Lectures
‘The Yamaoka Sake Brewery and the craft of brewing sake’
Synopsis
Sake is widely recognised as one of the defining symbols of Japanese culture. Its history is long, and as an alcoholic beverage, it has inevitably been shaped by politics, particularly taxation. Over the centuries, sake has been deeply intertwined with ritual, politics, culture, and everyday life in Japanese society. Today, it is enjoyed not only by Japanese people but also by many others around the world. At the same time, in response to changing market demands, sake continues to evolve. In this lecture, Mr. Kohei Yamaoka will begin by explaining the basic science and general methods of sake brewing. In doing so, Mr. Yamaoka would like to offer an opportunity to reflect on the future of sake, using the Yamaoka Shuzo Co., Ltd., brewery, whose history can be traced back to the Edo period—as an example of how one producer is responding to these changes.
Brief Biography
Mr. Kohei Yamaoka was born in 1985 in Miyoshi, Hiroshima. After moving to Tokyo to study engineering at university, he joined a company in the karaoke business in 2012. From his third year there, he was assigned to Singapore as part of the overseas division, and over the following decade he worked across Southeast Asia, including Singapore, Indonesia, and Malaysia, also serving in management as a general manager.
In May 2024, Mr. Yamaoka joined his family business, Yamaoka Shuzo Co., Ltd., a sake brewery in Miyoshi, Hiroshima, with roots tracing back to a brewery from the Horeki era of the mid-Edo period. He currently serves as Head of Overseas Business and is preparing to become the brewery’s fifth-generation successor. While learning the craft of sake brewing, he is also leading the company’s international sales efforts and working to expand exports to markets including Taiwan and the United Kingdom.
At Yamaoka Shuzo, he is involved broadly in sales, events, tasting promotions, production, and shipping. Drawing on both on-the-ground brewery experience and international business expertise, Mr. Yamaoka is helping shape the future of the brewery and its flagship sake brand, Zuikan.
Lecture Date
Monday, June 29, 2026