In this episode we catch up with our good friend and fermentation guru: Justin Potts.

Originally from Seattle, USA, Justin has called Japan home for the past 18 years. He is certainly no stranger to most people in the Sake world, but some may not be aware of his recent big move and new job which has seen him and his young family relocate from their coastal Chiba home in Japan to Hot Springs, Arkansas in the USA!

Those who have been following the TWTT Project and attending the Zoom sessions will be well aware of Justin's contribution to the TWTT community - he first joined as co-host and interpreter for session #3 back in May 2020 and helped out for several other sessions throughout 2020 and 2021.

With a long and continuing love affair with all things fermented, Justin became one of Japan’s leading non-Japanese sake professionals, working as a brewer with Kidoizumi Shuzo, while simultaneously helping to develop tourism and professional training platforms across Japan that are centred around sake and local gastronomy. Justin has also hosted numerous events, tours, and seminars with producers, farmers, businesses and government agencies across Japan.

Most of our listeners will also know that Justin has done a lot of work with JSS (Japan Sake and Shochu Makers Association) including producing and co-hosting the first ever sake and shochu podcast - Sake on Air, and was also heavily involved in the concept and production of Sake Future Summit - which is set to return in 2023!

Justin had no hard plans to move back to the US, however, a recent opportunity presented itself at the right time and has seen Justin and his family set up home in the US for the foreseeable future. What may seem an odd move for someone so invested in Japanese culture, lifestyle, food/beverage and the Japanese sake world -  it was, of course, for a very good reason... and ALL about sake!

Justin's new venture sees him working with, and brewing for, America's newest sake brewery: Origami Sake. We thought we'd get a little insight as to how he came to be working for a US owned and based sake brewery, and also find out a little about who Origami Sake are and the sake they'll be brewing.

Pour yourself a big cup/glass of sake as this is a long one - but as always with Justin, we could've talked for another hour or two. It's always a joy to chat with him and we are already looking forward to catching up with him again once they've started brewing at Origami.

Ganbatte to Justin and all at Origami Sake!!! 

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

Music by: Kazuyoshi Sato (Koikawa Shuzo)

Other links from this episode:

Origami Sake: https://origamisake.co/

Justin Potts (Potts.K Productions): https://www.potts-k.com/about

Sake on Air: https://sakeonair.com/

JSS: https://japansake.or.jp/sake/en/

Kidoizumi Shuzo: https://www.kidoizumi.jp/