Date & time
Monday, November 16, 2026
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Workshops & seminars
Share this event:
The craft and social practices beyond sipping sake
Japanese Cultural Talk
Speaker(s)
Benoit Champagne
Cost
This event is free.
Organization
Contact
Where
Grey Nuns Annex
1211-1215 St-Mathieu St.
Room 2.221
Accessible location
Yes - See details
In Japan, we say “kanpai” (cheers) when raising a glass together. Drinking culture is deeply rooted in Japanese society, and sake (also known as nihonshu) is one of the country’s most iconic alcoholic beverages.
This interactive talk explores Japanese sake as a cultural product that has gained popularity around the world. The talk will provide an overview of sake, including its cultural and historical background, production process, and the customs and etiquette surrounding its consumption.
The session will feature a special guest, Mr. Benoit Champagne (Nijikai Sake), who will share his professional insights into sake and the culture behind each sip. Mr. Champagne is a sake professional with extensive training and certifications in sake brewing and appreciation. He holds a Nanbu Brewer Certificate from the Nanbu Tōji Guild, a WSET Level 3 Award in Sake, and certifications as a Sake Professional and through the Sake Scholar Course.
Participants will be invited to explore the social and cultural practices surrounding sake from both Japanese and cross-cultural perspectives, engaging in discussion and reflection on how sake is enjoyed and understood in Japan and beyond.
This event is free and open to everyone, including those outside the Concordia community. Registration is recommended, but walk-ins are also welcome.
---
This event is part of the Engaging with World Languages and Cultures: Lessons from Japanese Culture series, an EmpowerGrad initiative run by the CSLP in collaboration with the Concordia Japanese Language and Culture Community (JLCC).