Anthony Rose

This will be the third year I have had the pleasure of being a judge at the International Sake Challenge in Tokyo. Since first taking part in the competition in 2007, I have become increasingly aware of the part that sake has to play on the UK and international drinks stage. I have seen delegations of Japanese brewers come to London to give tastings to the trade and I have seen how London restaurants and top retailers have become more aware of sake as one of the world's classic beverages.

While the market is still niche and interest confined to a relatively small group of cognoscenti, I believe that the potential for discovering the joys of sake is largely untapped. As long as there is a firm commitment to export quality sake to the UK and other countries, there is a good chance of sake entering the mainstream drinks market, but it will require good communication skills and an ongoing commitment of time, money and energy.