On December 5, 2024, UNESCO recognized Japan’s “traditional knowledge and skills of sake-making with koji mold” as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity. This recognition brought a lot of happiness for the Sake lovers all over world and the celebration has been continuing ever since. In this context, it was a great honour for me attend a special Sake Soirée at the residence of the Ambassador to Japan at New Delhi on 16th April 2025, which was organised to celebrate this momentous achievement. Read about it on my post here.
In a planned continuation of the festivities, on the next day i.e. 17 April 2025, the Miss Sake India Pageant was held at The Japan Foundation New Delhi. The aim of this pageant was to select the Miss Sake India 2025 as also to celebrate UNESCO Recognition of Sake Craft. This entire event was curated around the theme promoting mutual cultural heritage and the growing friendship between Japan and India.
Organisers of the Pageant
The event held under the overall aegis of the Embassy of Japan, was organised by Mr Kojiro Honda – a prolific entrepreneur who owns the Kurraku Japanese Restaurant at Gurugram, in association with Ms Mika Onishi – Representative Director at Miss SAKE Association.
Opening Talk by Mr Kojiro Honda
Mr Kojiro Honda, who was the main force behind organising this remarkable event, took to stage to address the audience, Judges and the participants. He brought out how the Miss Sake India title serves as a platform for cultural exchange between Japan and India especially between the youth of the two countries. He further bolstered the confidence of the participating girls by assuring them that all of them are already winners by reaching this stage and now they should give their best in the competition in a relaxed and a calm way.
Elaborating further he explained how the last year’s winner Ms Menaaka Rai, visited Japan as a cultural Ambassador and helped positively in exchange of goodwill amongst the youth of both countries towards each other.
Address by the Ambassador of Japan
The event also saw an address by H.E. Mr Ono Keiichi, Ambassador of Japan to India, where he shared his views about the competition. His remarks underscored the growing bond between Japan and India and about how this pageant formed an important part of the broader initiative of furthering the growing friendship between the two countries.
The Panel of Judges
Once all the participants and the guests settled down, it was time for each the four Judges to introduce themselves, wherein they talked about themselves and their background.
The august panel of judges for the pageant included the following:
1. Mr Sato Koji – Director General of The Japan Foundation
2. Ms Mika Eoka – Sake Importer and Sake trainer based at New Delhi.
3. Ms Kotoko Yamada – Miss Sake Japan 2023
4. Ms Menaaka Rai – Miss Sake India 2024
Conduct of the Pageant
The conduct of the competition involved each of the participants going through four stages:
1. Self Introduction
2. Telling as why why she deserves to be the winner of the title
3. Talent round (performance of a dance or recital of a poem etc)
4. Finally the facing Question from the Jury
It was remarkable to note that each of the contestants was highly motivated and had a strong belief in the Miss Sake India platform and a confidence that they could do justice to the title if won by them.
Special Sake Tasting
The culmination of the judging rounds was followed by a Special Sake Tasting by Ms Mika Eoka which served as an apt tribute to the art of Japanese sake. This tasting assumed significance since the Indian girl who won the coveted title of Miss Sake India 2025 was further required to serve as a goodwill ambassador who would represents and promote the elegance of Japanese sake and its cultural values.
Lunch with Sake
After the end of the pageant contest, everyone proceeded for the lunch at the premises itself which allowed everyone to engage in conversations and enjoy the multi cultural spirit of the event. All this over some scrumptious Japanese cuisine and pours of Sake.
And the Winner Is ..
The title of Miss Sake India 2025 was won by Ms Aakansha Srivastva.
Congratulations, Well Deserved and Kanpai !!
