Kenichi Ohashi is a wine and sake expert based in Tokyo, Japan. Born in Tochigi Prefecture, he is the third generation owner of Yamajin Co., Ltd., a distributing company specialised in wine, sake and local spirits. He also has his own consultancy company, Red Bridge Co., Ltd. and is director of Somersault Co., Ltd., the biggest business group of liquor retailers in Japan. A champion of global sake promotion, Ken is sake chairman of the International Wine Challenge. He is a Sake Expert Assessor, the highest qualification of National Research Institute of Brewing Japan, and holds the title of Master of Sake from Sake Service Institute.

Primary area(s) of work: Trade, Communication

Industry sector(s): Business owner, Buying, Consultant, Distribution, Educator, Events, Import/Export, International trade, Marketing, Marketing research, On trade, PR, Project management, Sales, Wine business strategy, Wine buying, Wine judge, Wine tourism

Wine styles: Dry wines, Natural, Orange wines, Sparkling wine, Still red, Still rosé, Still white, Still wines, Japanese

Wine region expertise: Argentina, Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne, Chile, France, Georgia, Greece, Limari Valley, Mendoza, Rioja, Japan

Market expertise: Japan

Specialisms: Branding, Direct to consumer, Distribution, Education, Events, Food and wine pairing, Identifying and meeting consumer demand, Independent retail, Marketing wine, New business development, Events, PR, Restaurant wines, Routes to market, Supplier/customer relationships, Training, Wine marketing research, Wine tourism, Wine judging