The 6th Sakeology Symposium, organized by Niigata University, Niigata Prefecture, and the Niigata Sake Brewers Association, was held in a hybrid format (on-site and online) on November 28, 2023, at Nippo Hall, Niigata Nippo Media Ship, Niigata, Japan.
Under the theme of “Global Expansion of Sakeology -Collaboration with Enology in the U.S.A.-,” this year’s symposium invited two researchers in  enology from the University of California, Davis (UC Davis), with which Niigata University has established an inter-university collaboration agreement in 2020.
UC Davis is a university with a world-class Viticulture and Enology Department and the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, and is located near the Napa Valley, renowned as an excellent wine region.
This symposium introduced the activities of the Robert Mondavi Institute and the research on enology and sakeology. It was held with simultaneous interpretation provided.

The symposium began with a welcome speech by USHIKI Tatsuo, M.D., Ph.D., President of Niigata University.

USHIKI Tatsuo, M.D., Ph.D.
President of Niigata University

Then, Edward SPANG, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology; Director of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, UC Davis, gave a special lecture titled “Initiatives at the Robert Mondavi Institute.”
In the latter half of the symposium, Dr. Spang also gave a lecture on his research, “Circular economy solutions for wasted food,” and introduced the initiatives to reduce food loss and waste at UC Davis and in the United States.

Edward SPANG, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Food Science and Technology
Director of the Robert Mondavi Institute for Wine and Food Science, UC Davis

Glen FOX, Ph.D., Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis, gave an invited lecture titled “Saké in the USA,” introducing sake rice production and sake brewing in the United States.

Glen FOX, Ph.D.
Anheuser-Busch Endowed Professor of Food Science and Technology, UC Davis

From Sakeology Center, Niigata University, KISHI Yasuyuki, Ph.D., Vice Director, KAKIHARA Yoshito, Ph.D.,  and NISHIDA Ikuhisa, Ph.D., reported on their latest research on Sakeology.

KISHI Yasuyuki, Ph.D.
Vice Director of Sakeology Center, Niigata University / Associate Professor

KAKIHARA Yoshito, Ph.D.
Sakeology Center, Niigata University / Assistant Professor

NISHIDA Ikuhisa, Ph.D.
Sakeology Center, Niigata University / Specially Appointed Assistant Professor

The symposium concluded with closing speeches from AOKI Toshio, Ph.D.,  Director of  Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute, ODAIRA Shunji, Chairman of Niigata Sake Brewers Association, and SUEYOSHI Kuni, Ph.D., Director of Sakeology Center; Executive Vice President of Niigata University, who gave comments and perspective for the future.

A total of 135 participants (39 on-site and 96 online) from universities, research institutes, private companies, and the general public in and outside Japan attended the symposium.