Lecture “Brewing Innovation: How Sake Reinvents Tradition and Community in Japan”
07 pm – 09 pm, Fri 28 Feb 2025
Consulate General of Japan
261 Điện Biên Phủ, Võ Thị Sáu ward, D.3, HCMC
02 pm – 04 pm, Sat 01 Mar 2025
3rd Floor, AEON Hall, AEON MALL Long Bien
27 Cổ Linh, Long Biên, Hà Nội
From the organizer:
Sake, with over 1,000 years of history, has evolved from religious rituals into a key part of Japanese culture. Recognized by UNESCO as an Intangible Cultural Heritage, the art of sake brewing not only preserves traditional craftsmanship but also continues to expand in international markets.
However, the sake industry is facing significant challenges: the declining number of master brewers (called “Toji”), difficulties in sustaining production, and concerns about authenticity amid modernization.
In this lecture, Assoc. Prof. Kishi will explore how sake brewing balances tradition and innovation, using Niigata, one of Japan’s leading sake-producing regions, as a case study. He will also discuss the preservation of brewing techniques, sustainable heritage management, and the development of cultural industries.
Speaker: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kishi Yasuyuki – Deputy Director of the Sakeology Research Center, Niigata University
He completed his doctoral studies at Waseda University’s Graduate School of Asia-Pacific Studies. After serving as an assistant at Waseda University and as a specially appointed assistant professor at the Manufacturing Management Research Center of the University of Tokyo’s Graduate School of Economics, he was appointed as an associate professor at the Faculty of Economics, Niigata University, in 2012. Since 2018, he has also served as the Deputy Director of Sakeology Center, Niigata University.
His research focuses on the organizational theory of sake breweries, the overseas expansion of traditional industries, and the balance between tradition and innovation. He pioneered the concept of “Sakeology” – a comprehensive scientific approach to sake studies integrating industry, government, and academia – and played a central role in establishing the Niigata University Sakeology Center.
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