Born and raised in Tokyo, Satomi grew up with a deep understanding and love of Japan’s exceptional culture. She was taught by her Japanese parents to appreciate and love the diverse uniqueness of Japan’s way of life.
Where her sake passion grew
As Satomi grew, her passion for travel ignited. When she was 20 years old, she left her job as a part-time restaurant waitress and relocated to the picturesque town of Chichester, West Sussex. Studying English and working in a local hotel, it was here that she fell in love with both the UK and the hospitality sector. Her first stay in the UK formed many great friendships and fond memories. These were to positively impact her future career.
When returning to Japan after her gap year, Satomi began working in the 5* Park Hyatt Tokyo hotel. For four years, she developed her hospitality skills in the renowned Japanese restaurant Kozue. It’s said a meal at Kozue is a journey into the heart of Japan’s sophisticated culinary culture!
Satomi was ideally placed, among masters of their trade, to learn more about the intricacies of Japanese culture. She was educated daily, with hands-on experience in etiquette, elegance, hospitality, traditional Japanese cuisine, and of course, sake.
A wealth of education and expertise
Since then, her passion for sake and the UK has continued to grow. She returned to the UK in 2005 to join the prestigious, London-based, contemporary Japanese restaurant Zuma. Here she was able to explore and understand even more about sake. Satomi became the Head Sake Sommelier until she left in 2014 to create Enshu Ltd.
With certification from the SSI, and completion of the Japan Sake Brewers Association’s technical Sake making course, Satomi continues to be recognised as a leading Kikisake-shi and Shochu Kikisake-shi professional.
She is proud to be a respected judge in the sake category of the International Wine Challenge, a position she has held since 2009.
