Golden Blanc Academy, a professional alcohol education institution, announced on the 2nd that it has established a course for obtaining the internationally certified sake professional "Kikizakeshi."
Golden Blanc Academy is a professional alcohol education institution established by Interliquor, a subsidiary of Drink International. It offers a differentiated curriculum targeting a variety of consumers, from general consumers to industry professionals, from beginners to experts.
The international Kikizakeshi is a qualification recognized by the Sake Service Institute (SSI) in Japan, certifying experts in Japanese sake. It was created to train professionals who provide appropriate service and promotions to consumers based on expert knowledge of sake. Currently, there are more than 50,000 holders worldwide. According to Golden Blanc Academy, they are active in various fields, including sake sommeliers, instructors, consulting, and restaurant management.
The Kikizakeshi qualification course consists of 16 hours of intensive training from instructors in the sake field over two days, followed by a qualification examination. The lectures will be conducted by Japanese instructors affiliated with SSI, with domestic sake experts providing interpretation. On the first day, basic theories, exam preparation type analysis, and tasting training will be held. The second day will focus on sake quality assessment and promotion techniques. A total of more than 40 types of sake will be tasted over the two days.
The exam will take place on a separately announced date. Supervisors will be dispatched from the SSI headquarters in Japan to evaluate the written test, tasting, and preparation of promotional proposals over three hours.
In 2025, Golden Blanc Academy plans to conduct the international Kikizakeshi qualification course twice at its Seoul headquarters and once in Busan. Detailed information can be found on the Golden Blanc Academy website or by contacting them by phone.
Cha Hoon, the representative of Interliquor, noted, "As interest in sake has recently increased, there is a growing need not only among food and beverage professionals handling sake but also among general consumers who want to gain expert knowledge and obtain certification."