Sommelier of Sake (Examination course)

Intermidiate

What is Sommelier of Sake (International kikisake-shi)?

Sommelier of Sake (International Kikisake-shi) is a “sake specialist” who provides customers with sake in a foreign language, appropriately and accurately.
Click here for details　 Click here for the curriculum

What is an examination course?

This is a course where you can take the exam at the venues of “Tokyo”, “Osaka”, and “Other areas in Japan” and receive a pass / fail judgment.

Eligibility to take the exam Those who have reached the age at which they can drink alcohol according to the laws and regulations of the exam site at the time of application
Language Examination in Japan
English, Chinese (* Traditional Chinese ver.)
Examination at affiliated schools
 English, Chinese, Korean*, French * , Spanish * 
*Korean, French and Spanish can be taken only at some affiliated schools.
Please contact the affiliated school directly.
List of affiliated schools
Examination deadline Within one year from the month following the application date * (* The application date refers to the day when the payment procedure is completed)
Flow of qualification acquisition
Step.1　Application
We do not accept applications over the phone, please apply from the WEB.
We will send you a set of teaching materials within 7 business days after completing your application.
* Please select your home or office at the time of application. The delivery address is limited to Japan.
Step.2　Self-study
There is no workshop. Please do self-study using textbooks. It is possible to purchase alcoholic beverages separately as learning support materials.
* Please select your home or office address when you apply. The delivery address is limited to Japan only.
Step.3　Take the exam
Please take the exam at the venue on the day designated by SSI international.
Step.4　Pass / Fail Judgment To pass procedure
About two weeks after taking the exam, we will send a pass / fail notification to the registered e-mail address.
Teaching materials
Ver. English | Kindle Edition Ver. EnglishVer. Chinese
Official text
『NIHONSHU-NO-MOTOI The Textbook for INTERNATIONAL KIKISAKE-SHI』
Click here for details
Official text
『NIHONSHU-NO-MOTOI The Textbook for INTERNATIONAL KIKISAKE-SHI』
Click here for details
Official text
『日本酒之基 ssi國際唎酒師官方教材』 ※Traditional Chinese Ver.
Click here for details
About learning support
Tasting Teaching Materials
If you want to tasting materials “classification by flavor characteristics (4 types)”, “Nikko odor” and “old odor”, this “examinee support plan target person limited tasting material liquor” is recommended. It is sold as a set of 300㎖ x 4 and 180ml x 2 that can be stored in the refrigerator at home.
* We cannot ship overseas. Correspondence course issues Cannot be used as alcoholic beverages.

　
* The listed alcoholic beverages are ordered, sold, and delivered at the Service Science Research Institute
entrusted by the Society.
* The following liquor sales license has been obtained from the head of the tax office in charge.
［Liquor sales contractor］
Business name: Service Science Research Institute
Business location: 1-15-17 Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 112-0002 TN Koishikawa Building 7F
Business contact: 03-5615-8206
Cost Regarding this, “NPO corporation FBO”, which is a member of SSI International, will collect the money on your behalf.
* Alcohol has been around since I was 20 years old. Sake is delicious and appropriate. Never drink drunk driving.
* Be careful when drinking alcohol during pregnancy or lactation, as it may affect the development of the fetal and infant. After that, recycle.
Click here to purchase
Exam

It is based on the “Sommelier of Sake” (Kikisake-shi) certified by the Sake Service Institute (SSI), but based on the actual market conditions of sake in other countries, as well as cultures and customs different from Japan. Ask qualities from an international perspective.

exam time 12:30〜15:20
1st exam
12:30〜13:20
（50 minutes）		 [Writing] Selection type (partially descriptive type) ※ From June 1st, 2024, the exam format will be changed to multiple choice (mark sheet)
・specialized knowledge about sake,
・basic knowledge about eating and drinking including alcoholic beverages
Second exam
13:30〜14:20
（50 minutes）		 [Writing] Descriptive (partially selectable)
・ Questions related to sake service and sales promotion
(including planning by seasonal flavor characteristics)
Third exam
14:30〜15:20
（50 minutes）		 [Writing with tasting] Descriptive formula (partial selection formula)
・ Quality evaluation through tasting of sake, extraction of individuality (including classification by flavor characteristics)
success criteria Correct answer rate of 70% or more for each exam

Example(PDF)
English　 Chinese

* No correct answer is available.
* French and Spanish can be taken only at some affiliated schools. Please contact the affiliated school directly.

Exam schedule

※Not allowed to take the 「INTERNATIONAL SAKE LECTURER」 examination.
※INTERNATIONAL SAKE LECTURER will be certified the following month.
Examination will be available 3 times a month which will be arranged on weekday, Saturday and Sunday.

