AIA Japan - Asahi Shuzo Virtual Tour: World’s Largest Sake Brewery

When: Friday 10 September 2021 @ 21:00 (Eastern US Time)/ Saturday 11 September @ 10:00 (Japan time)
CES Credits - 2.0 LU/ HSW for AIA Members

Description

Kazuhiro Sakura, CEO of the world's largest brewery, Asahi Shuzo, will provide a live virtual architectural tour of the brewery building and the design of the bridge by Kengo Kuma & Associates. In addition to the virtual tour, there will be a short presentation on the design of the Asahi Shuzo New York Brewery by Jun Mitsui.

This event is an informal discussion about architecture and design for breweries, and modern sake brewery buildings, with sake toasts starting right after the virtual tour and presentation.

Asahi Shuzo will provide AIA Japan and ULI Japan memberships with a sake sampler for up to 30 upon request. AIA Japan will send a separate sake registration link to AIA Japan & ULI Japan memberships. The registration deadline for a sake sampler is August 28.

We encourage all oversea participants to bring a drink for a toast.

Speaker Bios

Kazuhiro Sakurai, President and 4th generation owner of Asahi Shuzo Co. Ltd.: Born in 1976 in Shuto-cho (now Iwakuni City), Yamaguchi Prefecture. Graduated in sociology at Waseda University, Tokyo. After graduating from university, he worked for a manufacturer in Tokyo that had nothing to do with sake crafting, and discovered the delicious taste of "Dassai" in a bar in Tokyo.

In 2006, he returned to his hometown and joined Asahi Shuzo as Managing Director, and in 2013 he became Executive Vice President in charge of overseas market development, laying the foundation for the company's overseas expansion, mainly in New York.

In September 2016, he was appointed President and Representative Director, becoming the fourth generation owner of the brewery.

Jun Mitsui, CEO of Jun Mitsui & Associates: After graduating from Tokyo University in 1978, Jun Mitsui practiced at Shinich Okada Architects in Japan until 1982. He received his Master of Architecture from Yale University in 1984 and then practiced at Cesar Pelli & Associates, Inc. until 1992. He returned to Tokyo as a principal of Pelli Clarke Pelli Architects, Japan and went on to found Jun Mitsui & Associates, Architects in 1995. He is a member of AIA, JIA and Japan Architects Academy. In 2007, he served as the AIA Japan component president. Jun Mitsui is a licensed architect in both Japan and the United States, he and his firm have been honored with numerous architectural awards.

Find out more Wikipedia