Whisky Culture Institute Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Shibuya, Tokyo; Representative: Mamoru Tsuchiya) will host a tasting seminar featuring its original Hyakunin Isshu Series bottles on Thursday, March 5, 2026, from 7:00 PM. Registration is now open on the company's online shop.
About Whisky School
Whisky School is an educational program run by the Whisky Culture Institute since 2001, offering comprehensive learning about whisky. Covering everything from production, trivia, pairing, to tasting techniques from various perspectives, classes have traditionally been held in small groups of 10 to 20 participants. Since October 1, 2023, the institute has established a new seminar room in Hiroo, Shibuya (Tech Hiroo Building 2F, 1-10-5 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo), capable of accommodating up to 81 seated guests—the largest capacity to date—expanding its Whisky School operations.
This seminar is open not only to bartenders and liquor industry professionals but also to general whisky enthusiasts.
About the Hyakunin Isshu Series Tasting Seminar
The Hyakunin Isshu Series uses woodblock prints created by artist Tomoko Watanabe, inspired by poems from the classical Ogura Hyakunin Isshu anthology, as bottle labels. Cask selection is handled by Mamoru Tsuchiya, representative of the Whisky Culture Institute, with all bottles being single cask, cask strength releases. This seminar allows participants to taste bottles from the Hyakunin Isshu Series, including those already sold out. The inaugural session will feature bottles 001 to 006 from the series.
Event Details
Seminar Name: Hyakunin Isshu Series Tasting Seminar
Date & Time: Thursday, March 5, 2026, 7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
Admission Fee: 7,700 yen (tax included)
Tasting Items:
- Tsunuki 2018 6 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 001 Emperor Tenji
- Eigashima 2019 5 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 002 Empress Jito
- Chichibu 2016 8 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 003 Kakinomoto no Hitomaro
- Osuzu 2021 4 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 004 Yamabe no Akahito
- Royal Brackla 2012 12 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 005 Sarumaru Dayu
- Ardmore 2010 14 Years Old Hyakunin Isshu Series 006 Chunagon Yakamochi
*Contents are subject to change.
Venue: Whisky Culture Institute Seminar Room
Tech Hiroo 2F, 1-10-5 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012
Map URL: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LUv2wbqBTY9tdnbC8
*Please note: While the map shows the 5th floor, the school is located on the 2nd floor.
About Whisky Culture Institute
The Whisky Culture Institute is an organization dedicated to promoting whisky culture, led by whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya. Since its establishment in March 2001, it has conducted extensive research on domestic and international whisky and spirits culture, collecting and disseminating information. Working alongside industry professionals, the institute has planned and implemented initiatives aimed at nurturing whisky enthusiasts and promoting whisky culture.
The institute publishes Japan's only whisky specialty magazine, Whisky Galore, and organizes events such as whisky festivals. It also administers the Whisky Connoisseur Certification Exam, which tests knowledge and evaluation skills related to whisky, as well as the Whisky Test for whisky enthusiasts. Since 2019, the institute has been operating the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC), Japan's only competition judging whisky and spirits from around the world.
Whisky Culture Institute Representative Mamoru Tsuchiya Profile
Born in 1954 on Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture. Graduated from Gakushuin University Faculty of Letters. After working as a weekly magazine reporter, he moved to England in 1987. During his coverage trip to Scotland, he encountered single malt Scotch whisky for the first time and became passionate about Scotch. After returning to Japan, he became active as a whisky critic. In 1998, he was selected by Highland Distillers as one of the "World's Five Whisky Writers." He served as whisky supervisor for the NHK morning drama series "Massan," which aired from September 2014 to March 2015.
His publications include Single Malt Scotch Encyclopedia and Blended Whisky Encyclopedia (Shogakukan), Taketsuru Masataka and Whisky (Tokyo Shoseki), Complete Whisky Bible (Natsumesha), Whisky as Business Education: Why Premium Whisky Now Sells for 200 Million Yen (KADOKAWA), and Japanese Whisky as Business-Enhancing Education (Shodensha). Recent works include Complete Edition: Single Malt Scotch Encyclopedia (Shogakukan), Tsuchiya Mamoru's Whisky Nights (Volumes 1-5), and Japanese Whisky Yearbook (Distillery Annual) (Whisky Culture Institute). He serves as editor-in-chief of the bimonthly magazine Whisky Galore and as chair of the TWSC and Japanese Whisky Day executive committee.
