Women in Sake Project
To celebrate women's achievements and contributions to the craft of Sake.
The Background
Before I became a Sake Lover, I worked with the United Nations on Urban Policy, Gender Equality & Women's Rights, posted in Asia and Africa for a decade. As I embarked on my Sake journey, I was excited to meet a growing minority of great women doing creative work in the Sake world, and wanted to share their stories with the world.
As I embarked on my Sake journey, I was excited to meet a growing minority of great women doing creative work in various capacities in the Sake world. Often times, women's contributions are less recognized in many industries, including the Sake industry - women were actually 'banned' from Sake brewing for centuries until relatively recently, even though they were the first brewers.
Now, things are different. Not to exclude men, but to acknowledge these inspiring women's contributions which may not be known enough. With the hope of renewed gender awareness in Sake and Japanese society in general - and ultimately the spread of more Sake Love!
* All interviews were originally on Instagram at @sarika.sake
The Files
Interview Series
File #1
Fumiko Shintani
Toji - Master Brewer, Shintani Brewery, Yamaguchi
新谷文子氏・新谷酒造・杜氏（山口県）
File #2
Midori Okazaki
Toji - Master Brewer, Okazaki Brewery, Nagano
岡崎美都里氏・岡崎酒造・杜氏（長野県）
File #3
Simone Maynard
"Sake Mistress" - Sake Promotion & Education, Australia
シモーヌ・メイナード氏・「酒ミストレス」 (オーストラリア)
File #4
Maiko Tsuji
Toji - Master Brewer, Gozenshu (Tsuji Honten) Brewery, Okayama
辻麻衣子氏・辻本店・御前酒 蔵元 杜氏 (岡山県)
File #5
Kuniko Fujita
"Madame Saké au Québec", Canada
藤田邦子氏「マダム・酒・オ・ケベック」（カナダ）
File #6
Rumiko Moriki
Managing Director & Former Toji, Moriki Brewery, Mie
森喜るみ子氏・森喜酒造 専務（元・杜氏） (三重県)
File #7
Sachiko Miyagi
Sake Expert, Tippsy Sake, USA
宮城幸子氏・テイプシー・サケ・日本酒エキスパート（米国）
File #8
Yuri Shiraso
Shiraso Brewery, Tochigi
白相友梨氏・白相酒造（栃木県）
File #9
Kuniko Mukai
Toji - Master Brewer, Mukai Brewery, Kyoto
向井久仁子氏・向井酒造・杜氏（京都府）
File #10
Pao Jumin
Sake Educator, Taiwan
日本酒学講師・包睿敏氏（台湾）
File #11
Erika Haigh
Director & Co-Owner, Moto London - London's first independent Sake bar
エリカ・ヘイグ氏・イギリス初の日本酒バー MOTO ディレクター兼共同オーナー
File #12
Monica Samuels
Sake Samurai - Director of Sake & Spirits, Vine Connections, USA
モニカ・サミュエル氏「酒サムライ」ヴァイン・コネクション（米国）
File #13
Rumiko Obata
Executive VP / 5th Generation Owner, Obata Brewery, Niigata
尾畑留美子氏・尾畑酒造・五代目蔵元（新潟）
File #14
Chizuko Niikawa-Helton
Sake Samurai - CEO, Sake Discoveries LLC & Okanban of Sake Caliente, USA
新川智慈子氏「酒サムライ」サケ・デイスカバリーズLLC 社長（米国）
File #15
Mariko Léveillé
Deputy Toji (Deputy Master Brewer), Wakaze Brewery, France
マリコ・レヴェイエ氏・副杜氏ワカゼ酒造（フランス）
File #16
Miho Fujita
President, Mioya Brewery, Ishikawa
御祖酒造・代表取締役・藤田美穂氏（石川県）
File #17
Marina Giordano
Sake Educator & TV Director, USA
マリナ・ジョルダノ氏 日本酒啓蒙家・テレビデイレクター（米国）
File #18
Giulia Maglio
Sake Educator & Part Time Brewer, Italy
ジュリア・マリオ氏・日本酒エジュケーター・蔵人(イタリア)
コンセプト 背景
日本酒界で頑張ってる女性達をハイライト。特に小規模＆ブテイークな蔵や海外であまり知られてない様々なキャパシテイで頑張ってる女性達にフォーカス。彼女達の存在と歩んで来た道を知る事により、海外＆日本の女性達（＋男性）にもインスピレーション＆励みに。
筆者が国連時代にアフリカ（ケニア）＆アジア（ベトナム・タイ）で女性のエンパワメント・貧困撲滅等に携わっていた時にフィールドで数多くの無名だけれども、パワフルな女性達に出会った。様々な経済的・社会的バリアを克服しながら頑張っていて、彼女達に感動させられた。
結果、日本酒ファンが世界に増れば嬉しい。そして勿論、頑張ってらっしゃる女性の為にもなる事ができれば嬉しい。（ニュートラルな立場で、金銭的な取引は一切なし。）
Women-Led Sake Breweries & Companies
A growing directory - click any name to visit their website. Loosely defined as women in a leading or decision-making role, not in a token or symbolic role.
