When it comes to the world of Japanese wine, becoming a sake samurai is a big deal. There are only 70 people who hold the title worldwide, and 16 of these are women. And one of these ladies is Australia’s own Yukino Ochiai.

The Japan Sake Brewers Association created the awards in 2005 as a way to celebrate those who champion the culture and the identity of sake. It’s an honour that Yukino is deserving of thanks to her status as sake company owner (namely Deja vu Sake Co), as well as a respected sake educator. The title is the highest honour to achieve within the Japanese sake industry, and Yukino is one of only three Australians to take the title – she follows in the footsteps of Sydney chef Tetsuya Wakuda and sake ambassador Andre Bishop.

Of course it is also a remarkable achievement considering that Yukino is one of very few women involved in the Japanese sake industry. It’s an arena where women are famously underrepresented – in the Japan Sake Brewers Association for example, women hold only 30 of the 800 chairs within the Junior Council.

And while Yukino has already achieved great things for sake down under, she’s not ready to quit while she’s ahead. “Sake is an important part of our culture, and I feel very comfortable promoting it,” explains Yukino of her love for the drink. “The more I learn about sake makers and their history and commitments, the more I fall in love with it as a package – not only the products.”

But Australia has a long way to go when it comes to understanding the product. It’s a fact she hopes to change with her new status as sake samurai. “I am hoping to reach more Australian people to promote sake and Japanese culture. I also hope to have an opportunity to meet more people,” she says.

But Yukino has hope that continued travel, as well as access will help to change Australians’ attitude towards Japanese wine as a whole. “As more Australians visit Japan, I am hoping more Australians will be interested in learning about sake,” she says. “We need to increase its accessibility. Sake needs to be sold at wine shops just like wine, and we need to give more information about sake to potential customers.”

Her end goal? “Our dream at Deja vu is to make sake approachable to everyone. I want Australians to be able to drink sake outside of Japanese restaurants, like at home with a slice of pizza.”