## Small Tank, Big Idea
Sake Blending Experience & Networking Event
## Event Overview
This event is designed for those who are interested in entering the sake business, but feel that
owning a brewery or making a large upfront investment is unrealistic.
Today, entering the sake industry no longer requires running a full-scale brewery.
Through small-batch production, OEM partnerships, and blending-based product design, it is now
possible to launch a sake brand on a much smaller, more flexible scale.
At this event, participants will gain a practical understanding of:
・How the sake business actually works
・Realistic entry models using small tanks and OEM production
・How to think about sake as a product and a brand, not just a beverage
All of this is delivered through a combination of talks, hands-on experience, and networking.
As a special takeaway, all participants will receive a GIC TOKYO Original Sake (event-exclusive, not for sale).
## Event Schedule (17:00 – 20:00)
【Session 1】Keynote & Mini Lecture
17:00 – 17:30 (30 minutes)
Title
“Starting a Sake Business from Zero
— A Realistic Approach with Small Tanks and OEM Production —”
Speaker
Ai Hioki (Kahoku Sake Brewery)
Born in 1993, she began her career working in New York after graduating, driven by a vision to become a bridge connecting Japanese products with the global market.
In 2023, she met the president of Kahoku Sake Brewery and launched a joint project aimed at expanding the brewery’s international presence. As part of this initiative, they entered Kura Master, a Japanese sake competition held in France. The brewery’s long-aged koshu sake went on to win a Gold Award.
This achievement led to an offer to take over the business, and in the following year she officially succeeded the brewery through a business succession. Today, as the owner and operator of Kahoku Sake Brewery, she continues to explore the potential of Japanese sake through hands-on management and international engagement.
Contents
・Introduction of the speaker and Kahoku Sake Brewery
・Overview of the current sake market and industry structure
・Why “owning a brewery” is no longer the only way to enter the sake business
・Small-scale production, OEM, and blending as practical entry strategies
・Applications for restaurants, D2C brands, gifts, and international markets
・Why today’s experience directly connects to real-world product development
【Session 2】Sake Blending Experience
17:30 – 18:30 (60 minutes)
Concept
Design Your Own “My Sake”
— Experience sake not as a brewer, but as a product designer —
Experience Details
① Tasting & Base Understanding (15 minutes)
・Tasting of several sake varieties from Kahoku Sake Brewery
・Introduction to different base sake profiles used for blending
・Explanation of flavor, aroma, and character
・Guidance from a business and market perspective:
“Who is this sake for, and in what situation would it be consumed?”
・English-speaking staff available
② Blending Design Experience (30 minutes)
No pipettes or measuring cylinders are used.
●Participants taste several pre-designed base blends, such as:
・Aroma-forward styles
・Food-pairing / dining styles
・International-friendly, easy-to-understand profiles
●Participants choose:
・Which direction they want to pursue
・What type of customer and usage scenario they are targeting
●Staff provide feedback based on:
・Realistic OEM and small-tank production constraints
・Flavor balance and product positioning
●Focus is on decision-making as a producer or brand owner, not on technical experimentation
③ Naming & Concept Design (15 minutes)
●Create a name for your sake
●Fill out a concept card, including:
・Target customer
・Consumption scene
・Price range image
・Sales channels (restaurant, gift, international, etc.)
●Photo session and social media sharing
All alcohol service is conducted within Kahoku Sake Brewery’s licensed scope.
【Session 3】Networking & Tasting
18:30 – 20:00 (90 minutes)
・Networking while discussing each participant’s sake concept
・Additional sake from Kahoku Sake Brewery will be served
・The speaker and staff will circulate to facilitate conversation
Networking Themes (examples)
・How to start a sake business on a small scale
・Sake × Branding / D2C
・Sake for restaurants, events, and gifts
・How to bring Japanese culture to global markets through products
## Participant Benefits
・GIC TOKYO Original Sake (event-exclusive, not for sale)
・Concept notes and design insights from the event
・Reference materials for future OEM or product development
## Target Audience
・Entrepreneurs and business owners interested in sake
・Food, beverage, and lifestyle brand operators
・Those exploring Japanese culture as a global business opportunity
・Anyone thinking:
“I can’t run a brewery, but I want my own sake.”
## What You’ll Take Away
・A realistic understanding of how to enter the sake business
・Product and brand design thinking applied to sake
・Meaningful connections with like-minded participants
・A concrete image of what your first sake product could be
Event Organizer
Gastronomy Innovation Campus Tokyo （Tokyo Tatemono Co., Ltd and PLUMKNOT inc.）
NEXT BLUE
*This event is made possible through the Tokyo Metropolitan Government's Global Activation Project Collaboration.
＜About your information＞
The information registered for this event will be properly managed and operated in accordance with the Privacy Policy of Tokyo Tatemono Co.,Ltd, as well as the personal information protection policies of the co-sponsoring organizations*.
- Purpose of provision: For this event management and marketing activities
The organizer and co-organizer may send you information after the event.
We will consider that you have agreed to the above.
Thank you for your understanding.
*This event is managed together with PLUMKNOT inc.and NEXTBLUE, and will share attendee your information. Please understand this in advance.