名前をクリックすると各サイトに飛びます。Special thanks to Melissa Mills, Sachiko Miyagi, Sawako Ruark, and more for their suggestions!
Japan
Shintani Brewery, Yamaguchi - Woman Toji: Fumiko Shintani
Okazaki Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Midori Okazaki
Shusen Kurano Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Mariko Chino
Ozawa Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Miyuki Ozawa
Tsukiyoshino Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Mami Wakabayashi
Otsuka Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Kiyomi Otsuka
Kouten Brewery, Nagano - Woman Toji: Mie Oguchi
Gozenshu / Tsujihonten Brewery, Okayama - Woman Toji: Maiko Tsuji
Mukai Brewery, Kyoto - Woman Toji: Kuniko Mukai
Moriki Brewery, Mie - Woman Managing Director: Rumiko Moriki & Female Toji: Rie Toyomoto
Mioya Brewery, Ishikawa - Woman President: Miho Fujita
Shiraso Brewery, Tochigi - Woman President-Designate: Yuri Shiraso
Fukucho / Imada Brewery, Hiroshima - Woman President & Female Toji: Miho Imada
Shibata Brewery, Aichi - Woman Toji: Shizuka Ito
Hirota Brewery, Iwate - Woman Toji: Yumi Ono
Hasegawa Brewery, Niigata - Woman Toji: Yuko Hasegawa
Sato Brewery, Saitama - Woman Toji: Mariko Sato
Kinginka Brewery, Aichi - Women Toji: Atsuko Sato & Women President: Hiroko Sato
Sonnoh / Yamazaki Brewery, Aichi - Women President
Sawada Brewery, Aichi - Women President: Kaoru Sawada
Tabata Brewery, Wakayama - Women Toji: Satoko Hasegawa
Yachio Brewery, Yamaguchi - Woman Toji: Kumiko Ura
Asahi Brewery, Shimane - Woman Toji: Eriko Terada
Ichinomiya Brewery, Shimane - Woman Toji: Rika Asano
Nandaku Brewery, Hyogo - Woman Toji: Misa Kawaishi
Hirai Brewery, Shiga - Woman Toji & President: Hiroko Hirai
Watanabe Brewery, Gifu - Woman Toji: Asako Watanabe
Yoshida Brewery, Fukui - Woman Toji: Mako Yoshida & Woman President: Yukari Yoshida
Inaba Brewery, Ibaragi - Woman Toji & Woman President: Nobuko Inaba
Obata Brewery, Niigata - Woman President: Rumiko Obata
Nagai Brewery, Gunma - Woman Board Member: Matsumi Nagai
Shochu Distilleries
Furusawa Distillery, Miyazaki - Woman Toji & President: Masako Furusawa
Outside Japan
USA
Sequoia Sake - San Francisco, California
Nova Brewing Co. - California (Woman Owned)
Islander Sake Brewery - Hawaii (Women President & Toji)
Canada
YK3 Sake - Women President
France
Wakaze - Paris (Women Deputy Toji)
Values
We stand for gender and racial equality, diversity, honesty, and kindness.
Disclaimer: We can only work with people who share the same values. Thank you.
Follow the Journey
All interviews originally aired on Instagram. Follow along for more Sake stories, education, and updates.