Year Exam day Venue Certification date Deadline
2024 Sun.Apr.21 FBO Academy Tokyo School
（Tokyo）		 Jun.01 Wed.Apr.17
Wed.Apr.24 Jun.01 Thu.Apr.18
Sat.May 25 Jul.01 Tue.May 21
Tue.May 28 Jul.01 Thu.May 23
Wed.Jun.26 Aug.01 Thu.Jun.20
Sun.Jun.30 Aug.01 Wed.Jun.26
Sat.Jul.27 Sep.01 Tue.Jul.23
Wed.Aug.28 Oct.01 Thu.Aug.22
Sat.Sep.28 Nov.01 Wed.Sep.25
Sun.Oct.20 ※ Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka Prefectural International Convention Center)
（Osaka）
 Dec.01 Thu.Oct.17
Wed.Oct.30 FBO Academy Tokyo School
（Tokyo）		 Dec.01 Thu.Oct.24
Wed.Nov.27 Jan.01 Thu.Nov.21
Sat.Nov.30 Jan.01 Wed.Nov.27
Sun.Dec.15 Feb.01 Thu.Dec.12
2025 Wed.Jan.29 FBO Academy Tokyo School
（Tokyo）		 Mar.01 Thu.Jan.23
Sat.Feb.15 Apr.01 Wed.Feb.12
Wed.Mar.26 May01 Thu.Mar.20
Sun.Apr.20 Jun.01 Thu.Apr.17
Wed.May21 Jul.01 Thu.May15
Sat.Jun.28 Aug.01 Wed.Jun.25
Wed.Jul.30 Sep.01 Sun.Jul.27
Sun.Aug.24 Oct.01 Thu.Aug.21
Wed.Sep.17 Nov.01 Thu.Sep.11

 

venue

Tokyo Venue: FBO Academy Tokyo School (1-15-17 Koishikawa, Bunkyo-ku, TN Koishikawa Building 7F)
Nearest station ▶ 3 minutes walk from Toei Mita Line “Kasuga Station” / 8 minutes walk from Toei Oedo Line “Kasuga Station”
Tokyo Metro North-South 8 minutes walk from “Korakuen Station” on the line / 10 minutes walk from “Korakuen Station” on the Tokyo Metro Marunouchi Line

Osaka venue 

venue

Osaka Venue: Grand Cube Osaka (Osaka Prefectural International Convention Center)
(5-3-51 Nakanoshima, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 530-0005)
Nearest station ▶ Keihan Railway Nakanoshima Line “Nakanoshima (Osaka International Convention Center) Station” ( Immediately after (Exit 2)
・ Approximately 15 minutes on foot from JR Osaka Circular Line “Fukushima Station”・
Approximately 10 minutes on foot from JR Tozai Line “New Fukushima Station” (Exit 3)
・ Hanshin Main Line “Fukushima Station” (Exit 3) About 10 minutes on foot from
Osaka Metro “Awaza Station” (Exit 1 on Chuo Line, Exit 9 on Chikazen Line) About 15 minutes on foot

 

venue

Osaka Venue: Reference Osaka Ekimae Dai-Yon Bldg. Meeting Room Rental
(1-11-4 Umeda, Kita-ku, Osaka City, Osaka 530-0001)
Nearest station ▶ ・Higashi-Umeda Station on the Osaka Municipal Subway Tanimachi Line Direct connection from Exit 8 or 9
・Approximately 8 minutes on foot from JR Line Osaka Station (Central Exit)
・Approximately 7 minutes on foot Osaka Municipal Subway Midosuji Line Umeda Station(Exit 14)
・Approximately 5 minutes on foot from Hanshin Line-Umeda Station.
・Approximately 10 minutes on foot from Hankyu Line Umeda Station.

 

Examination fee & Application
Examination fee
No official textOfficial text With【Ver. English】Official text With【Ver. Chinese】
 All versions  General: 33,000 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 30,000 JPY
FBO certified member: 16,500 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 15,000 JPY
* Includes certification fee.
* Official text is not included in the cost.
 Ver. English  General: 36,300 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 33,000 JPY
FBO certified member: 19,470 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 17,700 JPY
* Includes certification fee.
 Ver. Chinese  General: 39,050 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 35,000 JPY
FBO certified member: 22,550 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 20,500 JPY
* Includes certification fee.
Certification fee 5,000 JPY (including certificate and certificate) We will charge you when you register for certification after passing the exam.
About retake If you fail or are absent, you can take the exam by paying the re-examination fee.
In that case, the exam results that meet the passing criteria will be valid only within the exam deadline, and only the exams that have failed (eg, 1st only, 3rd only, etc.) will be taken.
General: 14,000 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 12,728 JPY
FBO certified member: 7,000 JPY (reference price including tax)　*Excluding tax: 6,364 JPY
Certificates

 

* Please scroll and check until the end.

I have confirmed and agreed to the “Notes” and “Application Terms”.