On a weekday evening in Marunouchi, amid the flow of businesspeople, a confident toast to Japanese wine rang out on the first floor of the Marunouchi Building.
The event served both as the ceremony for the 4th Japan Wine Toast Day and the opening of Marunouchi Japan Wine Weeks 2025, which began that day.
This fourth edition featured 17 wineries and 42 wines. Wine lovers stopped by after work to enjoy Japanese wine while speaking directly with producers.
We interviewed Risaburo Endo, chairman of the Japan Winery Awards Council, about the purpose of the event.
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Report: Japan Wine Toast Day
The ceremony opened with remarks from Yasuharu Kurebayashi, Executive Officer of Mitsubishi Estate Co., Ltd.
Kurebayashi spoke about the significance of celebrating October 30—the date in 2015 when the National Tax Agency established standards for Japanese wine—as Japan Wine Toast Day. He also referred to the growing international reputation of Japanese wine and challenges facing producers such as climate change and wildlife damage, saying, “We want to communicate the appeal of Japanese wine from here in Marunouchi, Tokyo.”
Representing the wineries, Kazuhiro Takahashi, President and Representative Director of Takahata Winery, also addressed the audience.
Looking back on the development of Japanese wine, Takahashi said he was “proud of the evolution from the efforts of pioneers 150 years ago to where we are today,” and pledged to continue making internationally competitive wines that express Japan’s climate and landscape.
The guest of honor was Yasushi Yamaguchi, Director-General of the Crop Production Bureau at the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries. He praised Japanese wine for contributing to regional revitalization and higher agricultural incomes, and indicated that the ministry intends to continue its support.
A talk session followed with representatives of three wineries that received the JAL Award at the 8th Japan Winery Awards: Memuro Winery, Heidi Winery and Kitani Wine.
A representative from Japan Airlines also announced that Memuro Winery wines had begun sales through the JAL Mileage Bank member site. The site was described as having 30–40 million members, many of whom are travel-oriented, interested in food and particularly enthusiastic about wine. JAL also expressed its intention to deepen future initiatives involving Japanese wine.
Marunouchi Japan Wine Weeks 2025
Starting October 27, Marunouchi Japan Wine Weeks 2025 offers four days of opportunities to experience Japanese wine.
For example, a special Japanese-wine sale will be held on October 31 at a dedicated space in Maruchika on B1 of the Marunouchi Building.
The lineup includes outstanding bottles representing some of the most sought-after Japanese wines.
Sales begin at 16:00, but anyone especially eager to secure a bottle may want to arrive early.
Many other Japanese-wine-related events are also planned.
Japanese-wine fans may want to make a stop in Marunouchi after work this week.
【Marunouchi: Japan Wine Toast Day & Week】
https://www.marunouchi.com/lp/japanwineweek2025_autumn/