Our next online Ikigai event, on Tuesday September 29, will offer an opening presentation by Shinobu Kato, Founder and Brewer at Kato Sake Works, followed by networking in smaller groups. Join us to hear Shinobu’s story about launching his sake brewery in Brooklyn, NY! This event also offers the chance to connect with other internationally-minded and Japan-interested members of the Japan/Boston innovation community.

【Date and Time】
Tuesday September 29th 10:30-11:30am (EDT)

【Registration】
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZUode2tpzwuHNThlEVCj4kUfVIZmVCX9sex

【Event Schedule】
10:00 – 10:15am (EDT) Opening presentation by Shinobu Kato
10:15 – 11:00am (EDT) Networking in small groups

【Speaker Information】
Shinobu was born and raised in Tokyo, Japan. It was there that he tried sake for the first time. Through the years, Shinobu expanded his palate and experienced plenty more sake varieties, both good and bad, especially during his college days and thereafter when he worked for the fast-growing internet venture, Softbank. It was while he was working crazy hours, even by the Japanese standard, that Shinobu learned the joy that a perfectly selected sake can bring to a busy day.

In 2004, Shinobu came to the US to attend the Robert H. Smith School of Business at the University of Maryland. Upon graduation, he took a position at Nissan in Nashville, Tennessee, where he led a team of software engineers to deliver global projects.　Eventually, overtaken by his passion for sake, Shinobu left the corporate world and, in 2016, moved to NYC to start a sake brewery. He currently lives with his wife Ayako in the Bushwick community in Brooklyn, which reminds him of his hometown, Koenji. When he is not brewing sake, Shinobu enjoys cooking, DIY’ing, and writing code. Backpacking and road trips are his favorite ways to vacation and relax between making batches of sake.

【About Kato Sake Works】
Kato Sake Works brews handcrafted Junmai Sake made in Bushwick, Brooklyn.Store Location:
5 Central Ave Space B, Brooklyn, NY 11206Website: https://katosakeworks.com/

【Sponsor Information】

Boston Japanese Trainers (BJT)
BJT works to promote U.S. – Japan collaboration and understanding in a global context. We consider cross-cultural awareness a crucial element in improving working relationships within multinational organizations. BJT offers training for Japanese and Western employees on the business communication and interaction skills needed to work with their counterparts. In addition, we offer group and individual language training, and organize guest-speaker lectures given by experienced professionals with careers spanning these regions of the world. Website: https://www.bjt.jp/

CIC Japan Desk
Cambridge Innovation Center (CIC) is a global leader in creating spaces for innovation. The mission of the Japan Desk initiative is to connect Japanese innovators with each other, the CIC network, and other resources, so that they can fix the world through innovation. The Japan Desk innovation community at CIC includes startups, corporations, governments, companies, universities, scientists, and other key players. Website: https://cic.com/