The Sake Challenge is finally coming to Tokyo and with Japan being the birthplace of sake it has been a highly anticipated event.
Under the theme of “Re-Discovering Sake” the Tokyo Sake Challenge and Japan Life set out to showcase the diverse beverage scene and the organisiers are excited to open up new categories for breweries to enter. Making it the perfect place to introduce new sake, challenge your thoughts about sake and discover all that sake can be.
Cindy Bissig and Giulia Maglio, the host of the Tokyo sake challenge, are excited to bring the event for the first time to Japan. Both of them are passionate promoters in the sake industry, with Cindy deeply involved in sake tourism, Media & Promotion, whereas Giulia is working as an educator and Kurabito. They are thrilled to create new opportunities for breweries and a chance for sake sommeliers and brewers to connect and bring more variety to an international judging competition.
Cindy Bissig, the Chairman of the Tokyo Sake Challenge shares her goals and ideas about the event and Japanese sake industry.
“I am excited to hold this event in Japan as we have a chance to showcase all that the sake industry has to offer. With an incredible choice of styles available in Japan, we hope to welcome more breweries and create more categories that will also give a platform to products such as craft sake, nigori sake or Doburoku.
Personally, it is my goal for the Tokyo Sake Challenge to have the sake presented to reflect the sake culture as it is today with all its facets, giving brewers a chance to showcase their craft and get feedback on what they do from an international perspective (in Japan), for Sake Sommeliers to experience the incredible creativity and versatility sake brewers have to offer and create opportunities for people to connect through sake and create positive change.”
Co-Chairman, Giulia Maglio has the following message for people joining the Tokyo Sake Challenge 2025:
“I am lucky enough to be one of the few people able to experience firsthand both sides of sake, brewing and teaching. This allows me to share the insights of the sake world, often less known, and hopefully to give a voice to the people who are silently making sake and who are often not spoken about.
I hope I can be a bridge between these two realities of sake, and share it with the world.”
Co-Chairman, Giulia Maglio has the following message for people joining the Tokyo Sake Challenge 2025:
“I am lucky enough to be one of the few people able to experience firsthand both sides of sake, brewing and teaching. This allows me to share the insights of the sake world, often less known, and hopefully to give a voice to the people who are silently making sake and who are often not spoken about.
I hope I can be a bridge between these two realities of sake, and share it with the world.”
© 2025 Sake Sommelier Association
