I recently authored a feature titled Women in the Sake World, which examines the challenges faced by women in Japan’s sake industry.
The first installment draws on anonymous survey responses from women who have worked in sake breweries. Their insights shed light on the structural and cultural barriers that persist within brewing environments.
The second piece centers on a roundtable discussion with five women involved in various non-brewing roles across the sake industry. The conversation addresses issues such as gender-based harassment and the specific struggles women encounter in a male-dominated field.
The third article extends the scope internationally, featuring interviews with two women from the American craft beer scene and two from local sake breweries in the U.S. It explores both parallels and contrasts with the Japanese context.
Japan is frequently cited as a country lagging in gender equality, and the sake industry—with its historical exclusion of women—offers a stark example. While progress has been made, parity remains elusive. Notably, the women featured in this series are not seeking special treatment or protection—they are asking for fairness and opportunity.
This series was also personally thought-provoking, prompting reflection on my own identity as a woman in this space. I believe the data and perspectives gathered here are both timely and important, and I intend to continue reporting on this evolving topic.