Hosting of the 2026 Sakeology Professional Certificate Program (Sakeology-P1)
The annual Sakeology Professional Certificate Program (Sakeology-P1*) was conducted this year between August 20 to 30, 2026.
A total of four students participating from the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada attended lectures and practical training sessions at the Sakeology Center, the Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute, local sake breweries, and rice milling facilities.
Lecture by KISHI Yasuyuki, Ph.D., Director of Sakeology Center & Professor
Lecture by KISHI Yasuyuki, Ph.D., Director of Sakeology Center & Professor
Lecture by MIYAMOTO Takuji Ph.D., Sakeology Center & Associate Professor
Practical training from HIRATA Dai, Ph.D., Vice Director of the Sakeology Center & Professor, and NISHIDA Ikuhisa, Ph.D., Sakeology Center & Associate Professor
Lecture at the Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute
Practical training at the rice milling facility (Niigata Sakamai Seimai Co., Ltd.)
Practical training at sake breweries in Niigata Prefecture
(left:Imayo Tsukasa Sake Brewery Co., Ltd., Center: Sasaiwai Brewery Co., Ltd., Right:Lagoon Brewery Inc.)
After completing the four-day curriculum in Niigata City, the students travelled to Sado City, located on Sado Island. At the “Gakkogura” brewery operated by Obata Shuzo Co., Ltd., they engaged in the actual sake brewing process across a seven-day period.
Between daily brewing work, participants took part in sake tasting training and received a diverse range of technical lectures from brewing experts and specialists, including AOKI Toshio, Ph.D. Director of the Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute, each followed by discussions and Q&A sessions.
On the final day, the completion ceremony was held and each student received a Notification of Program Completion from KISHI Yasuyuki, Ph.D., Director of the Sakeology Center.
Scenes from the sake brewing training at Gakkogura
Sake tasting
Lecture by Professor Patrick Lucas, Ph.D. University of Bordeaux
Scene from the completion ceremony
Group photo (in front of the Sakeology Center)
(*) Niigata University introduced a new program, “Sakeology Professional Certificate Program (Sakeology-P1),” in FY2025, designed to train professionals involved in sake brewing. For more details, please see here.