A "Sake Teacher" who connects the complex and profound world of sake

Since 2019, I have been conducting WSET (Wine and Spirits Education Trust) sake education courses in both Japanese and English, mainly in Osaka. I am one of the WSET Sake Educators at CAPLAN Wine Academy, one of the WSET-accredited schools in Japan.
WSET is the world's largest alcohol education organization, headquartered in London, UK. It holds courses on brewed and distilled alcohol in over 70 countries around the world, with over 10 test takers annually. The total number of people certified to date, including those taking wine certification, exceeds 150 million. The organization also offers programs aimed at acquiring systematic knowledge in the sake category.

The course is held throughout the year, but during the Silver Week holidays in September, there was a three-day intensive course on "WSET Sake Level 2".
This is an intermediate class, and the curriculum covers the rice growing process, the sake brewing process including the basics of brewing science, and sake tasting techniques. There are Japanese and English classes, but the September class is in English, so it's three days of being immersed in English. In other words, Japanese is "sealed" from 10am until 4:30pm. It's quite an effort for someone like me who is not a native English speaker lol

When WSET lectures began in Osaka in 2019, the overwhelming majority of students were Japanese people working in the food and beverage and tourism industries, as well as sake breweries who needed to explain sake in English to accommodate inbound tourists.
However, this year the situation has changed dramatically. With the exception of one student, all of the students in this Osaka Level 2 (intermediate) class and the Level 1 (beginner) class held in early September were of foreign origin.

My job as a sake instructor began with the simple joy of "telling people about what I love as a drinker," but when I actually started doing it, I found that the world was much more complex and profound than I had imagined.

Students of various nationalities gather in the classroom. Although their learning styles may differ, they share a passion for sake and sincerely learn from each other, transcending cultural and linguistic barriers.

Japanese people listen quietly and cooperate with the proceedings

Classes with a large number of Japanese students are generally quiet, whether in Japanese or English.
Even when I ask, "Do you have any questions?", everyone just looks down. They don't even raise their hands, and sometimes they don't even look me in the eye. Even if they do have questions, they tend to sneak in after class is over.
But this is also the way Japanese people learn. They don't ask questions, but they really deepen their learning. Having lived in Kansai for a long time, I sometimes worry, "Was it interesting?" (laughs).

There are also many good things about the way these quiet Japanese students learn.
He understands how I want to proceed and is very cooperative in helping me proceed exactly that way. No strange questions suddenly pop up out of nowhere during class, and the curriculum progresses smoothly as planned.

Active discussion is a prerequisite, and the appeal and challenges of dealing with students from overseas

On the other hand, classes with many students from overseas are a completely different world.
The questions are asked without reservation, and often stray from the topic of the lesson.

"I understand the price difference between rice suitable for sake brewing and rice for eating. So why do some breweries use rice for eating to make the more expensive Junmai Daiginjo?"
"Why call it 'Special Junmai' when you can call it Junmai Ginjo?"
"What kind of food would you pair with this sake? And tell us why!"

Questions like these come flying at you one after the other, and they all require a clear answer like, "In my opinion, it's ____."

In the class the other day, questions ranged from the planned extension of the Hokuriku Shinkansen line and its potential impact on the groundwater in Fushimi, Kyoto, a sake-producing area, to the impact of the recent rise in rice prices on the sake industry. Just explaining it in English was enough to make me break out in a cold sweat. "Silence is golden" - which proverb is that? Wasn't it originally in English? (※A quote from the British historian Thomas Carlyle)
At times like these, the most difficult thing is time management. Cost, regional characteristics, the philosophy of the sake brewery... I have to think of my own answer to the content, which is a mix of various factors, instantly and convey it in a limited time. Class time is limited, and I can't allow the time to run out just for Q&A.

There are countless instances where people have cried out, "Sorry, I'll explain later, so let me get on with it for now!"
At the same time, as a lecturer, it is important not to be swayed by students' questions, but to stick to the schedule that has been prepared in advance and clearly communicate, "I can't answer that now, so please come and ask me after class."

But I'm always impressed by their eagerness to learn. One answer leads to a new question, which leads to another question, and so on.
What's great about this is that everyone is trying to find their own original answer. It's no good just coming up with a safe, inoffensive answer while watching other people's reactions. It's also a moment that makes you realize that this won't work in the world.

A common passion for "SAKE"

Although they are contrasting, there is one moment they share in common: when someone thinks, "Oh, that's interesting!"
Whether the students are quiet Japanese or lively from overseas, their eyes sparkle and their expressions become lively. It is clear that the appeal of sake is being conveyed to everyone, regardless of language or cultural differences.

As a teacher, I am still far from perfect, and every day I am made painfully aware of the improvements I need to make.
However, I believe that the sincerity with which I approach this class and the passion to convey my message will transcend borders. I would be extremely happy if this love for sake reaches the hearts of the students.

I want to convey the charm of sake to all those who love it, and that is why I have been working as a lecturer.
I imagine people of all different nationalities, languages, and cultures coming together to talk about sake. I stand at the podium today, despite my limited English and ability to express myself.
Sake really does connect people!
(Text: Yamaguchi Goko, Photos: Sakurai Daisuke)

Author profile:
Holds Eiken Grade 1 and Cambridge Certificate of Proficiency in English (CPE). Nationally certified guide-interpreter.
His love of sake led him to obtain the qualifications of a sake sommelier, an international sake sommelier, and an FBO-certified sake studies instructor.
Certified Advanced Sake Professional (ASP) by the Sake Educational Council.
He has also obtained Sake Level 3 certification from the London-based WSET (Wine and Spirit Educational Trust), and since May 2019 has been teaching professional sake courses in English in Shinsaibashi, Osaka, as a WSET sake educator.
Additionally, as a sake journalist, he has been reporting on domestic and international trends in the sake industry in various media outlets since 2017.
He is also a certified shochu sommelier. In 2023, he became the first Japanese person living in Japan to pass the WSET Award in Spirits Level 3. He also writes about shochu, domestic craft gin, rum, and other spirits.

KAPLANN Wine Academy WSET Sake Course
https://lp.caplan.jp/wine/lp/sake/01/

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