Event Information

Free Sake Symposium, Tasting and Australian Premiere Screening of ‘Kampai! – Sake Sisters’

Registration is now closed as we have reached full capacity. Thank you and we look forward to having you at the next event.

On Thursday 25th January, 2024, as part of the ‘Bringing Sake to the Table’ campaign, Sydney will play host to an exciting event, ‘Embracing the Unique and Diverse Pairing Potential of Sake’.

We are excited to be bringing the incredible Marie Chiba to Sydney for this one-time event.

Marie Chiba is a Sake Sommelier, Sake Samurai and the owner/operator of possibly the hippest sake bar in Tokyo, EUREKA!.

Many will know Chiba from her days at the much loved GEM by Moto, where she worked and wowed customers with curious and delicious sake and food pairings for several years, gaining somewhat of a cult following. Chiba had a vision of opening her own place to further introduce and educate people about the diverse (and delicious) pairing potential of Japanese sake!

EUREKA! opened its doors in late 2022 and ever since, has been buzzing with excitement from sake lovers, who visit from all over the world to enjoy her wonderful pairings and her incredible passion for what she does.

Chiba is also one of the main stars of the documentary film, ‘Kampai! – Sake Sisters’, and we are delighted to be bringing this film to Australia, for the first time, along with Ms. Chiba.

After the screening of the film, there will be an insightful panel talk and Q&A, followed by sake tasting and food pairing in the bar area of Palace Cinemas.

Joining Marie Chiba on the panel will be Michael Ryan and Simone Maynard.

Michael Ryan is the owner/chef of two-hatted restaurant, Provenance, in the delightful town of Beechworth, Victoria.

Ryan opened his first restaurant, Range, in 2006, winning a succession of awards, including The Age Good Food Guide’s two-hats and Country Restaurant of the Year in 2008. Provenance opened in early 2009 and has gone on to receive two-hats every year since. In 2013, Provenance won Best Regional Restaurant and Ryan was named Chef of the Year.

Ryan has a long-term interest in Japanese sake, cuisine and culture. His influences are reflected in the techniques and flavours he uses in his dishes and sake is always a feature on the restaurant’s extensive beverage list.

Ryan also hosts small-group guided culinary tours to Japan and is the co-author of the book ‘Only in Tokyo’.

Simone Maynard is a Melbourne based Sake Educator & Consultant, Sake Samurai, Sake Sommelier and founder of Sake Mistress. She is also the founder and host of the online project, Taste with the Toji, and the host of TWTT – The Podcast.

Maynard has over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry and has a long-term love of Japanese sake and culture. She has been travelling to Japan regularly since 2003.

She recently joined the team at the Australian Sake Festival and is also a senior judge for the Australian Sake Awards.

We invite you to join us and take advantage of this unique opportunity to hear from our wonderful guests and learn more about just how unique and diverse sake’s food pairing potential is!

Should you wish to attend this free event, we would appreciate it if you could inform us by Thursday, 18th January by filling out the online registration form below.

Online registration:

Registration is now closed as we have reached full capacity. Thank you and we look forward to having you at the next event.

*Sake symposium and Premiere screening are limited to 50 places only.
*Places will be given on a ‘first come, first served’ basis for those who register online. A confirmation email will be sent to each successful applicant.

Event details

Date: Thursday 25th January, 2024
Time: Registration opens at 4:30 PM
(please arrive on time as the film will screen at 5:00 PM)
Location: Palace Cinemas – Palace Central
Level 3, Central Park Mall, 28 Broadway, Chippendale NSW, Australia

Schedule

• 4:30-5PM Registration
• 5:00 PM Introduction
• 5:10 PM Australian Premiere “Kampai! – Sake Sisters” Movie (97min)
• 6:40 PM Panel Discussion & Q&A
• 7:30 PM Sake Tasting and Food Pairing session (at Bar Area)
• 8:30 PM Event Concludes

We advise you to register ASAP to avoid missing out! Limited places available.

For any inquiries regarding this event, please feel free to contact us.

info@sake-festival.com.au

This event is a collaboration between the Japanese Government and Australian Sake Festival organiser, JAMS.TV Pty Ltd.

KAMPAI! SAKE SISTERS – Australian Premiere Screening

For centuries, women were forbidden to set foot into sake breweries, let alone be involved with its production. Today, women are the ones driving the most exciting changes within the ever-evolving sake industry in Japan. KAMPAI! SAKE SISTERS, invites audiences into the passionate lives of three game-changing women who are making their mark on the highly competitive, traditionally male-dominated world of sake. Miho Imada comes from a family of Master Brewers and is considered, thanks to the award-winning sake she produced out of the artisanal Imada Sake Brewery, on today’s most renowned Master Brewers. Many emerging women brewers consider Miho their big sister, who paved the way for them. Marie Chiba, the manager of a trendy sake bar in Tokyo, is a trail-blazing sommelier. She tirelessly searches for the best sake but her loyal customers, many of them women, especially appreciate her exceptional talent for pairing sake and food in completely fresh and unexpected ways. Rebekah Wilson-Lye, originally from New Zealand, fell in love with sake while teaching English in Japan. Her ability to pick up more flavor and nuances than most sommeliers quickly earned her accolades and expertise to campion the best creations and their brewers all over the world. The stories of these sake sisters offer a comprehensive and mouthwatering portrait of how women are taking ownership of sake and are adapting ancient traditions to create a new era. (@Nine Film)

Director: Mirai Konishi
Cast: Marie Chiba, Miho Imada, Rebekah Wilson-Lye
Writer: Mirai Konishi
Editor: Mirai Konishi
Producers: Chiaki Yanagimoto, Soojun Bae
Executive Producers: Nao Komai, Kaoru Keyama, Yoichi Ariga
Co-Producers: Shinji Fujitsuka
Music: Stephen Viens
Sound: Hironori Ito
Genre: Documentary, culinary
Origin: Japan, USA
Language: Japanese, English
Length: 96 min.
Year: 2019