Marinos Skolarikos, Editor 15 March 2025
Today we host in Allwinestories Sarika Seki Hussey, the famous Sake expert, Sarika Sake.
What inspired you to transition from a career with the United Nations to becoming an entrepreneur focused on Japanese Sake and Face Yoga?
I originally joined the United Nations to change the world! I was sure I had my ‘dream job’, while working on Sustainable Urban Development and Gender Equality in Asia and Africa for a decade. But then, life completely surprised me!
On a trip home to Japan, I sipped a local Sake that blew me away. It was nothing like the Sake I knew—fragrant and beautiful. Although my grandparents are from Nagano, a major Sake production region, I had always dismissed it as my “grandfather’s drink.” But this re-encounter changed everything.
I soon discovered that Sake was in serious decline, with consumption dropping by a third in the last 50 years, and local breweries going bankrupt every month. It was shocking to digest this reality of Sake, and I wanted to do something for our beautiful 2,000-year-old craft!
So, I started learning about Sake, which is so interlinked with the history of Japan. Eventually, I became an SSI Official Sake Lecturer, certified Sake Scholar, Master Sommelier of Sake, Sake Competition Judge, and Doburoku Ambassador.
During the pandemic, I started my entrepreneurship journey by sharing my love of Sake. My first clients, the Polish Vodka Museum and MIT Japan Program, inspired me to go all in. I saw how Sake brings people together from all walks of life, while supporting this beautiful craft.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you realize you wanted to focus on Sake and Face Yoga as tools for social change?
I joined the UN to create positive change at the inter-governmental level. But after a decade, I felt drawn to impact people on a more personal level—where real change begins.
My accidental rediscovery of Japanese Sake opened my eyes to its decline and the serious need to preserve our 2,000-year-old craft. Surprisingly, the challenges in Sake—sustainable agriculture, industry practices, and gender equality—mirror those in my UN work.
After a decade of working in the UN, I felt that I actually don’t necessarily need to be an “UN Official” to change the world. In fact, as Margaret Mead said: "Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it's the only thing that ever has."
When we feel good, we do good! Both Sake and Face Yoga are all-natural Japanese arts, bringing joy and positivity to the world.
Can you share more about your mission to support Women in Sake? What challenges do women face in this industry, and how are you addressing them?
For centuries, women were banned from entering Sake breweries, despite being the original brewers. Only in the last 40 years have women re-entered the craft, yet they remain a minority. Of Japan’s 1,200 breweries, only 30–50 are led by female Masters, often by necessity rather than choice. Japan ranks among the lowest industrialized nations in gender equality (118th out of 146 countries globally, World Economic Forum), and the Sake industry remains male-dominated.
During the pandemic, I started the “Women in Sake Project” to celebrate women's contributions to the craft of sake. Through interviews, I share their inspiring stories of overcoming gender bias and stereotypes, which is such an inspiration!
In my Sake education and consultancy work, I prioritize female-powered family breweries, though big corporations still dominate exports. Fortunately, change is underway, with more boutique breweries gaining global recognition.
What does your Sake education program entail, and how do you hope to change people’s perceptions of Sake globally?
My mission is to share the beauty of Sake in support of our 2,000-year-old craft. I do this through two main ways:
Sake Education: I would love for people to fall in love with Sake, like I did. As a certified Sake Educator (Sake Scholar, SSI Official Sake Lecturer, Master Sommelier of Sake, Sake Competition Judge, Doburoku Ambassador), I teach Sake courses in English and Japanese, both online and in-person. My Japanese certification course is sold by SSI, Japan’s Sake education authority, and I also created Sake Accelerator!, a fun, fast, 4-hour online course in English. Demystifying Sake and making it more accessible and enjoyable is the goal.
Sake-Infused Cosmetics: To showcase Sake beyond a drink, I launched a Sake-infused cosmetics line, awarded the 2024 European Natural Beauty Awards – Influencers’ Choice of the Year! Through education and innovation, I’m on a mission to keep Sake’s legacy alive!
Do you have a favorite Sake or Sake pairing that you’d recommend to someone new to this world?
Sake is an incredible food pairing! Cheese and Sake are a perfect match due to their shared lactic acid, making it great with pizza, pasta, and even cheeseburgers. Living in Europe, I’ve found that Spanish tapas, rich in Umami—like Sake itself—pair beautifully. (Sake has 10x the Umami of wine!) Even Sake over ice cream is delicious! But truly, you can’t go wrong—just as white rice complements countless cuisines, Sake pairs effortlessly beyond Japanese food!
How did the idea of creating a Sake-infused cosmetic come about, and what has the journey been like to develop and launch this product?
I’m the biggest fan of my 100% natural Sake Beauty Balm, awarded the 2024 European Natural Beauty Awards – Influencers’ Choice of the Year! My goal is to showcase Sake beyond a drink—it’s a 2,000-year-old craft, known for its hydrating and beautifying properties. Inspired by my grandmother, I began making DIY natural skincare since 2014 to avoid harsh chemicals, but never expected to commercialize it.
With no background in cosmetics, launching was a serious challenge. I spent countless hours researching the EU cosmetics registration process. Luckily, I joined the LSE Alumni Female Founders Mastermind, learning from inspiring entrepreneurs. After many hurdles, I soft-launched my Sake Beauty Balm, never expecting it to be awarded the 2024 European Natural Beauty Awards, judged on sustainability and efficacy by industry experts.
What is Face Yoga, and how does it contribute to emotional and physical well-being?
Just like how we exercise our body, we can also exercise our face muscles! Face Yoga is a 100% natural, Japanese face exercise method to release facial stress, which in turn, releases mental and emotional stress because our mind and body are inseparable and so connected.
The blood and oxygen circulation on the face you get after a quick Face Yoga workout brightens the face and spirit! As we continue to let go of facial stress and emotional stress, my clients report how that contributes to the feeling of wellbeing. When we feel good, we can do good!
What’s one simple Face Yoga exercise you’d recommend for someone looking to uplift their mood and appearance?
The Detox Pose is my most favorite post because it releases anxiety, stress, and even hangovers! It definitely lifts up your mood!
Where do you see your company and mission in the next 5–10 years?
As a multi passionate entrepreneur, I’m constantly evolving—expanding my work in Sake Education, Sake-infused cosmetics, and Face Yoga—but my core mission remains the same: to bring positive social change by uplifting people’s faces, spirits, and well-being!
Photo Credit: Sarika Sake
