Story

Twelve years, one glass at a time.

Sommelier, educator, one-time kurabito. Sake, explained from the rice up.

Hansel in brewery whites and a tenugui, arms folded beside the green tanks at Kitsukura
2014 · SINGAPORE

I fell for sake in 2014 and never stopped asking why each glass tastes the way it does. Across different prefectures, rice varieties and brewing styles, the answer kept leading back to the people who make it.

2022 · KITSUKURA, SAKU, NAGANO

In 2022 I lived as a kurabito at Kitsukura in Saku, Nagano, starting at 7am with the brewers’ morning routine and working through rice washing, steaming, koji and shubo. It takes a team to make sake, and sake is meant to be shared among friends. That idea runs through everything I do.

2024 · SAKE STREET SINGAPORE

Through SakeCraft I hosted masterclasses and bottle shares that helped grow Singapore’s sake community. Since 2024 I’ve led SAKE Street Singapore, the Singapore arm of SAKE Street Japan, as Director and Head Sommelier. I still teach whenever I can.

“Let’s continue to work together.”

Hansel and the kuramoto of Kitsukura kneeling with the kurabito certificate
Still how I think about sake: a team effort, from the paddy to the glass.
KITSUKURA · OCTOBER 2022Read the kura story →

Sake brings people together.

On paper

Credentials

International Sakasho
SSI · Aug 2025
International Kikisake-shi
SSI
Certified Sake Sommelier
SSA
Kurabito, Kitsukura brewery
Oct 2022
Director & Head Sommelier, SAKE Street Singapore
2024–

Speaking, media and collaborations.

Work with meSee the talks