Hello everyone, this is Chisato Tateno, 2025 Miss SAKE Japan.
On Thursday, April 23, I had the honor of presenting a Japanese sake seminar at the University of the Andes in Colombia for approximately 50 students and related guests. Ms. Mika Onishi, Representative Director of the General Incorporated Association Miss SAKE, also accompanied me, and together we conducted a tasting session featuring three varieties of Japanese sake.
About the Japan Center at the University of the Andes
The Japan Center at the University of the Andes (Universidad de los Andes Centro del Japón) is an institution dedicated to promoting education, research, and cultural exchange related to Japan at one of Colombia’s leading universities. Beyond providing Japanese language education, the center offers a wide range of lectures, seminars, and symposiums on Japanese history, society, economics, and business, creating opportunities to deepen understanding of Japan from an academic perspective.
In collaboration with Japanese universities, research institutions, companies, and public organizations, the center also actively introduces Japanese culture through events and lectures aimed not only at students and researchers but also at the broader public. As interest in Japan continues to grow in Colombia, the center has further strengthened its presence as an important bridge connecting the two countries through both academia and culture.
「日本酒」を通じた異文化交流
On the day of the seminar, we welcomed around 50 participants, including students studying Japanese language and culture as well as professionals with a strong interest in Japan. At the beginning of the lecture, I introduced the furisode I was wearing, which featured the colors yellow, red, and blue inspired by the Colombian flag. This received a warm response from the audience and helped create a friendly and welcoming atmosphere. When I asked participants what images came to mind when they thought of Japan, a wide variety of answers emerged, including sushi and ramen, anime and manga, and martial arts such as karate and kyudo. One student even shared that she is researching the social roles of women depicted in Japanese animation, which deeply impressed me and highlighted the diverse and profound interest in Japan among the participants.
What particularly stood out was the high level of awareness surrounding Japanese sake. Many participants were already familiar with the word “SAKE,” and about one-third had previously tried it. During the seminar, I introduced the appeal of Japanese sake as a cultural product deeply connected to nature, tradition, and craftsmanship within Japanese culture. During the Q&A session, participants asked many practical and thoughtful questions regarding topics such as how sake can be used in cooking, recommended sake cocktails, and whether sake could potentially be brewed using Colombian rice. Their curiosity and enthusiasm were incredibly inspiring for me as well. There were also lively discussions comparing sake with Colombia’s traditional cloudy corn-based alcoholic beverage “chicha,” as well as conversations about pairing sake with “ajiaco,” a traditional Colombian soup made with chicken, potatoes, and corn. Although the session was limited in time, it became a remarkably meaningful and enriching opportunity for cultural exchange.
日本酒の味わいに触れて
Following the lecture, we introduced the following three varieties of sake brought from Japan:
- Masuizumi Junmai — Masuda Shuzoten (Toyama Prefecture)
- Born “Tsuyan” Junmai Daiginjo — Katokichibee Shoten (Fukui Prefecture)
- Hokusetsu Daiginjo YK35 — Hokusetsu Sake Brewery (Niigata Prefecture)
During the tasting session, many students thoughtfully compared the differences in flavor and expressed their impressions in their own words. Comments such as “fruity like apples” and “soft and smooth” were frequently heard, demonstrating how positively the delicate character and texture unique to sake were received. Some participants even commented, “It was my first time drinking sake, but I really liked it,” which made me once again realize the great potential for the expansion of sake culture in Colombia.
Because rice is already deeply rooted in Colombian food culture, I also felt strong potential for Japanese sake culture—born from rice—to gradually integrate naturally into local culinary traditions in the future. It brought me great joy to see so many participants deepen their understanding of sake not merely as an alcoholic beverage, but as a cultural tradition with a long and rich history.
Through this sake seminar at the Japan Center of the University of the Andes, I was once again reminded of the cultural value of Japanese sake and its growing potential on the international stage. At the same time, engaging directly with students who will shape the next generation allowed me to discover new perspectives and possibilities for sake through the lens of Colombian culture.
I sincerely hope that the honest impressions and thoughtful questions shared during the seminar will become a first step toward sake being embraced across even more diverse cultural communities around the world.
As Miss SAKE, I will continue striving to share the charm of Japanese sake not simply as a beverage, but as a reflection of Japan’s climate, traditions, and culture. Through opportunities for education and cultural exchange like this, I hope the mutual understanding fostered between people will continue to expand into new possibilities connecting Japan and the world.
Chisato Tateno
2025 Miss SAKE Japan
