In December 2024, “traditional sake brewing” was registered as a UNESCO Intangible Cultural Heritage. In commemoration, the Society has a great pleasure in holding a Sake Seminar and Tasting with Mr Philip Harper. Participants will hear, in English and Japanese, how Mr. Harper became fascinated with sake and decided to become a toji, what challenges he faces in creating excellent sake, and what are the characteristics of his various sakes, some of which can be tasted.

Mr Philip Harper is a Toji (chief sake brewer) at Tamagawa Kinoshita Shuzo in Kyotango, Kyoto. He grew up in Cornwall, UK. After graduating from Oxford University, he came to Japan in 1988 as a JET English teacher. He then worked for 10 years at a sake brewery in Nara Prefecture, and passed the Nanbu Toji qualification examination in 2001. After working at a sake brewery in Osaka, he joined Kinoshita Shuzo in 2007. He won a gold medal at the National New Sake Competition in his first year. He also received JBS Award in 2016.