The Japan Sake & Shochu Academy 2022, which is annually organized by the Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association, is a 5-day education program fully packed of lectures by sake and shochu experts. The Japan Sake & Shochu Academy is supported by the National Tax Agency, National Research Institute of Brewing and Brewing Society of Japan.

Kurashu’s backstory in AllAbout-Japan.com

Our story of how the idea behind Kurashu was formed started out with our own frustration with selecting sake. In 2020 we started with the mission to solve the issue by flavor profiles and algorithms.

On December 11 the first-ever Sake & Bites event was held at a sake bar in Monzennakacho. Over 40 people enjoyed good sake, food, and company. The event is planned to be a monthly series of events aiming to provide a social platform for discovering sake together with food.

Kurashu K.K. (Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture), founded by two Germans living in Japan, opened "kurashu.jp," an online shop specializing in Japanese sake for foreign residents of Japan, in November 2021.

Kurashu launched this service in order to change the difficulty of sake selection experienced by Kurashu's representatives themselves, who are a foreigner living in Japan. In addition to carefully selected sake from sake breweries, kurashu.jp uses its own algorithm to introduce the perfect sake for each customer.

The story behind Kurashu and its two German co-founders Benjamin and Philipp has been picked up by the Japanese media outlet Nikkei Asia. The article titled “For the love of sake” describes the early days and mission behind Kurashu.

Kurashu’s co-founder Benjamin was interviewed for the GlobalSF podcast, which episode was just released today. In the episode, Benjamin gives insights into the startup story behind Kurashu and the main drivers for creating Kurashu. Also, Kurashu’s approach towards tackling some of the challenges within the sake industry is discussed, before providing an outlook on how Kurashu will further expand and collaborate with the sake ecosystem.

Kurashu co-founder Philipp was interviewed for the Japanese newspaper Asahi Shinbun about his experience on Sado Island at the Gakkogura Brewery program. He participated in a one-week-long sake brewing course doing almost all sake brewing processes, from rice washing to pressing.

Kurashu was exhibiting at the Tokyo Expat Expo 2021 held at the Hamatsucho-kan in Minato-ku. At Kurashu’s booth, the customers were able to take the sake taste profile quiz, in order to find their personal sake taste. With the support of Miss Sake 2021, the event was a success, and visitors happily enjoyed curated sake after completing the sake quiz.

Kurashu.jp - The Japan-based sake online shop is finally there. Kurashu provides a curated selection of Japanese sake from craft sake breweries across Japan.

From 11-13 October 2021 at the Bar Convent Berlin exhibition in Berlin, Germany, industry professionals and beverage producers & distributors came together to discuss industry trends and showcase recent product developments.

Kurashu joined the event with three sake breweries for the German audience. Ota Shuzo (Mie Prefecture), led by the Prefecture’s youngest brewmaster, are known for sake brands like Hanzo and Hanzo &. From the family-run sake brewery Tohei Shuzo (Chiba Prefecture) we showcased the low alcohol Fukuiwai Thirteen and the classic Fukuiwai Yamadanishiki Junmaiginjo amongst others. Lastly, excellent aged sake made using the traditional Kimoto brewing method from the Nara-based Kubo Honke Shuzo rounded off the portfolio for this event.

Kurashu co-founder Philipp participated in a full-week brewing experience on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. The so-called Gakkogura (literally brewing school) is hosted by Obata Shuzo, know for its Manotsuru sake brand. From 2014 Obata Shuzo renovated an old abandoned school on the island and turned it into a micro brewery.

Just recently our Kurashu co-founder Benjamin was featured in Nikkei Asia. In the recent article he is outlining the impact and background about the COVID travel ban to Japan.

"Japan's travel ban, which prevents most international visitors from entering the country, is hurting both its reputation and its economy. This vigilant approach served Japan well in the early days of the pandemic, no doubt helping to save thousands of lives."