During the awarding of the medals of spring 2011, the Japan Sommeliers Association Vice-President, Shinya Tasaki, received the Yellow Ribbon medal for his contribution to the promotion of the profession of sommelier. He has been informed of it by the Minister of Labour and Public Health of Japan on June 29th, before being awarded by the Emperor who congratulated him personally.
The Yellow Ribbon medal is given to “those who thanks to their fervour in their profession have become models for the nation.” The names of the recipients are usually revealed at the end of April. This year, the date was fixed on April 29th but because of the earthquake of March 11th, the official publication has been delayed two months.
Shinya Tasaki is the fourth sommelier that has been honoured this way, after Katsumi Asada, Takashi Atsuta and Kazuyoshi Kogai, the former presidents of the JSA. “To me this medal is more a tribute to the profession of sommelier than a personal reward. I will keep on contributing to the training of sommeliers.”, Shinya Tasaki declared, full of joy with this honour.
Willing to study French cuisine, Shinya Tasaki went alone in 1977 to France where he discovered the profession of sommelier and decided to embark on this career. He came back in his country in 1980. Three years later he won the Contest of the Best Sommelier of Japan. He never stopped perfecting, having given himself the challenge to win the world contest. In this challenge, he succeeded in 1995 during the Contest of the Best Sommelier of the World, organized that year in Tokyo.
No one else has undoubtedly contributed as much in promoting the culture and tasting of wine in Japan, in the families as well as in the izakaya, restaurants rooted in the Japanese culture. Elected to the presidency of the A.S.I. (Association de la Sommellerie Internationale) in 2010, he now strives for the development of the profession of sommelier, for the improvement of the techniques and for the social advancement of the sommeliers on an international level.
Shinya Tasaki is completely involved in the preparation of the 2013 world contest which will take place in Japan. He also keeps on transmitting, on a Japanese scale, through conferences and thanks to his presence in the media, the charm of the wine and the gastronomy, but also good manners, and especially the good way of serving wine.
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