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Founded in January, 2005, Joto Sake LLC is one of the leading artisanal sake importing companies in the U.S. The company was founded by its President, Henry Sidel, who embarked upon two separate paths, which ultimately led him to start the company. In the summer of 1986, before Henry went to college, he had his first job in the food and beverage industry, working as a prep cook in New York City. That Fall, when he entered Carleton College, he started studying Japanese. In 1987, he went to Japan, to study Japanese intensively and do a homestay program.
Henry Sidel, President Instead of text for now. Here are some pictures highlighting my love of Japan, career and Joto Sake LLC. Some text when time allows! Summer of 1987 when I was a homestay student at ICU in Tokyo between freshman and sophomore years at Carleton College in Minnesota. From Left: me, Mikio Nakano [...]
Joto is Japanese for “highest level” and it describes the makers of our saké and our aspirations as their importer. Our breweries could also be described as jizake, or “local.” They are located in different regions of Japan, produce their saké in small batches and primarily use locally raised rice. They have unique stories and [...]
