Hello everyone, this is 2025 Miss SAKE Japan, Chisato Tateno.
On Monday, May 11, I had the honor of attending Akiko Santo’s “Celebration of Her Zodiac Year” held at the Tokyo Prince Hotel in Minato City, Tokyo. On the day of the event, together with 2025 Miss SAKE Runner-up Kana Hazama, 2026 Miss SAKE Chiba Tsugumi Kato, and 2026 Miss SAKE Chiba Runner-up Midoriko Doi, we had the pleasure of serving sake to guests at the sake booth.
A Pioneer Among Female Leaders
Since first being elected to the House of Councillors at the young age of 32 in 1974, Ms. Akiko Santo has remained at the forefront of Japanese politics for many decades. In 2007, she served as Vice President of the House of Councillors, and in 2019, she was unanimously elected as the 32nd President of the House of Councillors. As the first woman in history to serve in both positions, her remarkable career has made her a pioneering figure for female leadership within Japanese politics. Furthermore, after assuming the role of Chairperson of the Bancho Seisaku Kenkyujo (Santo Faction) within the Liberal Democratic Party, she also became the first female faction leader in the party’s history.
It was a great honor to attend Ms. Santo’s “Celebration of Her Zodiac Year.” Seeing the large venue filled with guests and witnessing the warm admiration directed toward her by each attendee allowed me to once again recognize the tremendous trust and achievements she has built over many years. Even while remaining active on the frontlines for decades, Ms. Santo has continued to move forward with unwavering conviction, embodying the very image of female leadership in Japanese society. I felt deep respect for her remarkable presence and accomplishments.
Bonds Created Through Sake
At the venue, we welcomed arriving guests in front of the stage area. The celebration began with remarks from Ms. Santo, followed by greetings from Liberal Democratic Party Vice President Taro Aso and various stage performances, including musical presentations, which greatly energized the atmosphere.
As members of Miss SAKE, we also had the honor of assisting with the bouquet presentation to Ms. Santo. Standing nearby as the flowers were presented amid the applause of the packed audience, I strongly felt the deep respect and celebratory spirit shared throughout the venue toward Ms. Santo, who has long supported Japanese politics and cultivated countless trusted relationships over the years. Toward the end of the event, Ms. Santo performed her song “Arigatou Kansha,” and the venue was filled with warm unity and enthusiastic applause.
Afterward, we served the following six sake selections from Chiba and Niigata Prefectures at the sake booth:
“Fudo Junmai Daiginjo” — Nabedana Brewery (Chiba Prefecture)
“Fudo Junmai Ginjo” — Nabedana Brewery (Chiba Prefecture)
“Chomeisen Ginjo Karakuchi” — Takizawa Honten / Fujiya (Chiba Prefecture)
“Hakkaisan Junmai Daiginjo” — Hakkaisan Brewery (Niigata Prefecture)
“Hakkaisan Daiginjo” — Hakkaisan Brewery (Niigata Prefecture)
“Hakkaisan Tokubetsu Honjozo” — Hakkaisan Brewery (Niigata Prefecture)
At the booth, we listened carefully to each guest’s preferences and the dishes they wished to pair with sake, allowing us to recommend selections tailored to each individual. Since Miss SAKE serves sake at Ms. Santo’s event every year, some guests warmly told us, “We were looking forward to the sake booth again this year,” which made us truly happy. It was also especially memorable to see many guests return to the booth multiple times, enjoying all the different labels while discovering their own favorite flavors.
Learning from Ms. Santo: The Mission and Vision of Miss SAKE
The Miss SAKE Association has long received tremendous support from Ms. Santo. In the past, she has served as a judge for the Miss SAKE competition, and at last year’s “2025 Miss SAKE Japan Final Selection,” she also delivered congratulatory remarks. During the event, she shared valuable insights on the importance of women’s empowerment and the potential for regional revitalization through the unique character of individual sake breweries, offering new perspectives and inspiration for our activities.
Miss SAKE continues its mission of serving as an ambassador for Japanese sake and culture on the global stage, while also providing opportunities for women to grow, learn, and shine as independent individuals. Ms. Santo is truly a role model and a pioneering female leader helping shape Japan’s future. Her presence serves as both a guiding light and a great source of inspiration for all of us involved in Miss SAKE.
We are also honored that Ms. Santo is scheduled to attend the “2026 Miss SAKE Japan Final Selection,” which will be held on Saturday, June 13, 2026. Carrying with us her warm support and encouraging words, we will continue striving as Miss SAKE ambassadors to sincerely promote cultural exchange through sake and serve as bridges connecting Japan and the world.
Through attending Akiko Santo’s “Celebration of Her Zodiac Year,” I was deeply inspired by her lifelong dedication to forging her own path with conviction while building meaningful relationships with countless people along the way. I also once again realized that sake has the unique power to naturally bring people together and create new connections that transcend generations and social positions.
As Miss SAKE, I will continue to carefully share the history, culture, regional character, and passion of sake brewers with audiences both in Japan and abroad. By cherishing the encounters and connections born through sake, I hope to continue serving as a bridge that conveys the beauty of Japanese culture to the world.
Lastly, I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Ms. Akiko Santo and everyone involved for providing us with such a precious opportunity.
2025 Miss SAKE Japan
Chisato Tateno
