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SARIKA SAKE

Sake Collaborations

Education · Judging · Speaking · Media

A growing selection of collaborations with organisations, institutions, competitions and media, where Sarika has been honoured to share her knowledge for Sake and her perspectives on Japanese culture.

Trusted Worldwide

Who Has Trusted Sarika

Education & Institutions

MIT Japan Program
Harvard Business School AABA
Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association
Ireland Japan Association

Media

Forbes
Sake Times
散歩の達人 (Japanese magazine)
All Wine Stories
Centered on Taiwan Magazine
Green Cloud Nine

Competitions

World Sake Sommelier Competition
Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
Féminalise World Wine Competition, France
Japan Women’s Sake Awards
Women's International Trophy, Germany

Industry & Hospitality

Polish Vodka Museum
Yamamori
Asahi Super Dry
The Pig's Ear
The Madrid EDITION
WaSushi Galway

Proof Points

Credibility at a Glance

11,500+

Students & Professionals
Taught Worldwide

International Judge

Concours des Féminalise & Global Competitions

Featured In

Forbes, 35+ Media Outlets & Top Podcasts

Academic & Institutional

MIT Japan Program & Diplomatic Audiences

Press & Conversations

Media, Features & Interviews

Invited to share Sake, Japanese culture, entrepreneurship, sustainability and career pivots with media and podcast hosts around the world.

Forbes feature
Forbes

How Women Sake Masters Contribute to Preserving Tradition Amid Decline.

READ FEATURE →
Sake Times interview
Sake Times

In-depth interview with one of Japan's largest Sake media platforms.

READ INTERVIEW →
35+ Media Conversations

The Freedom Pivot · All Wine Stories · Fearless & Flawed · This is 50 · Sake Unplugged · Centered on Taiwan · Girl Makes Fire · Call Your Sister · Green Cloud Nine · and many more.

EXPLORE ALL INTERVIEWS →
Sake Around the World

Selected Collaborations

From museums and universities to restaurants, cultural associations and international events.

Ireland Japan Association and Yamamori Sake workshop
Ireland Japan Association × Yamamori

Exclusive Sake tasting and cultural workshop in Dublin.

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Yamamori and Asahi Super Dry collaboration
Yamamori × Asahi Super Dry

Japanese food, beer and Sake dining collaboration in Dublin.

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Alya Society Sake event at The Madrid EDITION
Alya Society × The Madrid EDITION

A special Sake experience at the Punch Room in Madrid.

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Irish Cuisine x Japanese Sake pairing dinner at The Pig's Ear
The Pig's Ear, Dublin

Irish cuisine paired with curated Japanese Sake.

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Japanese Sake night in Galway
WaSushi, Galway

Two Japanese women, one unforgettable Sake night.

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Sarika speaking at IberKampai 2025
IberKampai 2025

Speaking at Spain and Portugal's Japanese Sake & gastronomy expo.

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Sarika teaching Sake at the Polish Vodka Museum
Polish Vodka Museum

Professional Sake education and staff training in Warsaw.

MIT Japan Program
MIT Japan Program

Sake education introducing Japanese culture through the glass.

Industry Recognition

Competition Judging

Trusted to judge Sake, wine and spirits at international competitions in Japan and Europe.

Féminalise judging 2026
Féminalise 2026

Fifth year judging wine and Sake at the international all-female competition.

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Féminalise 2025
Féminalise 2025

Judging in Burgundy alongside female wine professionals from around the world.

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Féminalise 2024
Féminalise 2024

Third year judging wine and Sake at Féminalise.

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Japan Women's Sake Award
Japan Women's Sake Award

Judge at Japan's first Sake competition with an all-female judging panel.

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Additional Judging Roles

World Sake Sommelier Competition
Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition
Women's International Trophy

Across Sake, whisky, spirits and wine, Sarika brings both technical expertise and an international cultural perspective to the judging table.

On Stage & In the Classroom

Teaching & Speaking

Harvard Business School AABA

Japanese Sake teaching collaboration with the Asian American Business Association.

MIT Japan Program
MIT Japan Program

Live Sake education for students preparing to understand Japan beyond the textbook.

Sarika speaking at Nomad Summit
Alicante Nomad Summit

Keynote: From the United Nations to Entrepreneurship.

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JSS and Polish Vodka Museum collaboration
JSS × Polish Vodka Museum

Japanese Shochu Academy in Warsaw, supported by the Japan Sake & Shochu Makers Association.

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Women in Sake Project
A Living Legacy

Women in Sake Project

Celebrating the women shaping the future of Sake

A growing interview archive with brewers, educators, sommeliers, leaders and changemakers sharing their journeys and voices.

MEET THE WOMEN →
Partner with Sarika

How We Can Work Together

01

International Judging & Competition Evaluation

Precision, palate, and global context. Certified Sake Scholar and international wine & Sake judge evaluating craft excellence across Europe, Asia, and North America. Available for official panels, tasting notes, and competition curation.

02

Keynotes, Workshops & Private Tastings

Sake education stripped of pretension. Bespoke masterclasses and cultural storytelling designed for executive retreats, university programs (including the MIT Japan Program), cultural institutions, and private collectors.

03

Brand, Hospitality & Menu Curation

Turning Sake menus into storytelling assets. Advising boutique hotels, dining groups (like Yamamori), and lifestyle brands on authentic Japanese craft integration, food pairings, and guest education.

04

Media, Podcasts & Editorial Features

A distinctive voice at the intersection of craft, career pivots, and culture. Available for interviews, panel discussions, and expert commentary on Japanese craft preservation, women in brewing, and entrepreneurial reinvention.

Why Sarika

Why Partner with Sarika?

Scholarly Authority, Human Warmth

Bringing deep craft rigor without the dry textbook jargon or gatekeeping.

A 1,300-Year Heritage & Global Lens

Former UN official turned certified Sake authority, fluent in navigating international rooms and cross-cultural nuances.

Engagement That Lingers

Turning complex fermentation science and ancient craft heritage into stories audiences remember and share.

Create Something Together

Let’s Create Something Memorable Together

Whether you are programming an event, curating a competition, or looking for an expert voice on Japanese craft culture, let’s talk.

Direct inquiries: sarika@thesarika.com

BOOK A SAKE EXPERIENCE