Sep 03 2018

The Sakeology Center at Niigata University held a Sakeology Symposium, which was open to the public, at Marine Hall (International Convention Hall) of Toki Messe on Friday, August 3. The Sakeology Center at Niigata University was founded under a partnership agreement among the Niigata Sake Brewers Association, Niigata Prefectural Government and Niigata University in April this year.

This was the first symposium for the Sakeology Center and was to publicize its activities and research to as many people as possible. The symposium had 270 attendees including the public, which exceeded the number of people expected.

At the beginning of the symposium, Prof. Sugata Takahashi, the President of Niigata University, and Mr. Hideyo Hanazumi, the Governor of Niigata Prefecture, both gave addresses, which were followed by a congratulatory speech from a distinguished guest, Mr. Takayuki Sumita, who is a secretary general at the Cabinet Office's Intellectual Property Strategy Headquarters.

President Takahashi

Mr. Hideyo Hanazumi, the Governor of Niigata Prefecture

Next, Mr. Shunji Odaira, the head of the Niigata Sake Brewers Association, covered how they had systematized "Sakeology", the study of sake, and Prof. Akira Sawamura, Vice Director of the Sakeology Center, explained the new partnership agreement with the University of Bordeaux planned for the future and preparation for establishing the Sakeology Association.

Mr. Shunji Odaira, the head of Niigata Sake Brewers Association

Professor Patrick Lucas giving a lecture

A special lecture was delivered by Professor Patrick Lucas from the Institute of Vine and Wine Science, University of Bordeaux. He was invited from Bordeaux, France, which is renowned as the world’s major wine producer. In the lecture, Professor Lucas stated the history of the Institute and his current efforts. He also expressed his hopes for cooperating with the Sakeology Center in the future.

A report on the research

Posters about the lectures of "Sakeology" displayed during breaks.

Presentations were given by four speakers. The subjects were "Distinction of sake sources based on a stable isotope ratio of water for making sake" by Mr. Takashi Kuribayashi, a senior researcher at the Niigata Prefectural Sake Research Institute; "Stress and sake" by Associate Professor Keiichiro Okamoto of the Faculty of Dentistry, Niigata University; "Bones and sake lees" by Assistant Professor Yoshito Kakihara of the Faculty of Dentistry, Niigata University; and "Economic ripple effects of Niigata Sakenojin 2018", by Associate Professor Yasuyuki Kishi of the Faculty of Economics, Niigata University. Quite a few people were taking notes, suggesting a great interest in Sakeology.

The Sakeology Center is going to offer extension courses for the public.