is also involved in many areas, including religious ceremonies, agriculture, taxation, fermentation science, and food culture. The more you learn about sake, the deeper it becomes, and the more you know about it, the more delicious it becomes. Why not take this opportunity to learn more about sake in earnest?

Writer/Sake Master Eriko Fujita
Expand your world to a sake specialty store in Osaka and encounter a variety of sake and sake breweries. Favorite sakes are Akishika, Ohgi, and others.
Other than drinking, my hobbies include collecting minerals and raising swallowtail butterflies.

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