2025 Master of Whisky Successful Candidates Announced: Three New Masters Emerge, Breaking Through Japan's Only and Most Difficult Whisky Qualification Exam

The Whisky Culture Institute (Headquarters: Shibuya-ku, Tokyo; Representative: Mamoru Tsuchiya) announces the successful candidates for this year's (2025) "Master of Whisky" examination, which boasts the highest level of difficulty among the Whisky Connoisseur certification exams.

The Master of Whisky examination, organized by the Whisky Culture Institute, is the most challenging certification exam in a system that assesses all knowledge and appraisal abilities related to whisky. Certification is granted after a first-stage essay exam, and a second-stage written exam, oral examination, and sensory evaluation.

This year, 9 candidates who passed the first examination took the second examination on March 20 (Friday, public holiday), and 3 candidates were successful.

Scene from the second examination held on March 20

2025 "Master of Whisky" Successful Candidates

We introduce the names and profiles of the three individuals who passed the 2025 Master of Whisky examination.

2025 Successful Candidates:

MW020

Hiroshi Yoshida

Owner bartender of "BAR Link no Ki" in Kawasaki-ku, Kawasaki City. He dedicates himself to promoting the charm and culture of whisky, utilizing his knowledge and experience.

MW021

Masayoshi Higuchi

Active as an IT and HR consultant, he is also specializing in brewing and distilling at Heriot-Watt University in Scotland. He is exploring activities to widely convey the history and diversity of Japanese whisky both domestically and internationally.

MW022

Daisuke Kusumoto

Born in Kochi Prefecture in 1989. Moved to Hiroshima Prefecture for university. After 10 years in the advertising industry, he joined Sakurao Brewery and Distillery Co., Ltd. in 2021.

About the Master of Whisky (MW) Examination

The "Master of Whisky" examination is the final and most difficult stage of the Whisky Connoisseur certification system, which assesses all knowledge and appraisal abilities related to whisky. The pass rate to date is 17%, with only 22 individuals (including this year's 3) having passed. Successful candidates are active in a wide range of fields, including liquor manufacturers, liquor retailers, and bars.

＜Past examinee data＞

For more details on the Master of Whisky, please visit the Whisky Connoisseur website.

https://whiskyconnoisseur.jp/

What is "Whisky Connoisseur"?

Connoisseur means "expert appraiser," and it is Japan's only certification system, organized by the Whisky Culture Institute, that assesses all knowledge and appraisal abilities related to whisky. There are three stages of qualification, starting with "Whisky Expert" as the first stage, followed by "Whisky Professional," and finally the "Master of Whisky" as the ultimate stage.

https://whiskyconnoisseur.jp/ (Whisky Connoisseur HP)

About the "Whisky Culture Institute"

The Whisky Culture Institute is a private organization for the popularization of whisky culture, headed by whisky critic Mamoru Tsuchiya. Since its establishment in March 2001, it has conducted research to deeply learn about domestic and international whisky and general liquor culture, collecting and disseminating information. It has also planned, proposed, and implemented initiatives with industry stakeholders to foster whisky enthusiasts and drinkers and to popularize whisky culture.

In addition to editing and publishing Japan's only specialized whisky magazine, 'Whisky Galore,' and planning and operating events such as whisky festivals, it also organizes the "Whisky Connoisseur Certification Exam," which assesses knowledge and appraisal abilities related to whisky, and the "Whisky Kentei" (Whisky Test), which assesses knowledge for enjoying whisky. Since 2019, it has also operated the "Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC)," Japan's only judging competition for whiskies and spirits from around the world. Furthermore, it operates the Japan Whisky Culture Promotion Association (JWPC), a general incorporated association for the legal regulation of Japanese whisky and the promotion of whisky culture.

【Company Profile】

Company Name: Whisky Culture Institute Co., Ltd.

Head Office: Tech Hiroo Bldg. 5F, 1-10-5 Hiroo, Shibuya-ku, Tokyo 150-0012

Representative Director: Mamoru Tsuchiya

Business Activities: Editing and publishing Whisky Galore / Editing and publishing Whisky Connoisseur certification exam textbooks / Writing and supervising whisky-related books / Planning and operating whisky festivals / Planning and operating Whisky Connoisseur certification exams / Operating Whisky Kentei / Operating Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition (TWSC) / Providing whisky manufacturing advice and technical guidance / Operating Japan Whisky Culture Promotion Association

Established: March 2001

HP: https://scotchclub.org/

Profile of Mamoru Tsuchiya, Representative Director of JWPC / Representative of Whisky Culture Institute

Born in Sado, Niigata Prefecture in 1954. Graduated from Gakushuin University, Faculty of Letters. After working as a reporter for Shinchosha's "Focus," he moved to the UK in 1987. He served as editor-in-chief of a Japanese magazine in London. During a reporting trip to Scotland, he first encountered Scotch single malt and became deeply involved in Scotch. After returning to Japan, he became active as a whisky critic, and in 1998, he was selected as one of the "Top 5 Whisky Writers in the World" by Highland Distillers. From September 2014 to March 2015, he served as a whisky consultant for the NHK morning drama series "Massan."

His major works and supervised books include 'Single Malt Scotch Encyclopedia,' 'Blended Whisky Encyclopedia' (Shogakukan), 'Masataka Taketsuru and Whisky' (Tokyo Shoseki), 'Complete Whisky Bible' (Natsume Publishing), 'Whisky as Business Education: Why Premium Whisky Sells for 200 Million Yen Now' (KADOKAWA), 'Japanese Whisky as Business Education' (Shodensha), with over 50 publications. His recent works include 'Complete Edition Single Malt Scotch Encyclopedia' (Shogakukan), 'Mamoru Tsuchiya's Whisky One Thousand and One Nights (Volumes 1-5),' 'Japanese Whisky Yearbook 2023-2026 (Distillery Yearbook)' (Whisky Culture Institute), and 'Irish Whisky Chronicle.' He also serves as editor-in-chief of the bimonthly magazine 'Whisky Galore,' chairman of the TWSC and Japanese Whisky Day Executive Committee, and representative director of JWPC.