SESSION 110:30–12:00
Geographical Indication & Appellation: Where Sake Stands
What it takes for GI and appellation to actually translate into market competitiveness and price premium — finding a next step beyond a system that exists in name only.
SAKE LEADERS SUMMIT
2025
Three days facing sake's structural challenges with the wisdom of the field.
2025.7.16–18Tokyo Big Sight, South Hall (inside FERMEX)
Intro
Three days facing sake's structural challenges with the wisdom of the field.
The inaugural summit, held inside FERMEX. Across alcohol policy, industry development, business succession, export promotion, branding and talent, leading brewers and experts from inside and outside the industry examined both the achievements and the structural challenges facing the sake market — bringing a fresh, panoramic perspective to the field.
Conference Overview
To raise sake's international competitiveness and essential value, the summit builds a shared understanding of structural challenges and practical directions across industry, policy and market. Archive videos of all 11 sessions over three days are available.
- DATE
- Jul 16–18, 2025
- VENUE
- Tokyo Big Sight, South Hall
- SESSIONS
- 11 sessions over 3 days
- HOST
- SLS Committee (camo / TSO International)
- FORMAT
- Talk sessions + young-brewery tasting
Program
DAY 17.16 (水)
SESSION 212:15–13:45
Reading the Global Alcohol Market: The Reality & Next Strategy of Sake Exports
Viewing the structural barriers to growing sake exports through field practice, policy and market structure — seeking the next move on demand, supply and strategy.
SESSION 314:00–16:00
Law & Policy for Sake as Living Heritage
Confronting the gap between current law — the liquor tax act and licensing — and the realities on the ground, and redefining what the system should be for a sustainable sake industry.
SESSION 416:15–17:15
Speaking to the Essence on the World Stage
Yusuke Sato (Aramasa) and Keiji Nakazawa (Sushisho) return to the roots of sake, food and Japanese culture to discuss sake's essential value and how to convey it to the world.
DAY 27.17 (木)
SESSION 5
Sake, Take Flight: What We Must Do to Globalize Sake
From the frontline of overseas promotion based in London, questioning the actions the industry must take to globalize sake.
SESSION 613:00–14:30
The Frontline of Sake Education Worldwide
Discussing effective education approaches for both consumers (toC) and the trade (toB), and how they expand the market and lift sake's value.
SESSION 715:00–16:30
The Frontline of Food Culture: Experience, Tradition & Environment
Across cuisine, drink, environment and culture, reweaving the food-culture story Japan can share with the world.
SESSION 817:30–19:00
Roundtable: The Challenge of the Next-Generation Toji
A roundtable where next-generation brewers taking on independence and new ventures talk candidly about the future of brewing and building sustainable teams.
DAY 37.18 (金)
SESSION 911:00–12:30
Business Succession & Growth Strategy for Breweries
Succession is not an end but a beginning — combining hands-on experience with policy and structural views to find the next move toward sustainable brewery management.
SESSION 1013:00–14:30
The Future of Rice: Farming & Sake in an Age of Climate Change
As climate change and farm economics make stable rice supply harder, rethinking a sustainable relationship between agriculture and brewing from both natural and conventional farming perspectives.
SESSION 1115:00–16:30
What Is Sake? Knowing the Past, Speaking the Future
Casting light on the essential question 'what is sake?' from history, place, philosophy and the maker's view — to depict sake's ideal form.