TWTT - (Taste with the Toji)

In this episode, Julian and Simone catch up with Tokyo based Alex Harrison from Mottox Craft Sake.

Craft Sake is a term that has been thrown around a little in previous episodes of this podcast. In this episode, we speak with someone from a company that actually owns the rights to the term 'craft sake'.

Alex joined Mottox in 2022, and along with many of his co-workers, he comes from a wine background. Mottox are a Japan based importing company, also working in wholesale and distribution, with a long history and a dedicated following in Japan and also overseas.

The company have built their line-up through a series of original collaborations with sake breweries from all over Japan. They are currently working with 21 breweries with a vision to expand on that number and bring sake to the tables of sake and wine lovers all over the world.

We chat with Alex a little about the sake side of Mottox, collaborating with breweries, and why he loves working with sake and sake brewers on this ever-evolving project.

We hope you enjoy listening to this conversation as much as we loved having it.

You can follow Mottox on IG: @mottox_craftsake

and our podcast and podcast hosts:

TWTT Podcast: @tastewiththetoji

Simone: @sakemistress

Maki: @sake.amata

Julian: @sakeadvocate

and don't forget to check out Julian's sake bar on IG: @sakehouse_osaka

This episode was recorded on 1 July 2025

In this episode, Julian and Simone catch-up with good friend, Andy Russell.

Andy was TWTT's very first podcast guest - and, alongside Miho Imada, he was the very first Zoom room guest on TWTT The Project, back in April 2020.

This episode was actually recorded on April 27th - which just happened to be the 5th anniversary of TWTT The Project - so it was very fitting to have Andy as our special guest and to find out what he has been up to since we last spoke.

When he first graced the TWTT Zoom room in 2020, he was working at Imada Shuzo in Hiroshima. When he joined us on the Podcast for our second ever episode, he had just started working at Kenbishi in Hyogo... fast forward to April 2025, and Andy has recently joined good friend, (and previous TWTT guest), Jorge Navarrete, at Matsui Shuzo in the heart of Kyoto.

We chat about the move, the notable differences between his previous and current brewery, his Hyogo sake tours, his recent visits to Julian's new sake bar in Osaka, and other sake related stuff.

It's always a joy catching up with Andy.

We hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as we enjoyed recording it.

You can follow Andy on IG: @originsake

and our podcast and podcast hosts:

TWTT Podcast: @tastewiththetoji

Simone: @sakemistress

Maki: @sake.amata

Julian: @sakeadvocate

and don't forget to check out Julian's new bar on IG: @sakehouse_osaka

This episode was recorded on 27 April 2025

In this episode, the gang are back together for the first time since last year, to chat to Julian about his brand new venture: Sake House!

Sake House is Osaka's newest Sake Bar, and it's something Julian has been working towards, or at least dreaming about, for some time.

Located in the popular area of Umeda, but a little out of the hard hustle and bustle, Sake House is a small bar with a big heart and an excellent sake menu - not to mention its fabulous host.

In addition to some amazing sake, and other beverages, hand selected by Julian, guests can enjoy a small menu of tasty treats ~ with things like saganaki, blue cheese and sake kasu pizza, and a dish with hummus, being some of the current items on the menu.

By the time you listen to this episode, the menu will most likely have changed a little, as will some of the sake, but that's what will keep his guests coming back for more - with each visit being a new and delicious experience.

Only 3 weeks into it's existence, Sake House aims to be a venue for locals and tourists alike. A place where everyone can feel comfortable and confident ordering, drinking and exploring the world of Nihonshu.

No stranger to many already in the sake industry, Julian has a wealth of knowledge and has been a passionate advocate for sake for many years. Needless to say, this venture was a long time coming - but it's finally here, and we are super excited to see how it evolves.

If you're in, or planning to be in Osaka, be sure to pop in and say hi to Julian at Sake House.

Congratulations, Julian - from all of us at TWTT.

You can follow this podcast and its hosts on IG...

TWTT Podcast: @tastewiththetoji

Simone: @sakemistress

Maki: @sake.amata

Julian: @sakeadvocate

and don't forget to check out Julian's new bar on IG: @sakehouse_osaka

This episode was recorded on 2 Mar 2025

In this episode, the first for 2025, Simone catches up with the team from 'Sake Unplugged' - who also just happen to be two fabulous women doing some wonderful things in the sake world: both as a team and as individuals.

These two ladies are no strangers to the TWTT community or the TWTT podcast, and both were guests on seperate episodes of this podcast in 2024.

So much has happened in their 'sake world/s' since we last spoke, including the two of them teaming up to bring Sake Challenge to Japan for the very first time. We chat with Cindy and Giulia about the upcoming Tokyo Sake Challenge, and find out what else has been happening in their world of sake since we last spoke.

A big thanks to Giulia and Cindy for making time for our little podcast, and for a most enjoyable chat.

We hope you enjoy this episode and if you're in Tokyo in March (2025) - be sure to check out the details of Tokyo Sake Challenge. They'll be calling out for volunteers soon!

You can follow our guests on Instagram...

Giulia: @jijisake

Cindy: @sakenomad

and our podcast and hosts...

TWTT Podcast: @tastewiththetoji

Simone: @sakemistress

Maki: @sake.amata

Julian: @sakeadvocate

and don't forget to check out Julian's new bar on IG: @sakehouse_osaka

This episode was recorded on 17 Feb 2025

In this episode, the final one for 2024, Julian, Simone and Maki reflect a little on some of their sake highlights from this year.

A casual conversational episode, touching on sake moments from 2024, a few hopes and things in store for 2025, and we also make note of a few cool bars to check out if you’re travelling over the Christmas and New Year period.

We always enjoy our catch-ups, and enjoyed reflecting on some memorable sake moments from 2024.

It was a nice way to sign off on the TWTT Podcast for another year.

We hope you enjoy listening to our chat as much as we enjoyed having it.

A huge thank you to everyone who has listened to our little Podcast and to everyone who has supported TWTT.

To all our sake family and friends, and to everyone…

Stay safe, be kind…. and keep enjoying SAKE!!

KANPAI!

This episode was recorded on 7 Dec 2024

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