Ep. 2839 Marketing Matters and Why Stories Sells: Italian Wine in Japan with Mihoko Kizu IWA & Miki Yuzawa IWA | Clubhouse Ambassadors' Corner

Welcome to Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner and Episode 2839 of the Italian Wine Podcast. In this episode, Miki Yuzawa IWA interviews Mihoko Kizu Schenone IWA of Japan-Europe Trading Co. (JET), a veteran Japanese wine importer, about the changing landscape of Italian wine in Japan. They discuss how the weak yen, rising import costs, evolving consumer preferences and growing competition are reshaping the market. Mihoko shares insights into the differences between Japan’s on-trade and retail sectors, the growing demand for lighter wines, the importance of strong branding and what Japanese importers look for in new producers. She also reflects on building long-term winery partnerships and why consistency, reliability and personal relationships remain essential to succeeding in Japan. These sessions are recorded from Clubhouse and reproduced here for the Italian Wine Podcast. More about today’s host: Miki Yuzawa is a Japan-based wine educator and judge with a passion for Italian wines. She holds the WSET Level 4 Diploma in Wines and is a certified Italian Wine Ambassador with Vinitaly International Academy (VIA). She also holds the Italian Wine Scholar qualification from Wine Scholar Guild. Since 2023, Miki has served as a judge at the Japan Wine Challenge and has organized wine education and tasting events to share her knowledge with wine enthusiasts. Before focusing on wine, she built an international career in the technology industry, working with teams across Europe, Asia, and North America. Connect: Website: https://www.vitisarc.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vino.neve.days/ More about today’s guest: Mihoko lived in New York from 1996 to 2003, where she developed a passion for Italian culture, learned Italian and immersed herself in its food and wine traditions. After returning to Japan, she worked in buying and merchandising at SISLEY and Benetton Japan. Since 2015, she has been with Japan Europe Trading (JET), overseeing marketing and brand management for more than ten Italian wineries. She also leads Italian wine courses as part of the company’s employee training programme. Connect: Website: http://www.jetlc.co.jp/ Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mihoko-schenone-467860171/ More interviews on Clubhouse Ambassadors’ Corner: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/episodes_category/clubhouse-ambassadors-corner/ _______________________________ Let’s keep in touch! Follow Italian Wine Podcast on our social media channels: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/italianwinepodcast/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItalianWinePodcast LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/italianwinepodcast Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mammajumboshrimp Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mammajumboshrimp If you feel like helping us, donate here: https://www.italianwinepodcast.com/donate-to-show/ Until next time, Cin Cin! Follow Italian Wine Podcast for more great content – winery interviews from the Clubhouse sessions! Psssst…FYI, this show is our most popular show, find out why by tuning in!