About International Kikisake-shi
What is Kikisake-shi (唎酒師)?
- Established in 1991 by Sake Service Institute (SSI), “Kikisake-shi” is a sake provider and seller qualification mainly used in Japan.
- 「唎酒師」is the Japanese kanji character expression of the qualification name “Kikisake-shi”, which translates to “Sommelier of sake”.
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.
What abilities are required to become a Sake Sommelier (International Kikisake-shi)?
- 7 points to remember:
- Insight: Identify consumer needs
- Hospitality: Service to increase customer satisfaction, ways to serve sake
- Knowledge of product characteristics: Not only sake but in general, food and beverages and their palatability and characteristics
- Understanding the true meaning of gastronomy and gourmet: Knowledge of the effects and benefits of food and beverages
- Ability / technology: Sake tasting ability, service technology
- Proposal ability: Planning of strategies and tactics for the sales promotion of sake overseas and for foreigners visiting Japan; providing advice for consumers based on their requirements; proposals and recommendations in foreign languages for sake
- Expertise in sake: Professional knowledge of sake
What scenarios can my qualification as Sake Sommelier (International Kikisake-shi) be applied to?
CASE 1. Restaurants and Bars
A Sake Sommelier can:
- develop an assortment of sake pairing that matches the dishes of the restaurant;
- develop menus that brings out the characteristics of sake
- serve sake to guests at the right temperature with unique drinking vessels, at the right moment, to enhance customers’ overall gourmet experience
CASE2.Liquor Store Retail / Wholesale Business
A Sake Sommelier can:
- devise a well-balanced product lineup of sake to meet with customers’ growing demands for sake
- recommend sake that suits the tastes of customers by expressing the flavor characteristics of each sake (whether for drinking or for gifting)
- offer tips on how to enjoy sake
- create easy-to-understand POP for each sake paired with snacks or food
CASE3. Tourism Industry, Sake Event Organisers, Influencers
A Sake Sommelier can:
- participate in sake events in Japan and overseas, with an aim to spread the awareness and promotion of sake to foreigners, and to help disseminate sake information to consumers
- raise awareness of sake by distributing videos and posting articles on social media to spread the appeal of sake to as many people as possible.
- organize events, tours and seminars related to sake, which are gaining popularity among foreign tourists, women, and young people