David is a CPA, and left public accounting to become US Controller for a large Japanese company, before joining two different entrepreneurial companies as CFO to assist their founders with the successful sale of their companies to strategic buyers. After spending over 20 years in the food import industry, David became intrigued by sake. What started as personal interest soon became a path to an Advanced Sake Professional certification by the Sake Education Council in Tokyo and the Level 3 Award in Sake from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET) based in London. David also teaches the WSET Level 1 Award in Sake as well as holding small seminars and tastings for corporate clients and groups. David has completed brewing internships at Daimon Shuzo in Osaka and Obata Shuzo in Niigata and has visited many kuras throughout Japan. David and his family reside in Oakland, California.

Marie is an Advanced Sake Professional certified by the Sake Education Council and has worked a full season at Zenkuro Sake, the only sake brewery in New Zealand. Marie has been busy in the sake world by starting her own company after working in the corporate world as a Digital Marketing Strategist. Marie is now based in Tokyo where she now combines her background in marketing with her love for sake. She pens for SAKETIMES International as their Content Director, holds lectures, and is making a foray into the world of podcasts as a Co-Host of Sake On Air.

Ayuko is an Advanced Sake Professional certified by the Sake Education Council and has the Level 3 Award in Sake from the Wine & Spirits Education Trust (WSET). Ayuko teaches the WSET Level 1 and Level 3 Awards in Sake in Osaka, as well as gives tasting sessions for both English-speaking and Japanese clients. Ayuko has 10 years career as government-certified tour guide based in the Kansai region. She writes sake articles for Sake Today, Saketimes and local sake professional magazines both in English and Japanese.