Sake Sommelier (International Kikisake-shi) Self Learning Course

Study at your own pace with our self-learning course to become a Certified Sake Sommelier recognised by Sake Service Institute International (SSI).

As a Certified Sake Sommelier, you will be able to give advice and recommendations to customers on how to enjoy sake, based on an abundant knowledge of sake types and their defining characteristics, sake production and its history, compatibility with food, characteristics of taste and aroma, storage and service of sake.

Course offered by Sake Education Academy, an education and training center for Japanese liquors, the School is endorsed by the Sake Service Institute International (SSI – the largest sake sommelier certification organization in Japan).

*You must be age 21 or over to take this course and sit for the examination.

What is Sake Sommelier (International kikisake-shi)?

• • A certified qualification to work as a professional in the provision, sales and promotion of Sake appropriately and accurately, in a language other than Japanese.
  • Suitable for both sake enthusiasts and sommeliers, as well as those who work in the food and beverage service industry, restaurant service and liquor retail industry.

Course Overview

1. E-learning course suitable for self-study at any time and place
2. Total of 60 learning hours covering topics below:
   • Essential knowledge of alcoholic beverages and palatable foods in the world
   • Professional knowledge of sake (characteristics, history, production methods, food pairing, storage, trends and development etc.)
   • Sake tasting and defining characteristics of aroma and taste
   • Hospitality service, attitude and protocol
   • Sales promotion and business management theories related to sake
3. Course includes official textbook “NIHONSHU-NO-MOTOI The Textbook for INTERNATIONAL KIKISAKE-SHI” (in English) from SSI International and access to video learning content (Japanese dubbed with English subtitles)
4. Complete the course and acquire the qualification upon passing the examination in as short as 3 months*
5. An International Kikisake-shi collar badge and an official Certificate of Qualification issued by SSI International will be awarded upon passing the course.

Refer to Curriculum for more details on course content.

Course Period

The time required from application to acquisition of qualification is as follows.

If you do not complete the course during the above course period (including if you do not meet the passing criteria), your eligibility will expire.

Certification

Established in 2009, the International Kikisake-shi qualification boosts a high international recognition, with more than 50,000 people around the world having awarded with this certification.

Upon completing the course and passing the examinations, you will be awarded with:

• • An International Kikisake-shi collar badge (magnet type),
  • An official Certificate of Qualification (B4 size; W257 x H364mm) issued by SSI International
  • A set of certification sticker for store front decoration as proof of a sake specialist in-house who can provide for and sell sake

Examination

Examination Overview

• • You must be age 21 or over to take this course and examinations.
  • You will be required to sit through 3 examination papers in person.
  • The examinations are basically set according to the content of the textbook and videos, as well as the actual market conditions of sake from an international perspective.
  • The examinations will be corrected and graded by an instructor. A pass or fail will be judged based on the score.
  • The Sake Sommelier certification will be granted to those who have completed all 3 examination papers and have met the passing criteria of 70% and above for each paper.

Examination Structure

* No correct answer is available.

Examination Retake/Resit

You may apply for a resit of the examination(s) if you did not manage to obtain a pass for any of the examinations. For partial passes of the examination, students are allowed to resit for the papers they did not pass.

The resit period must be within one year of your original attempt. If a student with a partial pass does not retake the examination within one year of their original attempt, their exam score(s) will be reset – meaning they will have to retake the entire examination again.

The retake fee is USD$250.00 and is not included in the fees for this course.