In this episode we catch up with Jim Rion, aka: The Yamaguchi Sake Guy and speak to him about his soon to be released book: Discovering Yamaguchi Sake.

Jim made his debut on TWTT [The Project] back in September 2020, interpreting for the session with Yamada Shoten from Gifu Prefecture. He then went on to co-host and interpret for a number of TWTT sessions showcasing Yamaguchi breweries. He also interpreted for the Meet the Artisan session featuring Hagi potter, Hideo Hadano, in 2021.

Jim, originally from Kansas, USA, is a translator, writer, and sake lover who has lived in Yamaguchi Prefecture since 2004. He is also the co-host of the super informative and sake-geek Podcast: Sake Deep Dive, (which he hosts alongside former guest on TWTT Podcast [episode 2], Andrew Russell.

He's an SSI certified international kikizakeshi, a Certified Sake Professional, and a Shochu Navigator as well. He writes about sake regularly for SakeTimes International, and has been published in Sake Today and on Nippon.com.

Jim also publishes the bi-weekly newsletter Ochoko Times, and runs the unofficial online guide to Yamaguchi sake at YamaguchiSake.com

He now has a sake book to be added to his published works and we are both super excited to see Jim's vision come full circle in the form of 'Discovering Yamaguchi Sake'.

It really is a wonderful book and one we highly recommend for any sake enthusiast!

Discovering Yamaguchi Sake is available through most online booksellers including Amazon, Book Depository and Booktopia.

More information about Taste with the Toji - The Project can be found on our website: https://tastewiththetoji.com/

You can subscribe to this Podcast at Patreon

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Other suggested links from this episode:

Ochoko Times

Sake Deep Dive

SakeTimes

Abu no Tsuru Shuzo

Nagayama Honke Shuzojo

Sakai Shuzo

Shintani Shuzo

Stone Bridge Press

Kawara Soba