Sake On Air

<p>In this special episode we are trying out a new format we are dubbing the &#8220;Sake on Air Bulletin.&#8221; 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 attended a panel discussion and seminar on GIs. It&#8217;s read ‘Gee Eye’ not G1, and stands for Geographical Indication and is used on everything from French wine to Italian ham. </p> <p>This GI seminar was held by the Kanto Shinetsu Tax Bureau in Saitama and focused on the Kanto Shinetsu region’s GIs. There are four sake GI and 1 wine GI: GI Niigata, GI Tone Numata, GI Nagano, GI Nagano Shinano Omachi; and GI Nagano respectively. The sake world has been quick to adopt GIs, but what is their purpose and benefit in the context of sake? That’s what Chris intended to find out. The panel of sake brewers, and one wine producer rose to the challenge and gave some answers. Were there any surprises and will Chris, who admits to be something of a skeptical passenger on the GI train come away feeling satisfied or will it leave him with more questions than answers. Let Sake on Air be your eyes and ears in the sake world in Japan. </p> <p>As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share them with us at [email protected] or send us a message on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakeonair/?hl=en">Instagram</a>,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakeonair/"> Facebook,</a> or <a href="https://sakeonair.substack.com/">Substack</a>!<br />We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air.</p> <p>Until then, <em>kampai</em>!</p> <p>Sake On Air is made possible with the generous support of the<a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html"> Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Makers Association</a> and is broadcast from the<a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/"> Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Information Center in Tokyo</a>. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow,” was composed by<a href="https://www.forsomethingnewmusic.com/">forSomethingNew</a> for Sake On Air.</p>

<p>Frank got to sit down with Okura Taiji of <a href="https://www.gekkeikan.com/" title="">Gekkeikan Sak</a>e to talk about the whole swath of Gekkeikan&#8217;s existance. Our conversation covers its rise to prominence in the late 1800s to its creation of a<a href="https://us.gekkeikan.com/" title=""> brewery in America</a> to what&#8217;s going on in <a href="https://www.gekkeikan.co.jp/gekkeikan-studio/" title="">Gekkeikan Studio</a>, the experimental arm of the brewery.</p> <p>We ae trying out a new video format which you can find on YouTube: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgCm-m_-1_I">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pgCm-m_-1_I</a>. Let us know what you think!</p> <p>As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share them with us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or send us a message on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakeonair/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakeonair/">Facebook,</a> or <a href="https://sakeonair.substack.com/">Substack</a>!<br />We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air.</p> <p>Until then, <em>kampai</em>!</p> <p>Sake On Air is made possible with the generous support of the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Makers Association</a> and is broadcast from the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Information Center in Tokyo</a>. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow,” was composed by<a href="https://www.forsomethingnewmusic.com/">forSomethingNew</a> for Sake On Air.</p>

<p>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.</p> <p>In September 2025, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakenomad/">Cindy Bissig</a>; <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakemistress/">Simone Maynard</a>, creator of <a href="https://sakeonair.com/2022/11/04/taste-with-the-toji-simone-maynard/" title="">Taste with the Toji (check out episode 92!)</a>, a Sake Samurai, and a sake educator; and Taichiro Ogi, certified Tosa Sake Advisor and manager of <a href="https://www.instagram.com/shikoku_travel_solutions/" title="">Shikoku Travel Solutions</a>, visited 6 breweries in Kochi together. Their trip was part of the development process to create a multi-day <a href="https://www.instagram.com/insidersaketoursjapan/">sake-themed tour</a> in the southwest part of the island of Shikoku. They visited the following breweries:</p> <p><a href="https://www.keigetsu.co.jp/en/" title="">Tosa Brewery</a>, the makers of Keigetsu<br /><a href="https://www.tsukasabotan.co.jp/" title="">Tsukasa Botan Brewery</a>, makers of Tsukasa Botan<br /><a href="http://www.jyunpei.co.jp/" title="">Nishioka Brewery</a>, the makers of Junpei<br /><a href="https://mutemuka.com/" title="">Mutemuka Brewery</a>, the makers of Mutemuka<br /><a href="https://fumimoto.jp/pages/fumimoto-brewery-en" title="">Fumimoto Sake Brewery</a>, the makers of Shimanto<br /><a href="https://www.kameizumi.co.jp/en/" title="">Kameizumi Brewery</a>, the makers of Kameizumi</p> <p>In December, the three reunited over zoom to reflect on what they experienced in Kochi and share insights into the region, its sake culture, and what makes traveling there so special. From the character of Kochi’s sake to practical tips on how to explore, this conversation is all about how to enjoy Kochi to the fullest.</p> <p>As always, if you have questions or comments, please do share them with us at <a href="mailto:[email protected]">[email protected]</a> or send us a message on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakeonair/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakeonair/">Facebook,</a> or <a href="https://sakeonair.substack.com/">Substack</a>!<br />We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air.</p> <p>Until then, <em>kampai</em>!</p> <p>Sake On Air is made possible with the generous support of the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Makers Association</a> and is broadcast from the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Information Center in Tokyo</a>. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow,” was composed by<a href="https://www.forsomethingnewmusic.com/"> forSomethingNew</a> for Sake On Air.</p>

<p>Join <a href="https://sakeonair.com/hosts/shuso-imada/" title="Imada-san">Imada-san</a> and <a href="https://sakeonair.com/hosts/sebastien-lemoine/" title="Sebastien">Sebastien</a> (and a<a href="https://sakeonair.com/hosts/chris-hughes/" title=""> late arriving guest</a>) 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 go well with sake and many of the unwritten rules of dining out in Japan.</p> <p>When JSS&#8217;s map of recommended izakaya is released later this year we will link it here: </p> <p>We’d love to hear your experiences at izakaya! Let us know at [email protected] or send us a message on our <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakeonair/?hl=en">Instagram</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakeonair/">Facebook,</a> or <a href="https://sakeonair.substack.com/">Substack</a>!</p> <p>We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air.</p> <p>Until then, <em>kampai</em>!</p> <p>Sake On Air is made possible with the generous support of the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Makers Association</a> and is broadcast from the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Information Center in Tokyo</a>. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow” was composed by<a href="https://www.forsomethingnewmusic.com/">forSomethingNew</a> for Sake On Air.&#160;</p>

<p>Frank and <a href="https://history.ku.edu/people/eric-c-rath" title="Eric C Rath, Professor at University of Kansas">Eric C Rath, Professor at University of Kansas</a> and author of <a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/author/R/E/au25036894.html" title="">multiple books on Japanese food culture</a>, dive deep into his new book, <em><a href="https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/K/bo258381634.html" title="">Kanpai: The History of Sake.</a> </em>We talk about samurai drinking games, the origins of sake as a beverage, sake&#8217;s effects on the Japanese economy, and many other topics.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large is-resized"><img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="773" height="1024" src="https://sakeonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/81X38UuEORL._SL1500_-773x1024.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-71134" style="aspect-ratio:0.7549019607843137;width:169px;height:auto" srcset="https://sakeonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/81X38UuEORL._SL1500_-773x1024.jpg 773w, https://sakeonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/81X38UuEORL._SL1500_-226x300.jpg 226w, https://sakeonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/81X38UuEORL._SL1500_-768x1018.jpg 768w, https://sakeonair.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/81X38UuEORL._SL1500_.jpg 1132w" sizes="(max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px" /></figure> </div> <p>We’d love to hear what you thought about the episode! Let us know at [email protected] or send us a message on our&#160;<a href="https://www.instagram.com/sakeonair/?hl=en">Instagram</a>,&#160;<a href="https://www.facebook.com/sakeonair/">Facebook,</a>&#160;or&#160;<a href="https://sakeonair.substack.com/">Substack</a>!</p> <p>We’ll be back very soon with plenty more Sake On Air.</p> <p>Until then, <em>kampai</em>!</p> <p>Sake On Air is made possible with the generous support of the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/about.html">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Makers Association</a> and is broadcast from the <a href="http://www.japansake.or.jp/sake/english/">Japan Sake &#38; Shochu Information Center in Tokyo</a>. Sake on Air was created by Potts K Productions and is produced by Export Japan. Our theme, “Younger Today Than Tomorrow” was composed by<a href="https://www.forsomethingnewmusic.com/">forSomethingNew</a> for Sake On Air.&#160;</p>